Senior Demand Planner

Cranswick PLC; Greater Manchester; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Cranswick PLC, a leading UK food manufacturer, is seeking a Senior Demand Planner to own the demand forecasting process for our retail base. The role sits within the commercial function and collaborates with Sales, Operations and Planning to deliver a single, forward-looking plan.

You will analyse market inputs, promotional activity and customer signals to drive material planning, capacity and service levels across highly seasonal categories.

Qualifications

• Significant Demand Planning experience in FMCG or fast-paced environments.
• Experience with major UK grocery retailers.
• Proven track record of accurate forecasts across complex portfolios.
• Advanced Excel modelling and data analysis skills.
• Strong communication and ability to influence stakeholders constructive.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end demand forecasting across customers, categories and portfolios.
• Create rolling forecasts at SKU, customer and category levels.
• Review forecasts and develop a single aligned demand plan.
• Lead forecasting for promotional activity and product launches.
• Develop insights and reports to support decisions across the business.
• Improve forecasting processes and tools, using Power BI and BC.

Skills

Demand Planning

Forecasting

Advanced Excel

Power BI

Data analysis

Stakeholder influence

Tools

Power BI

Microsoft Business Central

Job description

Cranswick PLC is one of the UK’s leading food manufacturers, renowned for crafting exceptional Continental specialities that delight of customers every day. Our passion for authentic flavours and uncompromising quality has made us the trusted partner of the nation’s top retailers.

At Cranswick, we don’t just make food—we celebrate it. From succulent olives and vibrant antipasti to premium continental charcuterie and perfectly cooked meats, every product reflects our dedication to excellence and creativity.

We’re committed to nurturing talent and fostering an inclusive, dynamic workplace where ambitious professionals can thrive, grow, and make a real impact. Join us and be part of a team that’s shaping the future of food.

We're proud of our strong team culture, entrepreneurial mindset and genuine passion for food. While we strive to develop robust systems and processes, we are equally focused on remaining agile and responsive to the opportunities and challenges that come with supplying the UK's leading retailers.

Why Join Us?

• Join a high-performing businesses within the Cranswick PLC Group.
• Work directly with all major UK grocery retailers.
• Play a key role in shaping business-wide demand planning and commercial decision-making.
• Influence the future development of forecasting systems, processes and reporting capability.
• Be part of a collaborative, ambitious and highly successful team.
• Work in a business that is genuinely passionate about great food, innovation and customer success.

Our ideal candidate is not simply a planner. They are a commercially minded forecasting expert who can connect customer insight, market dynamics and operational realities to help drive business performance

About the role

We are looking for an experienced Senior Demand Planner to take ownership of the demand forecasting process across our retail customer base.

This is a highly visible role within the commercial function, responsible for creating and maintaining an accurate demand plan that supports business decision-making and operational execution.

Working closely with Sales, Operations, Planning and Stock Control, you will gather demand signals from customers, analyse market and promotional inputs, challenge assumptions and create a single forward demand plan that allows the business to effectively manage materials, production capacity and customer service.

The successful candidate will play a critical role in navigating the complexities of supplying major UK retailers across highly seasonal categories, managing significant promotional activity, frequent NPD launches and long-lead-time imported materials.

Demand Planning & Forecasting

• Own and lead the end-to-end demand forecasting process across all customers, categories and product portfolios.
• Create and maintain rolling forecasts at SKU, customer and category level.
• Review and analyse retailer forecasts, customer commitments and commercial forecasts to establish a single aligned demand plan.
• Develop daily demand forecasts derived from rolling weekly forecasting models and customer ordering profiles.
• Identify risks, opportunities and demand changes, ensuring visibility across the business.
• Continuously improve forecast accuracy through data analysis, trend monitoring and performance review.

Commercial Partnership

• Work closely with Account Managers and the wider Sales team to understand customer activity, ranging changes, promotional plans and market developments.
• Support customer planning discussions through robust forecasting and demand analysis.
• Identify shortage risks and concerns and mitigate through pro-active action.
• Work with the Account Managers to nurture retailer supply chain relationships, through clear daily communications on service levels and inbound performance management.
• Lead demand forecasting for promotional activity across major retail customers.
• Assess the likely impact of promotional plans using historical performance and market trends.
• Forecast new product launches, product extensions and customer listings.
• Manage demand planning around product transitions, delistings and range reviews.

Analysis & Reporting

• Monitor sales performance against forecast and identify forecast variances.
• Deliver meaningful reporting and insight to support decision-making.
• Conduct root cause analysis to understand forecasting deviations and improve future performance.
• Produce clear demand reports, forecasts and recommendations for stakeholders across the business.

Systems & Process Improvement

• Maintain and develop forecasting models, reports and planning tools.
• Leverage Excel, Power BI and Microsoft Business Central to improve forecasting capability and visibility.
• Drive improvements in forecasting methodologies, processes and reporting.
• Support the ongoing evolution of the business' planning systems and capabilities.

Skills & Experience

• Significant Demand Planning experience within FMCG, food manufacturing or a similarly fast-paced environment.
• Experience working with major UK grocery retailers.
• Proven track record of developing accurate forecasts across complex product portfolios.
• Advanced Excel skills, including modelling, forecasting and data analysis.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence and challenge stakeholders constructively.
• Commercial awareness and understanding of customer-driven demand.
• Ability to work effectively across multiple departments and priorities.
• Experience within chilled food manufacturing.
• Experience of Power BI reporting and dashboard development.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Business Central.
• Exposure to S&OP or integrated planning processes.
• Experience supporting planning system implementation or development projects.

Equal Opportunity Statement

We are an equal opportunities employer. At Cranswick we know that diverse teams are more likely to have greater innovation, creativity and understand of our customer needs. These are many of the things we are passionate about.

Did you know that some demographics may be less likely to apply to job adverts than others? For example, women are likely to apply only if they fit all of the skills listed. If you’re reading this and perhaps don’t tick every skill, then please still make yourself known to us. We’d love to hear from you so we can assess this.

We also want to ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the interview process, therefore please contact us to request any assistance required.