About this role

Company and Job Overview

A famous Japanese alcohol brewery company with over a hundred years of history is looking for a Sales Director of off‑trade (m/f/d) based in Düsseldorf. The European headquarters is responsible for sales and marketing in Europe, Russia, and the Middle East. Although the organization is still relatively small, its business is expanding and gradually strengthening its structure, particularly its sales team. Currently, their businesses are off‑site (to retailers) and on‑site (to restaurants and hotels, etc.). For this role, it is requested to strengthen the sales force mainly in the off‑site (to retailers), including D2C.

Job Responsibilities

Drive annual sales strategies and targets for major European retail chains
Build and maintain strong relationships with key buyers and category managers
Lead negotiations on annual agreements, trading terms, and promotional plans
Analyze market trends and sales data to optimize business performance
Recruit, develop, and manage team members (future responsibility)
Represent the brand and execute business meetings across Europe
Making market/trend reports for the company
Business travels in the designated markets, also to Japan (sometimes)

Job Requirements

Excellent business communication skills in English; any other European language is a plus
Minimum 5 years of sales experience in the mass retail channel (beverages or food category)
Existing connections with key decision‑makers at major retailers in key markets (Germany, France, Poland, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain) such as Carrefour, Tesco, MediaMarkt, Auchan, Lidl, and Aldi
Proven track record in driving sales growth and expanding distribution for premium or craft beer brands
Strong experience and skills in annual contract and trading terms negotiation
Ability to work independently and deliver results in a fast‑paced environment
Flexibility to travel frequently and conduct business across multiple European countries
Sales experience across multiple European markets is a plus
Experience in in‑store promotions and joint marketing initiatives
Knowledge of retail supply chain operations (e.g., EDI, VMI, logistics optimization)
Experience developing sales strategies using data from Nielsen, GfK, IRI, or similar sources
Experience in building and managing sales teams, with strong leadership potential for future growth
Academic degree in any subject, alternatively, any professional/vocational qualification