Supply Chain Demand Planner

Booker; Greater Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK food wholesaler is seeking a Supply Chain Demand Planner to enhance customer service through demand planning and stock replenishment. The ideal candidate will have a degree, strong analytical skills, and experience in an FMCG environment. Responsibilities include developing relationships with stakeholders, driving forecast accuracy, and ensuring inventory control. This role requires flexibility for weekend work, with supportive values on diversity and inclusion. Join us in providing exceptional service to our customers.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Inclusive workplace policies

Qualifications

• Strong analytical mind with ability to analyze data effectively.
• Excellent communication skills both verbal and written.
• Experience in a Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop relationships with stakeholders for inventory budget and product availability.
• Drive improvements in forecast accuracy and supplier responsiveness.
• Ensure customer needs are met and balance priorities effectively.

Skills

Analytical and inquisitive mind

Strong data analysis skills

Excellent communication skills

Knowledge of supply chain systems

Ability to multi-task

Advanced Microsoft Excel capability

Education

Degree level education or equivalent

2 to 3 years Supply Chain experience

Job description

We are looking for a Supply Chain Demand Planner to join our team with a real can‑do attitude who is passionate about delivering excellent customer service and willing to go the extra mile for our customers. The department is responsible for demand planning and stock replenishment that interfaces with customers, suppliers and all departments of Best Food Logistics.

Qualifications

• Do you have an analytical and inquisitive mind, with strong data analysis skills and excellent communication skills (both verbal and written)?
• Excellent knowledge of supply chain systems and processes in a Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) environment?
• The ability to multi‑task, remain calm and thrive in a fast moving environment with an awareness of leading edge industry developments within the wider supply chain arena?
• The ability to influence at all levels particularly with regard to collaborative solutions delivery?
• Have Advanced Microsoft Office capability, particularly Microsoft Excel?
• Are you educated to a degree level or equivalent, a minimum of 2 to 3 years Supply Chain and replenishment experience with capability to demonstrate and apply industry best practice?
• Do you have flexibility to work some weekends including bank/public holidays on a rota basis?

If you have answered yes to all the above and want to be part of the BEST team, then we may have the perfect role for you.

Working within a dynamic supply chain team, you will deliver a great service to our customers through outstanding availability and inventory control with a consistent focus on proactive supply chain management in partnership with our customers, delivering commercial benefit through the supply chain.

Role and Responsibilities

• To develop and maintain collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders; this includes the responsibility for successful delivery of inventory budget (~£3m per week) and achievement of product availability target (~99.5%+ daily).
• Identify and implement initiatives that drive an improvement in forecast accuracy, challenge and influence suppliers to generate an improvement in service, responsiveness and efficiency.
• Where issues arise you will ensure these are dealt with appropriately, creating win‑win scenarios and where appropriate escalating the issues to line manager/key stakeholders for support/resolution.
• Ensure a consistent balance of priorities and productivity between the business goals and demands of customers, particularly in relation to operational efficiency (cost) and customer expectations.
• Ensure all business rules developed with the supplier of the Demand, Forecasting, Replenishment and Planning (DFRP) solution meet the goals of customers and the business, reducing risk of conflict and ensuring appropriate targeting of areas for improvement within the supply chain.
• Deliver outlined forecast accuracy targets across all item classifications supported by a review of historical sales trends and other demand influencers in addition to excellent communication with customers and industry knowledge.
• Accountability for the successful delivery of customer promotions and menu change activity, leadership of a variety of customer/supply chain projects/initiatives and pro‑active support of wider business initiatives including supplier development, new contract introduction and migration opportunities.
• You will develop and maintain collaborative relationships with stakeholders both internally and externally and support customers and our business through the generation, development and implementation of more effective and efficient ways of working, becoming a subject matter expert in Slim4 replenishment system, driving continuous improvement, developing and enhancing one best way of working and leading training/development sessions for colleagues.
• The ability to ensure customer needs are met through delivery of agreed targets (KPIs).
• That end‑to‑end and wider business context is considered as part of supply chain decision making.
• Work collaboratively with National Account Managers to ensure appropriate decisions/actions are taken regarding customer inventory e.g. Delisted products and Held stock.

Working Hours

40 hours per week over 5 days which may include some weekend work and public holidays on a rota basis.

We look forward to you joining the BEST team!

Booker is the UK's leading food & drink wholesaler. We are privileged to serve independent retailers, caterers and small businesses, from locations across the country. We operate over 190 cash and carry branches, eight distribution centres, five Best Food Logistics sites, as well as six support centre locations across the UK.

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) at Booker means that whoever you are and whatever your background, we always want you to feel represented and that you can be yourself at work. In short, we’re a place where Everyone’s Welcome.

We know life looks a little different for each of us. That’s why at Booker and Best, we always welcome conversations about flexible working. Some people are at the start of their careers, some want the freedom to do the things they love. Others are going through life‑changing moments like becoming a carer, nearing retirement, adapting to parenthood, or something else. So, talk to us throughout your application about how we may be able to support you.

We’re proud that Booker is a Disability Confident Committed employer and we’re committed to providing a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process. For further information on the accessibility support you can expect, please contact [e-mail].

Please note we can only accept candidates over the age of 18 if the role requires working before 6:15 am or after 9:45 pm or involves working in areas such as the warehouse, beers, wines & spirits, and driving roles.

On the occasions where we have high volumes of applicants, some roles may close earlier than the advertised end date in order for us to manage all of the applicants appropriately. We will only be able to offer individual feedback to those candidates who attend an interview.

Booker Group is part of Tesco plc, however, is operated separately from the core Tesco business and as such the benefits offered will be different from those offered at Tesco.

For more information about us please visit www.bookergroupjobs.co.uk.