Sales leadership
Heads of Sales, Sales Directors and Commercial Directors who can set strategy, lead a team and grow revenue across retail, wholesale and foodservice.
FMCG Recruitment Specialists · Belfast
Sourcing the best FMCG talent
Julie Bell, Founder & CEO of Bell Recruitment, has been delivering the best FMCG talent and Executive Search solutions for over 25 years, connecting leading food, beverage, and consumer goods brands with exceptional commercial talent across Northern Ireland, Ireland, and the UK.
25+years placing
FMCG talent
FMCG talent
Julie BellFounder & CEO, Bell Recruitment
Trusted by Northern Ireland’s leading FMCG brands
Founder & CEO
Julie Bell
Bell Recruitment was launched in 1999 by Founder and CEO Julie Bell, with a clear vision: to be the best FMCG Recruiter by combining her FMCG industry knowledge with a personal, people-first approach.
Now with over 25 years’ experience, the business has grown steadily, built on long-standing relationships with both clients and candidates, and a reputation for quality, integrity, and results.
Before founding the business, Julie spent a decade working within FMCG for brands including Pepsi, 7UP, Ballygowan water and Budweiser, across promotional activity, merchandising, and sales roles – experience that continues to shape the way Bell Recruitment works with clients today.
Julie is also active beyond the business, holding several notable roles:
- Council Member of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce
- Committee Member of the Institute of Directors
- Board Member of the Council for Curriculum, Examinations & Assessment
- Committee Member of the Grocers’ Benevolent Fund
At Bell Recruitment, people are at the heart of everything we do.
Roles we recruit
FMCG Executive Search and FMCG Recruitment in Northern Ireland, Ireland and the UK
Whether a hire works depends on the customers they’ll sell to, the territory they’ll cover and the targets they’ll be measured on. We take the time to understand all three. These are the roles we recruit:
National and key account management
Account managers and controllers who manage the major multiples, symbol groups and wholesalers, and who can negotiate range, promotions and margin with buyers.
Field sales and business development
Sales executives, territory managers and business development managers who are out on the road, opening new accounts and growing existing accounts in independent retail and convenience channels.
Foodservice and trade sales
Specialists who sell into hotels, restaurants, contract caterers, distributors and trade channels, and who understand how those customers buy.
Marketing, brand and category
Marketing Directors, Brand managers, marketing managers and category specialists who turn customer and shopper insight into products, campaigns and plans that sell.
Procurement, supply chain and commercial operations
Heads of procurement, supply chain managers, planners and commercial analysts who keep costs under control, stock moving and customers supplied.
Sales support and customer service
Sales support executives, sales administrators and customer service teams who keep orders, pricing and promotions accurate, so the sales team can sell.
Don’t see your role here? If it sits within food, drink or FMCG, we can almost certainly help. Talk to us about your vacancy →
What we do
Our Services
FMCG Executive Search & Recruitment
We help FMCG businesses identify, attract and appoint the talent who will shape their future.
Specialising in executive search and recruitment across the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector, we partner with organisations throughout Northern Ireland, Ireland and the UK to secure exceptional talent.
Combining unparalleled sector knowledge, extensive executive networks, strategic market mapping and advanced talent assessment, we identify outstanding individuals who can drive business performance, lead transformation and deliver lasting impact.
From critical leadership appointments to long-term talent strategy, we connect businesses with the people who make the difference.
Executive Search
Strategic, research-led executive search to identify and secure exceptional senior leaders and C-suite talent within the FMCG and consumer goods sectors.
Recruitment & Selection
End-to-end recruitment solutions designed to identify, assess and appoint high-calibre professionals who align with your business objectives, culture and long-term ambitions.
Market Intelligence & Insights
Actionable intelligence on talent availability, leadership markets, competitor activity, remuneration trends and organisational structures to support informed hiring and business decisions.
Candidate Assessment, Preparation & Screening
Rigorous candidate screening, structured interviews and behavioural assessment to evaluate leadership capability, cultural alignment and suitability for the role.
Psychometric Testing
Online psychometric assessments that provide deeper insight into candidates’ behavioural preferences, cognitive abilities and leadership potential, supporting evidence-based selection decisions.
Talent Pipelining
Proactive talent pipeline development to identify, engage and nurture high-potential candidates ahead of future recruitment needs, strengthening succession planning and reducing time to hire.
Talent Sourcing & Market Mapping
Targeted talent sourcing and comprehensive market mapping to uncover exceptional candidates, including high-performing individuals who may not be actively seeking new opportunities.
Executive Search
For senior, business-critical and confidential appointments
When you’re appointing a Managing Director, Head of Sales, Operations Director or another leader whose decisions will define your next chapter, the best person is rarely browsing job boards. They’re usually doing well where they are and not actively looking.
Executive Search is a retained, research-led service built to find and engage those people.
1The brief
We spend time with you and your leadership team to understand the role, the business strategy behind it, and the culture the right person must fit.
2Mapping the market
We identify the organisations, competitors and adjacent sectors where suitable leaders are working now, across Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and beyond.
3Direct, discreet approach
We contact potential candidates personally and in confidence, and present your opportunity in a way that gets serious consideration.
4Rigorous assessment
Candidates are interviewed in depth against the brief, with their track record, motivations and fit tested well before they meet you.
5A considered shortlist
You receive a small number of well-qualified candidates with detailed written reports.
6Through to appointment
We manage interviews, references, offer negotiation and resignation, and stay in touch through onboarding.
Choose Executive Search when
- The role is senior, specialist or hard to fill
- Confidentiality matters, for example when replacing an incumbent or entering a new market
- The cost of getting the hire wrong is high
- You need access to people who aren’t actively looking
Recruitment
For professional, management and operational roles you need filled well and quickly
Our Recruitment service gives you fast access to good candidates, with the screening and judgement that save your team time.
1The brief
We take the time to understand the role, the team and what good looks like, and can help write the job description if you need one.
2Targeted sourcing
We draw on our established network, our candidate database and targeted advertising to reach the right people.
3Careful screening
Every candidate is interviewed and assessed before you see them, so you only meet people worth your time.
4Interview support
We can provide structured interview questions and coordinate the process from start to finish.
5Offer and beyond
We handle feedback, offers and start dates, and keep in touch once your new hire is in place.
Choose Recruitment when
- You need a strong shortlist within a short timeframe
- The role suits active jobseekers as well as passive candidates
- You’re hiring for sales, commercial, operations, production, technical or support roles
- You want a trusted partner across several vacancies
Client testimonials
What FMCG employers say about Bell Recruitment
“Bell Recruitment are my go-to company when it comes to recruitment for commercial roles in our business.”
“Bell Recruitment have been working with our company for over 20 years, they are a professional organisation.”
“We have used Bell Recruitment as our recruitment partner for many years, and they have always provided us with excellent candidates for a range of commercial and operational roles.”
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
What does Bell Recruitment specialise in?
FMCG executive search in Northern Ireland, covering sales, key account, brand and commercial roles.
How quickly will you start the search?
Within 24 hours of receiving your job description.
Do I need FMCG experience to apply?
It depends on the vacancy. Some employers require it and others consider transferable sales experience.
Blogs
Latest from Bell Recruitment
How to attract top FMCG talent in a competitive market
A few practical steps employers can take to stand out to candidates in the FMCG sector.
Preparing your CV for a commercial role
Simple tips to help your CV get noticed by hiring managers in commercial and operational roles.
Why executive search is different to standard recruitment
What sets an executive search apart, and when it's the right approach for your business.