Business Development Executive

Business Development Executive — Internship

Origin8 | Hybrid | £24k starting reviewed after 3 months

About us

Origin8 is a route-to-market agency for the UK and Ireland. We give overseas food and drink brands access to a full country management team — accounts, logistics, business development and finance — and act as an outsourced commercial partner to UK businesses. Our team has spent years on both sides of the buying desk across the major UK grocers and wholesalers.

The role

This is a rare chance to see the entire life cycle of a food brand, from production through to a product sitting on shelf in a national retailer — and to have a hand in making that happen.

You'll work directly alongside our commercial team on live brands and live accounts. There's no shadowing-only period and no coffee runs: you'll be given real responsibility early, with the support to handle it.

What you'll be doing

• Researching and identifying new retail, wholesale and foodservice opportunities
• Supporting the preparation of buyer presentations, range proposals and pitch materials
• Helping manage day-to-day account activity — pricing, promotions, forecasts and queries
• Building and maintaining relationships with buyers, distributors and brand partners
• Analysing category data to understand where our brands fit and where the gaps are
• Contributing to brand activation, marketing and in-store execution plans
• Tracking performance post-listing and feeding insight back to brand owners

What you'll learn

• Business development: how new listings are actually won in UK grocery
• Account management: keeping a brand performing once it's on shelf
• Commercial management: margin, cost price, promotional investment and profitability
• Relationship management: how to work with buyers, suppliers and brand owners
• Category and market knowledge, brand activation and route-to-market strategy

Who we're looking for

• A recent graduate (any discipline — we care more about attitude than subject)
• Genuine interest in food, drink, brands or retail
• Confident communicator, comfortable picking up the phone and speaking to people
• Organised, commercially curious, and comfortable with numbers and spreadsheets
• Someone who wants to be given responsibility rather than wait to be handed it

What we offer

• Competitive salary
• Direct exposure to senior people and to buyers at major UK retailers
• Hands-on experience across multiple brands and categories, not one narrow function
• A genuine route to a permanent role for the right person
• A fun, caring and exciting workplace

To apply

Send your CV and a short note on why this appeals.