Commercial Manager – Food Ingredients

SUMMARY:
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POSITION INFO:
About the Opportunity An established and entrepreneurial trading group is expanding into the Food Ingredients space and is seeking a commercially driven individual to build and lead this new division. The business already operates a successful import and distribution model within the agricultural and feed additives sector, with established supplier relationships, infrastructure, and a national client base. This new division will leverage those capabilities to unlock growth in food ingredients. This is a build-and-own opportunity with strong financial backing and significant profit share upside. Role Purpose To establish, grow and lead a profitable Food Ingredients trading division, taking full responsibility for commercial strategy, supplier sourcing, customer development, and overall financial performance. Key Responsibilities Develop and execute the commercial strategy for the Food Ingredients division. Identify and prioritise key product categories such as starches, sweeteners, proteins, emulsifiers, stabilisers and functional ingredients. Establish and manage international supplier relationships and negotiate commercial agreements. Build and maintain strong relationships with procurement and technical teams at food manufacturers. Leverage existing group infrastructure including import, logistics, finance and compliance. Drive a hybrid trading model combining contracted volume and opportunistic spot trading. Set and manage pricing strategies, margins and commercial terms. Manage working capital, stock exposure, and commercial risk. Establish systems, processes and controls required to run the division effectively. Recruit and lead a lean commercial and operational team over time. Take full accountability for the financial performance of the division. Requirements Minimum 8–10 years’ experience within food ingredients or additives trading or distribution. Proven experience in importing, sourcing or trading within an ingredient or related environment. Demonstrated exposure to full financial accountability, including revenue, margin and cost control. Strong network within the South African food manufacturing sector. Experience negotiating supply agreements and managing supplier relationships. Solid understanding of pricing structures, margin management and commercial risk. Knowledge of logistics, shipping processes and international trade dynamics. Key Attributes Entrepreneurial mindset with a strong commercial drive. Ability to build and grow a business from the ground up. Financially astute and margin-focused. Strong relationship-building ability at a senior level. Independent decision-maker who thrives in a performance-driven environment. Comfortable operating in a lean, fast-moving environment. Remuneration Competitive basic salary. Pre-tax profit share linked to division performance. Significant upside potential aligned to growth and profitability.

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