Senior European Business Manager [FTC]

About Us:

At itsu, we're passionate about making healthy eating exciting, accessible, and affordable. As an Asian-inspired food brand, we’ve grown to over 80 restaurants across the UK and Belgium, while building a thriving grocery business that reaches customers across Europe and beyond. Known for our fresh, high-quality food prepared daily in every shop, we're on an ambitious growth journey. With plans to expand our store estate, accelerate our grocery presence, and continue investing in innovation, technology, and our people, we're shaping the future of healthy fast food.

itsu [ grocery ], where this role sits, extends the much-loved itsu brand beyond our shops and into supermarkets, health food retailers, online channels, wholesale partners, and international markets. Our growing product range includes customer favourites such as crispy seaweed thins, frozen gyoza and bao, brilliant'broth, rice'noodles, and miso'easy, bringing the taste and quality of itsu into homes around the world.

Buoyed by the success in the UK, itsu [grocery] International have expanded into several European markets, winning some major listings in key retailers. With more ground-breaking products in the pipeline and expanding into new and exciting categories (and markets), this is just the beginning.

• Nominated for exporter of the year 2026.
• 50% growth this year
• Double digit head count growth
• 'Best introduction in 2025' for our chicken soup'dumplings by Levensmiddelenkrant

Joining itsu means becoming part of a fast-paced, innovative business with big ambitions, a strong culture, and a shared mission to help people eat beautifully every day.

About the role:

Senior European Business manager on a 12-month fixed-term contract to sit within the international team at itsu [grocery].

Reporting to the International Head of Sales, you will take full ownership of market performance, distributor relationships and regional P&Ls. You will be responsible for delivering ambitious growth plans, strengthening our existing customer base and unlocking new distribution opportunities across the region.

This job role is best suited to somebody who has experience managing distributors in FMCG and/or direct sales (account management) experience

• Commercial ownership
• Own the commercial performance and P&L of France and Spain, including sales, margin, trade investment and operating costs.
• Lead pricing, promotional and trade-investment strategy, ensuring activity delivers profitable growth.
• Managing the relationship with the key stakeholders in the distributor and working with them to deliver our strategic aims for the region including supply, technical and marketing
• Unlocking distribution in new regions while supporting growth of current products in current distribution
• Supporting the wider team on our expansion into new markets
• Manage regional forecasting, working alongside the demand and supply teams, to also ensure on time-in full deliveries, successful new launches and a streamlined risk and ops process
• Reporting into the international head of sales alongside weekly updates to senior management
• Work alongside our marketing team to develop long-term media and POS plans to support the market growth including field sales support in market
• Ability to react quickly to challenges and develop practical, commercially sound solutions.

The ideal candidate will have:

• A candidate with experience, 3 years or more, in international sales through distributors or direct to market from a product-led or FMCG business
• Experience in European markets is desirable but not required
• Experience managing field sales is desirable but not required
• Fluency in English, any other European language is a plus
• Able to travel frequently to support the markets.
• Comfortable in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.
• Commercially astute with excellent negotiation skills and P&L management
• Detail-oriented and collaborative, with confidence and communication skills to work with various stakeholders in the business.
• A flexible, can-do attitude with the willingness to work closely with others within a small team, a real self-starter
• A true entrepreneur with a passion for food and a true brand ambassador

What We Offer:

• Competitive Salary
• Competitive Bonus Scheme
• 25 days holiday + Bank holidays (two bank holidays are interchangeable for other religious holidays)
• Health Insurance
• Company Pension Scheme
• Hybrid Working model: 3 days office, 2 days WFH
• 50% employee discount in itsu shops
• Free itsu lunch when in the office
• Discounts at major retailers
• Salary sacrifice cycle and electric vehicle schemes
• Development & Growth opportunities

At itsu [grocery], everyone’s taste matters, and so does who’s behind it. We celebrate diversity and are an equal opportunities employer. Applications from all backgrounds are encouraged. If you need support or adjustments to apply, we’ll happily accommodate.