How our team helped Agrana Establish their UK Sales Force with 2 Strategic Hires

Agrana: Strengthening the UK Sales Team with Top Dairy & Foodservice Talent

Client: Agrana – UK Operations
Sector: Food & Ingredients / Dairy and Foodservice
Roles: Senior Sales Professionals (2 hires)

Background

Agrana, a leading Austrian-based company in food and ingredients, approached Paragon Talent with a clear goal: strengthen their UK sales force in the fruit division. They sought professionals to lead their Dairy, Foodservice, and QSR business channels—building on their strong presence in the dairy market while expanding into Foodservice and QSR, a key growth area for the company.

The Challenge

Agrana needed to hire candidates with a dual expertise:

Proven sales record in the B2B ingredients market, particularly dairy and ice cream
Experience in the Foodservice and QSR channels, where Agrana was looking to grow
Ability to balance account management and business development, contributing to both established and emerging markets

The challenge was significant: finding candidates who could bridge these two distinct sectors while driving results.

Our Approach

Paragon Talent implemented a strategic, targeted search process to identify and engage top talent:

Stakeholder Meetings: Engaged with Agrana’s HR and Commercial Leadership teams to fully understand requirements and set expectations.
Market Insights & Benchmarking: Provided detailed UK market insights, helping Agrana align compensation packages to attract the best candidates.
Market Mapping: Analysed competition and companies active in the dairy and Foodservice/QSR sectors to identify potential talent pools.
Targeted Search: Compiled a list of 90 potential candidates with relevant industry experience.
Attracting the Right Talent: Reached out to a select group of prospects, presenting Agrana’s growth vision and the unique opportunities within the roles.
Shortlisting & Interviews: Screened and presented a shortlist complete with CVs, video introductions, and executive summaries. Managed all stages of the interview process and facilitated offer negotiations.

Overcoming Challenges

Early in the search, we identified a key obstacle: finding professionals with expertise in both dairy and Foodservice/QSR. Using market data, we confirmed this was a rare combination. After discussing the findings with Agrana, the strategy was adapted, ultimately leading to the hiring of two professionals with complementary skill sets that together met the company’s needs.

The Results: Two Exceptional Hires

Despite the challenge of bridging two distinct markets, we successfully placed:

Yasin Shaikh: A Dairy Technologist turned sales professional, bringing a deep understanding of both dairy and non-dairy markets.
Ryan Gaskin: A seasoned sales professional with proven success building business in the QSR and Foodservice sectors, particularly with major coffee chains.

Both candidates integrated seamlessly into Agrana’s UK business and have already made significant contributions.

Candidate Testimonials

“Jamie demonstrated a genuine interest in my career goals, providing valuable insights into the job market and offering guidance throughout the process. His communication and dedication made all the difference in securing my role at Agrana.” — Ryan Gaskin

“Jamie provided exceptional support and guidance, offering clear insights and constructive feedback throughout. His professionalism and commitment helped me secure my new role, and I highly recommend him to anyone in the food industry seeking new opportunities.” — Yasin Shaikh

Ready to Build Your Commercial Team?

If you’re looking to expand your commercial team and make strategic hires like Agrana, Paragon Talent can help. Our process is designed to deliver high-calibre candidates who meet your unique needs and align with your business culture.

Contact us today to learn how we can support your recruitment goals.

👉 Book a meeting with Jamie

About Paragon Talent

Paragon Talent is a specialist recruitment consultancy connecting high-growth manufacturing and FMCG businesses with top-tier commercial and technical talent. We focus on senior-level appointments across the Flavour, Fragrance, Food, Beverage, and Ingredient sectors. With deep industry knowledge, a global network, and a hands-on, personalised approach, we deliver fast, high-quality recruitment solutions that drive growth, strengthen leadership teams, and create long-term value for both clients and candidates.

About the Author

Jamie Pickup is the Founder and Director at Paragon Talent, specialising in executive search and senior-level appointments across the Flavor, Fragrance, and Ingredient industries. With over 12 years’ experience, Jamie has a proven track record of connecting high-growth businesses with top-tier commercial and technical talent. Known for a hands-on, transparent, and highly personalised approach, he combines deep sector expertise with an extensive international network to deliver recruitment outcomes that make a measurable impact on business growth.

FAQ Section

Q: What types of roles can Paragon Talent help recruit?
A: We specialise in senior commercial, technical, and leadership positions, including VP-level, Director, Key Account Manager, Sales Manager, and other specialist roles across the Flavour, Fragrance, Food, Beverage, and Ingredient sectors.

Q: How does Paragon Talent find candidates with niche expertise?
A: We combine market mapping, targeted search, and a strong international network to identify candidates with very specific skills and industry experience, ensuring the right fit for your business needs.

Q: How quickly can you fill senior sales roles?
A: Timing depends on the role complexity, but our focused methodology and extensive network allow us to significantly reduce time-to-hire compared to traditional recruitment approaches.

Q: Do you work with both clients and candidates?
A: Yes. We guide clients in building high-performing teams and support candidates throughout the recruitment process, including interview preparation, feedback, and offer negotiation.

Q: How do you ensure cultural and regional fit?
A: Beyond skills and experience, we evaluate candidates’ alignment with company culture, leadership style, and regional market knowledge, ensuring a seamless integration into your team.

Q: Can you support multiple hires at once?
A: Absolutely. Whether you need to scale a team quickly or make multiple strategic appointments, our structured process ensures efficiency without compromising quality.