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Most hiring managers in FMCG have been let down by a recruiter at some point. You brief them, they send CVs that miss the mark, and three weeks later you are back where you started. That is not how we work.
Civic Recruitment has been placing FMCG and consumer goods professionals across the UK for years. We cover the full range — food and drink, health and beauty, household products, grocery retail, pet care, confectionery, and more. Our consultants know the sector. They understand how commercial teams are built, what good looks like at each level, and where the talent actually sits.
Businesses from London and the South East through to Manchester, Birmingham, and beyond trust us to deliver. And candidates across sales, marketing, supply chain, and operations come to us because we give them straight advice, not just another call about a role.
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What Is FMCG Recruitment?
FMCG stands for fast-moving consumer goods. Everyday products that sell quickly and in high volumes — food, drinks, toiletries, cleaning products, snacks, baby items, pet food. In the UK, the grocery sector alone is worth over £230 billion a year, according to the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD). It is one of the biggest employment markets in the country.
FMCG recruitment means finding and placing the professionals who run these businesses. That includes everyone from a field sales rep covering supermarkets in the North West to a Supply Chain Director managing a network of UK and European distribution centres. American businesses often use the term CPG (consumer packaged goods) for the same sector. If you work across both markets, you will hear both.
What makes specialist FMCG recruitment different from using a generalist agency is context. We know the difference between a NAM who manages a Tesco relationship and one who handles a foodservice account. That distinction matters when you are trying to hire well.
Roles We Recruit For
We place professionals across every core function in the consumer goods sector. Here is a breakdown of the roles we handle regularly.
Commercial and Sales
National Account Manager (Grocery, Convenience, Foodservice)
Key Account Executive and Key Account Manager
Category Manager and Category Controller
Revenue Growth Manager
Business Development Manager
Commercial Director and Sales Director
Marketing and Brand
Brand Manager and Senior Brand Manager
Trade Marketing and Shopper Marketing Manager
Consumer Insights and Research Manager
eCommerce and Digital Trading Manager
Marketing Director and CMO
Supply Chain and Operations
Supply Chain Manager and Supply Chain Director
Demand Planner and S&OP Manager
Procurement and Buying Manager
Logistics Manager and Distribution Manager
Operations Manager and Site Manager
Quality Assurance and Technical Manager
Grocery, Retail and Executive
Grocery Buyer and Merchandise Manager
Field Sales Manager and National Field Sales Manager
General Manager, Managing Director, CEO, CCO
Not every role fits neatly into a category. If you have a brief that is unusual or senior, call us directly. There is a strong chance we have placed something similar before.
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Hiring FMCG Talent? Here Is What to Expect From Us
A vacant role in FMCG is not a minor inconvenience. It costs real money. Your key account does not get the attention it needs. Your competitor's NAM is making calls your team cannot make right now. The longer it stays open, the more pressure lands on people who are already stretched.
We move quickly. Most shortlists for commercial and marketing roles go out within seven to ten working days. For senior hires, the process takes longer but we keep you informed at each stage rather than going quiet for two weeks.
Our network includes professionals who are not on any job board. Some of the strongest candidates we place were not looking when we called. They trusted us enough to hear us out. That only works because we have built those relationships properly, not by spamming LinkedIn.
We work with businesses of all shapes and sizes. FMCG manufacturers with UK head offices in London, challenger brands operating out of units off the A2 in Kent, food producers along the M20 corridor, and grocery retailers with regional offices across the Midlands and North. The brief determines the search, not the size of the client.
Employer Services
Permanent recruitment from manager level through to director and C-suite
Contract and interim placements for cover, projects, or peak demand
Confidential executive search for board-level and sensitive appointments
Retained and contingency models available
Market mapping for strategic or hard-to-fill roles
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Looking for Your Next FMCG Role?
If you are thinking about moving, the first thing you want to know is whether the person you are talking to actually understands your market. There is nothing more frustrating than explaining what a Category Manager does to someone who should already know.
