About us
Sunbloom Proteins GmbH core business is to manufacture and sell highly functional sunflower proteins as a food ingredient to our B2B customers in the field of plant‑based dairy & desserts, savory applications, and nutrition.
Founded in 2017, Sunbloom established its facility in Hungary and joined Avril, the French industrial and financial leader in the vegetable oil and protein sector in 2023.
Today, Sunbloom is entering a new growth phase and strengthening its Sales & Applications team to foster the adoption of its sunflower proteins and achieve our ambition.
We are hiring a Sales Manager to actively expand our presence in Northern Europe, especially Benelux, Nordics and UK with existing and new industrial accounts.
If you have a true hunter mindset in the B2B industry, thrive in building long-term relationships with clients, and drive yourself towards high-performance, come and join us!
Job description
We are looking for a highly motivated, strongly energetic, and experienced Sales Manager that combines strong commercial acumen with a proven track record in B2B food ingredients sales in the region considered.
Responsibilities:
Prospecting and developing commercially Sunbloom highly functional sunflower proteins with B2B clients in Northern Europe especially Belgium, Netherlands, UK and Nordics
- Identify, qualify, prioritize, and target high‑potential clients, partners and distributors in plant‑based food, alternative dairy & desserts, savory, nutrition.
- Build and execute a multichannel prospecting plan in the selected countries.
- Qualify and convert opportunities in close coordination with Sunbloom Proteins technical support team.
- Lead commercial negotiations to satisfactory completion (volumes, pricing, contracts).
- Monitor key metrics through CRM: new account openings, pipeline growth, and conversion velocity.
Development and management of industrial accounts
- Build strong relationships with key decision‑makers (R&D, procurement, top management).
- Support customer development projects, trials, and reformulations with Sunbloom technical support team.
- Proactively manage industrial development, new products launch, sales cycles and help ensure high level of customer's satisfaction.
- Ensure regular and accurate forecasting to enhance the level of services to clients.
Development and management of distributors
- Identify, qualify and on-board new distributors in the countries and segments targeted.
- Support and energize existing distributors to maximize Sunbloom ingredients’ presence and foster our products’ adoption.
- Co‑develop joint action plans (prospecting, marketing, communication) for the segments and countries targeted.
- Drive and monitor relationships and performance of the distributors in your region.
Representation & brand advocacy
- Represent Sunbloom at trade shows, conferences, and networking events in the region and more globally if needed.
- Collaborate with Marketing to strengthen brand visibility and position Sunbloom as the market reference in functional protein.
Strategic contribution and market insights
- Identify short and long-term trends using market and customers insights, and competitive moves.
- Share structured feedback to enhance our product offering, guide the R&D pipeline, and support strategic decision‑making.
Profile:
Mindset & soft skills
- Strong hunter DNA with passion for opening new doors and driving growth.
- Entrepreneurial and action‑oriented mindset, thriving in dynamic or challenging environments.
- Ability to work in a small team with high autonomy and short decision‑making cycles.
- Hands‑on, resilient, and comfortable managing both short and long sales cycles.
Experience & hard skills
- Relevant and proven experience in B2B sales within the food ingredients industry, preferably food specialties and ingredients.
- Proven commercial track record in Benelux.
- Full business proficiency in English and Dutch. Avril being a French group, conversational French is appreciated.
- Based in Belgium or North of France, with the ability to travel on a regular basis in Munich and in the geography.
Our commitment
Avril is committed to building an environment that is inclusive of all diversities. We ensure equal opportunities in recruitment and integration processes, and we make sure that everyone can be themselves in their professional environment.