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 proactive 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

Essential

• 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.

Desirable

• 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 understanding 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.