VP Sales - Ice Cream

Reference: BBBH117888_1789142288Vice President of Sales - Ice CreamRemote | West Coast preferredBuild the U.S. sales engine for a new ice cream brand.We're looking for a senior commercial leader to take the lead on the U.S. launch of a new premium ice cream proposition.This is not a role for someone who simply wants to inherit an established customer base. The business is at an exciting stage and needs someone who can create the retail strategy, open doors, win distribution and build the infrastructure for growth.The initial focus will be the West Coast, with the longer-term opportunity to expand the brand across the U.S.What you'll ownYou'll be the commercial driving force behind the launch, including:Creating the initial U.S. sales plan and deciding where the brand should establish its first foothold.Building relationships with the retailers and distributors that can give the brand meaningful early scale.Personally leading customer conversations and pitching the proposition to grocery, mass, club, natural and specialty retailers.Developing the broker strategy and selecting the right partners to support growth.Putting the right frozen distribution and logistics model in place.Building launch forecasts and commercial plans around pricing, promotions, assortment and distribution.Tracking early sales and velocity closely and using that information to decide where and how to expand.Turning successful regional placements into a roadmap for wider U.S. distribution.Owning key customer negotiations, presentations, category discussions and business reviews.Building the sales team and wider commercial capability as the business develops.What will make you successfulWe're particularly interested in people who have actually built frozen or ice cream sales, rather than purely managed an existing national account structure.You should bring:12+ years of CPG sales experience.Significant experience within ice cream, frozen desserts or a highly relevant frozen category.Existing relationships with U.S. grocery and mass-market retailers, particularly on the West Coast.A track record of getting new products or brands into retail and subsequently growing distribution.Strong understanding of frozen supply chains, distributors, brokers and retailer expectations.Experience working with customers on pricing, promotions, forecasting and trade investment.The commercial instinct to know which opportunities are worth pursuing and which aren't.The ability to operate at senior level while remaining very hands-on.Experience hiring, developing and leading sales talent as a business grows.Strong negotiation and presentation skills.The flexibility to travel regularly when required.The type of leader we're looking forThis role will suit someone who enjoys building something rather than maintaining something.You might currently be leading sales for an established ice cream or frozen dessert company, or you may have previously helped take a smaller brand from limited distribution into a much larger retail footprint.What's important is that you understand how to go from:Great product retailer interest first distribution strong velocity wider distribution.You'll have significant autonomy, direct exposure to senior leadership and the opportunity to shape the commercial direction of a new ice cream business from its earliest stages.If you've got the ice cream category knowledge, retail relationships and entrepreneurial mindset to make that happen, we'd like to hear from you.