Above and Beyond
Frinsa
Country Manager / Director
Krakow, Poland
Background
Frinsa, founded in Ribeira (Galicia) in 1961, is one of the largest European seafood canners. We provide canned seafood products to the major food retailers in Europe under their own brands and also manufacture a wide range of canned products with our brands Ribeira and Frinsa. Sustainability is at the heart of our strategy. We are part of a number of associations and partnerships that promote sustainable fisheries and the protection of the marine environment, including the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF), Friend of the Sea, the Earth Island Institute, Marine Steward Council (MSC) and Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP).
We have been aproced by Frinsa HR Department to discuss the potential of collaboration to recruit for several position mainly in Sales and Marketing department.
In addition to all the wider personal qualities a role like this demands, the ideal candidate profile was to be a qualified Sales Director with:
- Able to manage the different channels in which the company is present: National and Regional Large Distribution Accounts (MDD / MDF) / HORECA Channel / FOOD SERVICE / RETAIL / DISTRIBUTORS / COLLECTIVES.
- Development of appropriate strategies for specific accounts
- Essential minimum experience of 5 years in companies of Great Consumption, preferably of the food sector; with experience in selling MDD and / or own brands, and in negotiation with the main national and regional accounts of modern distribution.
Challenge
As with most business expansions in new countries, the challenge can be to define exactly what type of Sales and Business Developer would benefit the company most. Sometimes, companies misjudge this and end up recruiting the wrong person.
This can be overcome by clients engaging us in early dialogue, to scope out roles, well before they come to market. In other cases, like this, it is more appropriate for one of experience recruiters to scope out the requirments, and develope a recommended candidate profile. We are then left to implement an appropriate headhunting strategy and fulfil the requirement of our client.
Solution
This particular role was advertised in the principal online media, at the same time as the role was discussed with existing contacts of ours in and around Poland, in order to identified by additional research and search activities.
Over 10 interested parties and applicants had been considered from a variety of backgrounds to produce an initial shortlist of 2 candidates offering a combination of the core skills and experience required. Out of the initial shortlist, 1 candidates were recommended for second stage interview, who match the company requierments and coulture and was ultimately appointed.
Result
Since 2017, AquacultrueTalent recruiters are proud to have placed 7 Talents into what was effectively a new business expantion of our client. Unusually, this project allowed us to offer candidates to develope together with the company. Position we have covered are related to Sales, Marketing, Travel management in Europe and Asia.

Features
Consultation: a full brief from Head of Group HR
Documentation produced: full candidate and role specification.
Methodology: Headhunting search and selection.
Appointee: Experienced business development director, with executive sales skills and private label experience within food sector. Passionate about food with specialities in Customer, New Business Development, Import and Export, Branding and Identity, Launching New Products, Budgets, Negotiations.
Location: Krakow, Poland