AB WORLD FOODS
Commercial Sales Graduate Scheme - based in Maidenhead/Manchester

Want to be immersed in delivering award winning brands to millions of UK shoppers? If you’re looking for a development scheme with big brand names where you get real responsibility from day one, then this opportunity sounds just right for you. Want to grow your career in a fun, collaborative and supportive environment? Then it’s time to join our Sales team at AB World Foods.

What are we about?

AB World Foods is an international branded food business famous for flavour. Today, our portfolio of brands includes Patak's, Blue Dragon, Levi Roots, Al’Fez, TABASCO® and Capsicana. Making products you will know and love. We’re on a mission to inspire people to explore the incredible flavours of the world, disrupting mealtime monotony and delighting our consumers. We’re owned by Associated British Foods (ABF) a diversified international food ingredients and retail group with sales of £20bn, 133,000 employees and operations in 55 countries.

As great as our brands are, our people are what makes us special. We are committed to making AB World Foods a great place to work, grow & develop. We create a collaborative and fun environment that is food orientated and friendly, with a trust-based culture where we value productivity. Our hybrid working model balances remote working with valuable time in-person. We aim to be together more than we are apart, whether that is in one of our offices, or off-site.  

What will you be doing?

Life in our sales teams isn’t what you think it might be. At AB World Foods, we focus on building powerful partnerships with our customers - major supermarkets, wholesalers, and online platforms. We work closely with them to understand their needs using data and insights to ensure the right products are available to consumers—whether in-store or online. With the demand for World Foods products skyrocketing, we exist in a rapidly growing category. This year, our customers ranked us their number one supplier. As a graduate on this scheme, you’ll join a business that is truly valued by its customers, has incredible brands, and highly in demand products.

It’s not cold calling, telesales, or one-off conversations with disinterested people – it’s about building lasting partnerships that create mutual growth.

Over two years, you’ll rotate through key commercial teams at the heart of our business: Category, Sales (Account Management), and Shopper Marketing. Each rotation will give you a unique perspective on how we connect with our customers and ensure our products are a success.

• In Category, you’ll work closely with our retail partners helping them decide how to arrange and merchandise their stores. Using data to understand shopping habits and trends, you’ll recommend the right mix of products to meet shopper and consumer needs. You’ll also work with our internal team to determine how our products are positioned in-store, making sure they’re in the best spot to catch shoppers’ attention and boost the sales of our brands.
• Sales (Account Management) is all about building and maintaining relationships with our customers. You’ll be the go-to person for your account, working on everything from pricing strategies to negotiating promotions. You’ll be the driving force behind getting our products into stores, ensuring we meet both our goals and our customer’s needs.
• In Shopper Marketing, you’ll focus on making our products stand out, taking into consideration shopper behaviour and motivations. Working with our sales and marketing teams, you’ll create compelling in-store and online marketing campaigns that bring our products to life, increase engagement, and influence buying decisions.

What can we offer?

While we encourage you to drive your career development, we also make sure you are fully supported along the way. As well as learning every day on the job, you will benefit from a thorough onboarding programme, functional training, continuous development, ongoing networking opportunities and business support to progress – plus there will be plenty of people to guide and advise you on your path. Just some of the benefits this role comes with:

• Competitive base salary of £28,500
• A welcome bonus of £1,500
• Discretionary bonus scheme
• Private Healthcare

How can you stand out?

We’re looking for curious, commercially minded, motivated, and adaptable people ready to make a difference. We’re on the hunt for great communicators, who can build powerful partnerships, are eager to learn, and who are excited to develop their skills as they experience different commercial teams.

You’ll need a 2:2 degree or above in any degree discipline. We expect all our graduates to demonstrate our early in career talent competencies, which are – Drive & Ambition, Analysis & Judgement, Humility & Authenticity, and Learning & Growth.

What’s the application process?

Our application process is a two-way street – we want to get to know you, as much as we want you get to know us!

• Application Form: This is opportunity to tell us a bit more about yourself, why you would like to join us, as well as what makes you a great candidate.
• Video Interview: Here you’ll be able to tell us a bit more about your fit for the scheme in line with our early in career talent competencies.
• Online Ability Tests: If this sounds scary, don’t worry! This is just one of many opportunities for you to show us your abilities.
• Assessment Centre: At the final stage of the process, you’ll be able to meet some of the team in person and get a real sense of what it’s like to work at ABWF.

These stages are designed to get to know you, to understand your passions and talents that make you a good candidate. So be yourself and talk about specific examples that let you demonstrate what makes you shine.

We will communicate with you through every stage of the process, you will never be left wondering where your application is and which stage it is at. The start date for the scheme is July 2025 – starting dates are flexible.

We strive to build an inclusive work environment for all and will consider all candidates without regard to gender, including gender identity, gender expression and gender reassignment, race including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion, or belief, marital or civil partnership status, disability, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity or trade union membership.  If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruitment process, please let us know.

To apply for this role, you must have the right to live and work in the UK with one of the following applying to you:

• British Citizens (but not a British Overseas Citizen, British National (Overseas) or British Protected Person)
• EU/EEA/Swiss nationals resident in the UK by or before 31 December 2020, holding status via the EU Settlement Scheme
• Non-EEA nationals with Indefinite Leave to Remain/Settlement in the UK
• Current UK Student Visa or Tier 4 Student Visa

Application close date: 2nd January 2025.

Assessment Centre date: 22^nd & 23^rd January 2025 at our Leigh office.