We are a premium chocolate manufacturer established in 1845 operating in over 86 countries around the World. Guided by our Global purpose to Enchant the World with Chocolate and UK vision of Creating Moments to Make Everyone Feel Special, we have around 400 team members in the UK across our Head Office, Retail, and Field Sales divisions. We are a Top 20 Great Place to Work and are proud of our incredible people, our unique values-led culture and our iconic market leading brands such as LINDOR & GOLD BUNNY.
We’re also proud of being one of the few bean-to-bar chocolate makers in the world, where we control every step of our chocolate production.
The role
We have an exciting opportunity where you could be a part of our incredible team.
In this role you will be responsible for the day-to-day stock and sales monitoring of our Retail stores. This role requires you to have the ability to take ownership for the department and stores. This includes managing the end-to-end life of all store lines from concept, pricing and forecasting, in store launch, seasonal forecasting and end of life store clearance.
We also have a new system that needs your experience. You will need to review the current reporting and using the new BI system to create new reporting for the stores and head office to review sales and promotional performance. You will provide the store team with essential data and be key part of the trading decisions.
You will also need to develop and actively drive your own development working with the Merchandise Manager on areas you want to focus on to develop your skills and capabilities. You will also manage and train the Merchandising Assistant. You will have the ability to represent the merchandising team in key meetings and represent Retail when the Merchandise Manager is absent.
Key Responsibilities include
Maximising Sales Turnover and Profitability to drive grow and drive the business forward
- Review current range of reporting with the Merchandise team to give trading recommendations and ways to improve reporting including using the Business Intelligence system to create automated reports.
- Review stores promotional sales and reflect on results and provide clear recommendations because of this insight to offer future promotions to the Merchandise manager.
- Manage with finance the in-store sampling process.
- Forecast and review pricing on the packaging portfolio including NPD, seasonal lines and everyday lines. Work with the Packaging team and MA to review this on a regular basis.
- Monthly review of Ice cream and drinks performance by store by sku to reflect trends and deliver Fcst to the demand planning and packaging teams.
Management of the day-to-day trading of the stores
- Work with the demand planning team to forecast our lines for stores considering changes in ranges, promotions, and performance variances of the stores.
- With the MA review seasonal stock holding. Creating a pre-season allocation launch then trade this in season and then review the end of season performance ready for the next seasons forecasting.
- In season management of sku sales and stock and work in the wider business team to manage overall business stock
- Review the new replenishment system and how this can be developed including management of the system, reporting and training for stores to use this system.
- Working with the MA on managing the critical path for seasonal product and promotional launches in stores
- Managing the MA to action product set up and maintenance in central Lindt systems into SAP.
- Managing the MA to action promotional system set up and maintenance.
- With the MA manage stocks including management of replenishment parameters for stores. Also for the new stores create the stock launch package
Management of the Merchandising Assistant
- Inspire a shared vision by communicating clear goals and fostering a positive and rewarding work environment through set objectives.
- Coach and motivate retail merchandising assistant through regular 1-2-1’s to deliver the retail and business game plan objectives.
- Develop active PDP’s focusing on the what and the how, developing skills and capability of team to create a culture where they never want to stop learning.
What experience you’ll bring
- Experienced JM preferably with an understanding of both the outlet and boutique business
- Excellent commercial aptitude and a love of data and has advance Excel essential
- Performance driven, tenacious and goal orientated.
- Resilient under pressure
- Extremely organised and has a passion for detail.
- A great communicator who can easily build great relationships and is comfortable presenting to senior management (this role will have high visibility across the leadership team)
- Highly computer literate
- High levels of energy and enthusiasm
- A genuine passion for retail
- A good knowledge of SAP, BI and Cognos an advantage
Being yourself every day
We want everyone at Lindt feel safe to be themselves, ensuring they are empowered, represented, celebrated and included in our workplace. You’ll notice this throughout the recruitment process; in our ‘dress for your day’ policy and through our proactive DE&I strategy.
Living our values everyday
At Lindt UK, our values guide us in everything we do. Being Passionately Lindt, Always Evolving, Building Real Relationships, Acting Responsibly and Making An Impact are an integral part of life here at Lindt.
What you can expect from us
In return for everything that you’ll bring, we can offer you an exciting role in a fast-growing organisation, where we’ll provide an environment where you will thrive, feel supported and fulfil your career aspirations. As well as supporting your physical and mental wellbeing, as part of our offering, you will receive a competitive compensation and benefits package including; competitive salary, bonus, pension, life cover, chocolate allowance; chocolate give-aways, chocolate discount, £100 personal incentive, birthday day off and so much more!