We get it. We know the difference between branded and private label. We know how FMCG sales structures vary between large manufacturers and SME food businesses. We understand what the career path looks like from NAM to Commercial Director, and where the stepping stones are.
In the UK FMCG market right now, candidates with a background in eCommerce grocery, revenue growth management, or shopper marketing are getting multiple approaches. But strong commercial candidates in general are in demand. If your track record shows results, we can find a home for it.
What Registering With Us Gives You
A real conversation, not a box-ticking call
Access to roles that are never advertised
Honest view of the market, including salary benchmarks
Prep and debrief support at interview stage
Someone who stays in touch, not just when a role comes up
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Why Civic Recruitment?
We are a REC-accredited agency based at Invicta House on Sandpit Road in Dartford. We hold ICO registration and carry strong ratings on both Google and Trustpilot. But accreditations are table stakes. Here is what actually matters.
Our consultants come with sector knowledge already built in. They know FMCG. They can have a credible conversation with your Commercial Director about a brief without needing a glossary. That means the shortlists are better and the process is faster.
We are also honest when something is difficult. If your brief is going to be hard to fill because of location, salary, or the combination of skills you are asking for, we will tell you that up front rather than three months later. That kind of transparency is not common in this industry and we think it should be.
The UK FMCG Hiring Market Right Now
Own-label growth has put real pressure on branded manufacturers to sharpen their commercial edge. Retailers are tougher on margin and the days of growing a brand on promotional spend alone are largely over. This has driven demand for commercially analytical people who understand category economics, not just relationships.
Online grocery has created roles that did not exist five years ago. Ocado, Amazon Fresh, Deliveroo Grocery, and the rapid delivery platforms all need people who understand digital shelf, search placement, and online promotional mechanics. These roles sit in a gap between traditional trade marketing and digital marketing. Candidates who can bridge that gap are genuinely scarce.
Sustainability hiring has moved from being a nice-to-have to a board-level priority. Packaging reformulation, Scope 3 emissions, and responsible sourcing are driving specialist hires that would have sat in a graduate programme three years ago. The Food Standards Agency and the Competition and Markets Authority are both more active than they were, creating demand for regulatory and compliance expertise.
For businesses in the South East, particularly those based near Dartford, Maidstone, or along the M20 and A2 into London, logistics and supply chain talent is in short supply. The competition for experienced Operations Managers and Demand Planners in this corridor is fierce.
Sub-sectors We Cover
Food and Drink (ambient, chilled, frozen, foodservice)
Grocery and Supermarket Retail
Health, Beauty and Personal Care
Household and Cleaning Products
Pet Care and Animal Nutrition
Confectionery and Snacking
Soft Drinks and Beverages
Alcoholic Drinks and Spirits
Baby and Childcare
OTC Health and Pharmacy Brands
Frequently Asked Questions
What seniority levels do you recruit at?
We place from manager level upwards, covering mid-management, senior management, director, and C-suite roles. We also handle some specialist positions below that level where we have a strong relationship with the employer.
Do you work with startup food brands as well as large manufacturers?
Yes, and they require very different approaches. A startup needs someone comfortable with ambiguity and fast growth. A large manufacturer needs someone with a track record in a structured commercial environment. We know how to brief and screen for both.
How quickly can you turn around a shortlist?
For most commercial and marketing roles, seven to ten working days from a proper brief. Executive searches take longer, typically three to five weeks. We would rather be honest about timelines than overpromise.
Can you handle contract and interim hires?
Yes. Cover hires, project-based contracts, and interim leadership appointments are all part of what we do. If you need someone in quickly, that conversation is worth having.
Do you cover the whole of the UK?
We do. Our base is in Dartford but our search work is national. We have placed candidates in London, the South East, the Midlands, the North of England, Scotland, and Wales. We also support relocation where candidates are open to it.
Let's Talk
If you have a role to fill or a career move to plan, the conversation is always worth having. No obligation, no pressure. Just straight advice from people who know FMCG.
FOR EMPLOYERS: Submit a Vacancy or call
FOR CANDIDATES: Register Your CV or Search FMCG Jobs
