OverviewGeneral Manager – Food Distribution, Commercial Leadership & Strategic Growth.
Distinguished Sydney food distribution business with 20+ years market presence, operating from a state-of-the-art 10,000+ sqm semi-automated facility.
Serving Sydney's most prestigious restaurants, luxury hotels, and specialty retailers through a sophisticated dual-channel model – high-volume commodity distribution via national consortium membership plus exclusive premium product ranges.The OpportunityExceptional leadership opportunity to guide an established food distributor under $100M through strategic evolution to $120-140M.
Whether your strength lies in commercial operations or relationship-driven growth, this role offers the chance to build on extraordinary foundations while adding the disciplines required for scale.
The infrastructure is world-class, systems operational, customer relationships exemplary – now they need a strategic leader to unlock untapped potential.The CompanyDistinguished Sydney food distribution business with 20+ years market presence, operating from a state-of-the-art 10,000+ sqm semi-automated facility.
Serving Sydney's most prestigious restaurants, luxury hotels, and specialty retailers through a sophisticated dual-channel model – high-volume commodity distribution via national consortium membership plus exclusive premium product ranges.Recent multi-million dollar automation and WMS implementationDigital customer platform and advanced BI systems are operationalIndustry-leading delivery operation with midnight startsExclusive distribution agreements with sought-after producersStrong balance sheet with significant growth capacityThe RoleThe business is seeking an outstanding leader to serve as Managing Director, reporting directly to the owner with full autonomy.
You may bring either robust commercial expertise or exceptional relationship skills, and you will be supported by experienced functional leaders across all areas.Two Candidate Profiles We're SeekingPath 1: Commercial Operations LeaderYour Likely Background:Branch Manager at Bidfood, PFD, or similarRegional Operations Director from major distributorState Manager FMCG with operational oversightOperations Director with transformation experienceWhat You Bring:Deep understanding of warehouse operations, logistics, supply chainFull P&L; management including labour, wastage, marginsExpertise in procurement, rebates, supplier negotiationsTrack record implementing WMS and automationYour Focus:Implementing supplier agreements and commercial frameworksBuilding commercial disciplines and KPI frameworksOptimising technology investments and facilityDriving margin improvement through procurementPath 2: Sales & Relationship LeaderYour Likely Background:GM Sales or National Sales Manager from food distributionHead of Sales from premium food/beverage companyCommercial Manager with artisan/specialty expertiseSenior BDM who has scaled customer portfoliosWhat You Bring:Exceptional ability building trust with premium suppliers/customersRevenue growth through relationship managementDeep understanding of premium brand positioningNetwork within Sydney's hospitality sectorYour Focus:Strengthening commercial documentation while preserving relationshipsExpanding premium supplier partnershipsGrowing share with top-tier hospitalityBuilding artisan portfolio and market presenceCore Accountabilities (Both Paths)Implement comprehensive supplier agreements and MOUsEstablish QA protocols and recall procedures with cost recoveryDrive margin enhancement across all categoriesOptimise procurement through consortium leverageStrategic & FinancialFull P&L; accountability to ownershipDevelop and execute growth strategy to $120-140MBalance dual-channel requirements (commodity/premium)Optimise working capital and inventory efficiencyTeam LeadershipLead 100+ staff across multiple functionsBuild a performance culture, preserving service excellenceDevelop talent pipeline and succession planningEssential RequirementsMinimum 5+ years senior management food/FMCGProven P&L; management responsibility ($60M+ preferred)Track record of driving significant growthExperience managing 60+ staffStrong negotiation and stakeholder managementCritical AttributesStrategic thinking with execution focusCultural intelligence and change leadershipCommercial acumen (whether primary strength or developing)Commitment to service excellenceAll inquiries are managed with complete discretion.
This is a rare chance to lead a thriving business through a critical transformation.
The company is open to various approaches to success, with the focus on your ability to drive growth while maintaining what makes it unique.For more information, visit placedrecruitment.com.au and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn — your next move starts now.Job DetailsSeniority level: ExecutiveEmployment type: Full-timeJob function: Management and ManufacturingIndustries: Staffing and Recruiting#J-18808-Ljbffr
📌 General Manager – Food Distribution, Commercial Leadership & Strategic Growth
🏢 Placed Recruitment
📍 Perth