Merchandiser - Ambient Food

Fortnum & Mason plc; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Fortnum & Mason plc is seeking a strategic Merchandiser/Planner to drive Grocery growth through precise inventory and advanced demand forecasting. You will oversee RELEX replenishment, optimise ranges, and manage profitability with weekly WSSI-based reviews.

Collaborating across Buying, Retail, Online, Marketing and Logistics, you will balance AYR and seasonal campaigns, optimise stock, and protect margins while delivering strong customer availability.

Qualifications

• 2+ years at a Merchandiser or Planner level, preferably within Grocery or FMCG.
• Strong Excel skills with XLOOKUPs, Pivot Tables and complex data modelling.
• Ability to make split-second decisions and manage multiple deadlines.
• Deep understanding of stock, margin, markdowns, waste, sales and price.

Responsibilities

• Forecasting & Replenishment: manage and optimise the RELEX AI replenishment tool to drive accurate forecasting, ordering and store-level replenishment.
• Lifecycle Management: deliver availability and wastage KPIs by adjusting buy quantities based on seasonality, historical performance, and holiday peaks.
• Range Architecture: conduct category and campaign wash-ups with data-backed recommendations on range architecture and growth opportunities.
• Financial Planning & Analysis: deliver weekly sales and margin reporting using WSSI and manage AYR and seasonal campaign trading.
• Pricing & Markdowns: partner with Buying to execute markdown plans that protect margins while clearing short-life inventory.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: align with Buying, Branch Merchandising, Retail, Online, Marketing, Logistics, and Warehouse.

Skills

Excel

XLOOKUPs

Pivot Tables

Data modelling

Tools

RELEX AI replenishment

WSSI

Job description

We are seeking a strategic, fast paced, data-driven problem solver to deliver the ambitious growth plans we have in our Grocery category. This role is responsible for driving category profitability through precise inventory management and advanced demand forecasting using the RELEX AI replenishment system. You will provide critical financial oversight, supplier analytics, and range architecture analysis to optimise both all-year-round and seasonal campaign performance.

The role requires strong relationships and collaboratively working with Buying, Branch Merchandising, Retail, Online, Marketing, Logistics, Warehouse and Hospitality

1. Strategic Demand & Inventory Management

• Forecasting & Replenishment: Expertly manage and optimise the AI replenishment tool (RELEX) to drive accurate forecasting, ordering, and store-level replenishment.
• Lifecycle Management: Deliver on availability and wastage KPIs by adjusting buy quantities based on seasonality, historical performance, and holiday peaks.
• Range Architecture: Conduct category and campaign wash-ups providing data-backed recommendations on range architecture and future growth opportunities.

2. Financial Planning & Analysis

• Commercial Reporting: Deliver comprehensive weekly reports on sales and margin performance, utilising WSSI to identify trends and mitigate risks.
• Trading Strategy: Manage the financial health of both All-Year-Round (AYR) products and seasonal campaigns, from initial Return on Investment modelling through to in season trading requirements
• Pricing & Markdowns: Partner with the Buying team to execute strategic markdown plans, protecting margins while clearing seasonal or short-life inventory.

3. Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Strategic Stakeholder Alignment: Develop strong collaborative partnerships with Buying, Branch Merchandising, Retail, Online, Marketing, Logistics, and Warehouse to ensure a unified, customer centric joined up approach to the end-to-end product lifecycle and inventory flow.
• Range Optimisation: Collaborate closely with Buying to refine the product mix, ensuring the assortment meets customer demand for both core and campaign ranges.
• Retail & Branch Optimisation: Partner closely with Branch Merchandising to refine in-store ranging and launch timings.

4. Supply Chain & Supplier Relations

• Operational Excellence: Manage the end-to-end supply chain from supplier to DC, holding partners accountable to OTIF (On-Time In-Full) KPIs.
• Promotional Execution: Oversee In-and-Out stock flow for high-impact campaigns and seasonal lines to ensure seamless launches and exits.

Required Skills & Qualifications

Experience: 2+ years at a Merchandiser or Planner level preferably within Grocery or FMCG.

Analytical Prowess: Strong Excel skills. You should be comfortable with XLOOKUPs, Pivot Tables, and complex data modelling.

Agility: The ability to make split-second decisions and manage multiple deadlines.

Commercial Acumen: A deep understanding of commercial levers including stock, margin, markdowns, waste, sales, and price.

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