Business Development Lead - Foodservice

Flora Food Group•Toronto, ON

6d•CA$140,000 - CA$150,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Flora Food Group is expanding its commercial operations in Canada, with foodservice being a key component of a larger growth strategy. This role seeks an entrepreneurial commercial leader to identify, prioritize, and drive initiatives that will accelerate growth and optimize plant capacity within the Canadian market. The position encompasses more than just traditional foodservice sales, involving the evaluation of opportunities across foodservice, strategic partnerships, private label, contract manufacturing, and new market entry strategies. This is a unique opportunity to establish a business function from the ground up, requiring a blend of strategic planning and hands-on execution. The successful candidate will define focus areas, develop go-to-market approaches, build necessary tools and partnerships, and manage opportunities from conception to commercialization. With the launch of the Becel Chef's Signature platform and ambitious growth targets, this role is pivotal in shaping Flora Food Group's Canadian growth strategy, including managing broker relationships, developing sales capabilities, and forging strategic partnerships.

Requirements

Proven success in identifying and commercializing new business opportunities within foodservice, retail, CPG, or manufacturing
Experience developing go-to-market strategies and commercial growth plans, particularly in environments where the playbook was not already established
Strong business development skills, including opportunity assessment, prioritization, negotiation, and customer acquisition
Ability to operate effectively across multiple channels and routes to market rather than within a single area of specialization
Experience managing brokers, distributors, strategic partners, or third-party commercial organizations
Track record of building processes, teams, tools, and capabilities in entrepreneurial or growth-focused environments
Strong commercial judgment and the ability to balance long-term opportunities with near-term business needs

Nice To Haves

Foodservice experience is valued, but deep foodservice specialization is not required
Retail, private label, contract manufacturing, or broader commercial leadership experience would be considered a significant advantage combined with foodservice experience

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a Canadian commercial growth strategy across foodservice, strategic partnerships, private label, and contract manufacturing channels
Identify, evaluate, and prioritize high-ROI business opportunities, establishing clear criteria for where the organization invests its time and resources
Build and evolve the go-to-market strategy, adjusting channel priorities based on market opportunities and business performance
Lead the broker relationship in alignment with our strategic direction
Create the foundational commercial infrastructure needed to support growth, including sales tools, customer materials, processes, and performance frameworks
Partner closely with Marketing and Design teams to develop compelling sales collateral, sell sheets, and channel-specific customer presentations
Leverage the Chef's Signature Becel brand platform to create differentiated customer engagement opportunities within foodservice and related channels
Lead and develop a small but capable team, providing strategic direction, coaching, and prioritization discipline
Build relationships with operators, distributors, brokers, manufacturers, and strategic commercial partners across the Canadian market
Translate market insights into clear commercial actions that drive profitable growth and improve utilization of manufacturing capacity