Demand Planner

Henderson Brown Recruitment; England; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A recruitment agency is seeking a Demand Planner for a food business in Leicestershire. This role involves owning the demand forecast, collaborating with major UK retailers, and leveraging insights to influence planning processes. The ideal candidate has significant experience in demand planning within a food environment and a strong Excel skillset. With a supportive culture and a strong commitment to team investment, this position offers clear growth opportunities and responsibilities.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in demand planning or forecasting within a food environment.
• Experience working with major UK retailers like Tesco and Sainsbury's.
• Confidence handling large datasets with Excel.

Responsibilities

• Own and maintain the demand forecasting process across customers and channels.
• Develop and manage a rolling 18-month forecast for product ranges.
• Lead Demand Review as part of the S&OP cycle.
• Liaise with major UK retailers for forecasting.
• Analyse sales data to improve forecast accuracy.

Skills

Demand planning experience

Experience with major UK retailers

Strong Excel capability

Commercial mindset

Confident communicator

Proactive and organised

Job description

Demand Planner

Location: Leicestershire (Office-based, with flexibility for 4 days on site / 1 day WFH for the right person)
Salary: £40,000 - £50,000 + small bonus
Type: Full-time, permanent

Looking for a Demand Planning role where you can genuinely influence decisions, work closely with retail customers?

About the Role

We're supporting a highly collaborative food business to recruit a Demand Planner into a newly created role within their Supply Chain team.

This role has been created to strengthen demand planning capability and support continued growth. You'll own the demand forecast end to end, working closely with Sales, Commercial, and major UK retail customers to create a single, credible view of demand that balances service, cost, and waste.

It's a role suited to someone who enjoys being close to the commercial conversation, adding value through insight, and helping shape how planning is done - rather than inheriting a fixed process.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and maintain the end-to-end demand forecasting process across customers and channels.
• Develop and manage a rolling 18-month forecast for product ranges.
• Lead the Demand Review as part of the S&OP cycle, driving cross-functional alignment.
• Work closely with Sales and Commercial teams to capture promotions, range changes, and retailer plans.
• Liaise directly with major UK retailers to support joint forecasting and service level improvement.
• Provide clear, timely forecasts to support production planning and supply chain decision-making.
• Analyse sales data, promotions, and trends to improve forecast accuracy (MAPE, bias).
• Use Excel-based tools to build robust forecasts, with scope to support future system development.

What You'll Bring

• Proven experience in demand planning or forecasting within a food environment (essential).
• Experience working with major UK retailers (e.g. Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons, M&S, Waitrose) (non‑negotiable).
• Strong Excel capability and confidence handling large datasets.
• Commercial mindset with the ability to influence and add value beyond the numbers.
• Confident communicator, comfortable working cross-functionally and with external customers.
• Proactive, organised, and improvement-focused.

Why Apply?

You'll be joining a business known for its approachable culture, strong values, and genuine investment in people. With ongoing growth, this role offers clear opportunity to develop, take on more responsibility, and grow alongside the Supply Chain function.

Interested?

If you're a Demand Planner with food and retail experience looking for a role with ownership, visibility, and progression, apply now or get in touch for a confidential discussion.