Assistant Merchandiser

Fortnum & Mason; Greater London; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Fortnum & Mason is seeking a data-driven Assistant Merchandiser for the Fresh & Bakery team to help plan, trade and grow the category through inventory management and RELEX-powered forecasting. You will work closely with Buying, Retail, Logistics and suppliers to manage stock from planning to launch, build reports and monitor performance to keep stock moving efficiently.

The role offers development within a historic luxury brand with the opportunity to shape two dynamic categories in a unique

Qualifications

• 2+ years’ experience at Assistant Merchandiser level; grocery, FMCG or perishables experience is preferred.
• Strong Excel skills including SUMIFS, lookups, PivotTables and data analysis.
• Experience using forecasting, replenishment or merchandising systems; RELEX experience advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Forecasting & Replenishment: Use the RELEX forecasting system to drive accurate forecasting, ordering and store-level replenishment.
• Category Planning: Plan, forecast, trade and review relevant categories using campaign wash-ups and performance data to identify growth opportunities.
• Trading & Availability: Maintain availability across AYR and seasonal ranges, balancing sales, stock, wastage and financial targets.
• Stock Management: Monitor inventory levels, intake and stock flow to optimise availability while minimising waste and excess stock.
• Promotional Execution: Manage in-and-out stock for campaigns and seasonal lines, ensuring smooth launches and exits.
• Commercial Reporting: Produce weekly sales and margin reports, using WSSI to identify trends, risks and opportunities.
• Pricing & Markdowns: Support markdown plans that clear seasonal and short-life stock while protecting margin.
• Range Optimisation: Support Buying in developing customer-focused ranges that deliver sales, margin and availability targets.
• Supply Chain & Supplier Management:
• Supply Chain Management: Support the management of stock flow from supplier to distribution centre, working closely with suppliers, logistics and warehouse teams to resolve issues and maintain availability.
• Supplier Performance: Build strong supplier relationships and monitor OTIF and service level performance, escalating issues where required.
• Team Support & Development:
• Team Support: Provide analytical and operational support across the wider merchandising team, contributing to key projects and trading activity.
• Coaching & Development: Support the training and development of the Merchandise Administration Assistant (MAA)

Skills

Advanced Excel

RELEX

Forecasting

Stakeholder management

Merchandising systems

Analytics

Agility

Commercial acumen

Tools

RELEX

Forecasting systems

Merchandising systems

Job description

Our Head Office department is in the heart of Piccadilly and occupies the 5th & 6th floor of our beautiful flagship store. This central London location offers so much to explore including restaurants, bars, cultural sites, shopping and more, and only a short walk from the Green Park Tube Station and plenty of bus stops.

We’re looking for a data-driven, highly organised problem solver to join our Fresh & Bakery team as an Assistant Merchandiser. You’ll help the Merchandiser plan, trade and grow the category, balancing availability with commercial performance through smart inventory management and RELEX-powered demand forecasting

Working closely with Buying, Retail, Logistics, Warehouse teams and suppliers, you'll help manage stock flow from planning and intake through to launch and beyond. You’ll build reports, track performance and keep stock moving efficiently.

Responsibilities:

• Forecasting & Replenishment: Use the RELEX forecasting system to drive accurate forecasting, ordering and store-level replenishment.
• Category Planning: Work with stakeholders to plan, forecast, trade and review relevant categories, using campaign wash-ups and performance data to identify growth opportunities.
• Trading & Availability: Maintain availability across AYR and seasonal ranges, balancing sales, stock, wastage and financial targets.
• Stock Management: Monitor inventory levels, intake and stock flow to optimise availability while minimising waste and excess stock.
• Promotional Execution: Manage in-and-out stock for campaigns and seasonal lines, ensuring smooth launches and exits.
• Commercial Reporting: Produce weekly sales and margin reports, using WSSI to identify trends, risks and opportunities**.**
• Pricing & Markdowns: Support Buying on markdown plans that clear seasonal and short-life stock while protecting margin.
• Range Optimisation: Support Buying in developing customer-focused ranges that deliver sales, margin and availability targets.

3. Supply Chain & Supplier Management

• Supply Chain Management: Support the management of stock flow from supplier to distribution centre, working closely with suppliers, logistics and warehouse teams to resolve issues and maintain availability.
• Supplier Performance: Build strong supplier relationships and monitor OTIF (On-Time In-Full) and service level performance, escalating issues where required

4. Team Support & Development

• Team Support: Provide analytical and operational support across the wider merchandising team, contributing to key projects and trading activity.
• Coaching & Development: Support the training and development of the Merchandise Administration Assistant (MAA)

Experience and Qualifications

• Experience: 2+ years’ experience at Assistant Merchandiser level; grocery, FMCG or perishables experience is preferred.
• Analytical Skills: Strong Excel skills, including SUMIFS, lookups, PivotTables and data analysis, with the ability to translate data into clear commercial insights.
• Systems & Planning Tools: Experience using forecasting, replenishment or merchandising systems, with RELEX experience advantageous.
• Agility: Confident managing competing priorities and making decisions in a fast-paced trading environment.
• Commercial Acumen: A strong understanding of forecasting, margin, markdowns and the financial impact of wastage.
• Stakeholder Management: Confident building effective relationships across Buying, Retail, Logistics, Supply Chain and supplier partners.
• Systems & Planning Tools: Experience using forecasting, replenishment or merchandising systems, with RELEX experience advantageous.
• Agility: Confident managing competing priorities and making decisions in a fast-paced trading environment.
• Commercial Acumen: A strong understanding of forecasting, margin, markdowns and the financial impact of wastage.
• Stakeholder Management: Confident building effective relationships across Buying, Retail, Logistics, Supply Chain and supplier partners.

At Fortnum & Mason, you will be part of a historic yet forward-thinking brand renowned for exceptional quality and innovation. This role offers the opportunity to shape and grow two dynamic categories within a unique luxury retail environment.

We are committed to developing your career and nurturing your talent, regardless of age; disability; gender reassignment; marriage and civil partnership; pregnancy and maternity; race; religion or belief; sex; sexual orientation.

We respect and embrace each other's differences, to create a truly inclusive environment. In the last year alone, our people have been recognised and celebrated, winning awards for their outstanding contributions to Retail, Technology, Global Hospitality & Tourism, Visual Merchandising & Display, Customer Service and Local Community Awards