Sales Director - Food Service

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced and driven Sales Director to lead growth within our Food Service segment. You will manage key international customers, identify new business opportunities, and play a central role in expanding Sulapac’s footprint in sustainable materials replacing conventional plastics. You will work closely with different functions, partners, and global clients to deliver high-value solutions that advance both commercial success and our customers’ sustainability goals.

About Sulapac

Sulapac was founded in 2016 by Dr. Suvi Haimi, Dr. Laura Tirkkonen-Rajasalo and Dr. Antti Pärssinen to tackle the global plastic crisis. Their material innovation first made waves in the cosmetics industry, but its impact goes far beyond: Today, brands across various sectors, from food service to design furniture, replace conventional plastic with our sustainable, beautiful and functional Sulapac materials. Our vision is to become the new standard for sustainable materials replacing conventional plastics. Sulapac has won several international awards, and it has been selected among Europe’s 100 hottest start-ups by Wired UK magazine three times. Companies in various industries around the world benefit from our sustainable material solutions, exceptional technical support, and industry knowhow. Investors behind Sulapac, the patented material innovation, include CHANEL and Lifeline Ventures. Sulapac is based in Helsinki, Finland and employs 22 people.

If you are passionate about sustainability, innovation, and driving meaningful change, this is your opportunity to make an impact. Learn more: www.sulapac.com

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and grow existing customer relationships while proactively identifying and accelerating new customer and market opportunities.
• Achieve sales targets and drive growth within the food service segment.
• Prepare proposals, sales plans, and long-term objectives aligned with business goals and customer needs.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with customers, stakeholders, and partners globally, both internally and externally.
• Gather and analyze customer feedback and market insights; monitor new markets and emerging trends to recommend new products, services, and strategic partnerships.
• Develop a deep understanding of Sulapac’s offering to identify and capture profitable business opportunities.
• Perform other sales-related tasks as needed to support business growth.

Skills & Experience

Required:

• Experience in international B2B sales, preferably for 3-5 years.
• Proven track record in managing international B2B customer relationships.
• Understanding of value-based selling and solution-oriented approaches.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Strong negotiation skills and confidence in leading customer meetings.
• Genuine interest in working in a dynamic, fast-growing scale-up environment.
• Interest and readiness towards international travel 20–40 days per year.
• Excellent communication skills in English, both written and spoken.

Considered an advantage:

• Experience in the foodservice industry or raw material business.
• Knowledge of German, Finnish, or Swedish.

You’ll succeed in this role if you are...

• A self-starter who thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Curious and eager to understand customers and markets in depth.
• Skilled at prioritizing and adapting — able to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution.
• A strong communicator with excellent interpersonal skills and business acumen.
• Naturally collaborative, working effectively across teams and cultures.
• Driven by purpose, with a genuine passion for sustainability and desire to make an impact.

Objectives & Success Metrics

First 3–6 Months:

• Get acquainted with existing customers and their various stakeholder groups, building trust and understanding their needs.
• Deeply understand Sulapac’s offering and value proposition.
• Work in alignment with the agreed ways of working and collaboration practices within the organization.

Within 12 Months:

• Identify and secure new growth opportunities in existing and new customer segments.
• Strong understanding of the food service strategy and segment.
• Growth of the customer portfolio and overall business within the segment.

Practical Details

• Employment Type: Permanent, Full-time
• Reports to: Chief Commercial Officer
• Start Date: As soon as possible
• Work Mode: Hybrid (based in Finland), with readiness to travel 20–40 days per year. Office in Helsinki city center.
• Flexibility: Flexible working hours.
• Compensation: €4,500–€5,500/month, based on experience and qualifications. Additionally, a sales bonus model will be agreed on. The position also includes participation in the company’s bonus program, as may be applicable from time to time.
• Benefits: Comprehensive employee benefits, including occupational healthcare, voluntary Health Insurance, participation in the company’s bonus program, phone benefit, and Edenred lunch, culture, transport, massage and wellbeing benefits.

How to Apply

We will start reviewing applications immediately, and interviews will be scheduled as soon as suitable candidates are identified — so don’t wait, apply today!

Please submit your CV and cover letter in English as soon as possible. Applications are handled only through the career page.

If you have any questions about the role or the recruitment process, please contact Minda Merisaari (Office Manager & HR Specialist) at minda.merisaari@sulapac.com.