RETAIL UK - Food Brand Manager

Field, GB

Role: Food Brand Manager

Reports to: Brand Development Manager

Location: Field Based

Located:

To establish, maintain and drive positive performance and ensure sustainable growth within the food side of our retail business.
To partner with our current and potential food brand owners to extract maximum collateral from each area of FTG and to grow our fresh Food To Go category.
You will be part of project managing and delivering multi-site shop and forecourt developments with capex budgets in excess of £250,000. You will be involved from early feasibility stages through the entire development life cycle, including the selection, appointment and management of external consultant teams and main contractors.
Supporting the wider Retail team through provision of merchandising plans across all our stores to include ownership of all the marketing P’s and associated brand relationships. Develop and execute differentiated strategies and tactics for our customers that maximise range, distribution, location, availability, price, promotions and space for each Category.
Creating, and owning a robust, actionable and exciting brand strategy in a FMCG/FTG environment to achieve long term business goals and brand vision in the UK. Developing and delivering the annual Food Brand Plan for the UK.
To provide expert and innovative category management in all food related areas within retail to achieve success and desired growth: As food brand manager you will be responsible for establishing the vision, strategy, key marketing tactics and upholding the relationship with leading supplier, Brand partners and manufacturers.

Principal Responsibilities

Execute a 3-year vision for each category which identifies new ways to unlock consumption, extract maximum collateral from all our food partners
Take ownership of all negotiation of food partnerships
Monitor, report, and recommend actions based on new product developments and supplier performance management.
Support the Brand Development Manager and wider retail management team through the provision of accurate and actionable data analysis and ad hoc reporting as required to deliver the category vision and fundamentals across the channel.
Monitoring and measuring the category performance, maintaining an optimal balance between the long-term view and business demands of the category annual plan
Developing profitable category business plans, covering range, promotions, marketing and merchandising concepts
Owning the relationships and negotiations of trading terms, JVP and contract with all food partners
Supporting the business in offer development - support the business in the development of innovative, differentiated offers by accessing innovation from the supply base
Assessing the high-level feasibility of potential new food sites and outlets and site refurbishments.
Ensuring all budgets and investments are appropriately approved and expenditure is tracked and reported in line with Finance requirements.
Ensuring effective delivery of each development site, from initial assessment through to opening, delivering the required project outcomes on time, to cost and quality requirements, including all documentation and handover requirements.
Ensuring approvals and consents are in place through effectively liaising with licencing and local authorities.
Ensuring consistent delivery of every new and refurbished site through adherence to agreed format and design standards.
Input into the continuous improvement of design standards.
Ensuring health and safety requirements are being observed and adhered to throughout the development process.

Qualifications & Experience

3 years proven experience in managing categories end to end,
Experience within the retail environment or any Food to Go environment.
Category Management – minimum 3 years’ experience in a similar role with a deep understanding of the food sector with skills particularly in negotiating and contract management
Ability to leverage and capitalise on commercial opportunities

Personal skills/attributes required:

Self-motivated and proactive.
Able to work on your own without constant supervision