Demand Planner

Education/Qualification

• 2002 Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply- Foundation Level completed
• 1995 Farnborough College of Technology- BTEC Higher National Diploma in Leisure Studies
• 1992 Colchester Institute College- Certificate for Recreation Leisure Industries 

Systems used

• Microsoft Word and Excel
• SAP
• Power BI
• Optimity
• System 21
• Avercast
• Access

Career Summary

Current Employer – Fragrance Manufacturing – £56.5m T/O

Position – Demand Planner

Dates – June 2024-Present

Previous Employer – Food Manufacturing – £356m T/O

Position – Demand Planner

Dates – April 2023-June 2024 

• Reporting into the Site Director – Working in a team of 4
• Maintain and update Optimity forecasts for Waitrose Bakery portfolio acting as primary link between Sales, Supply Chain & Production teams
• Collaborate with key contacts at Waitrose – holding & leading collaborative weekly meetings to discuss promotional volume, seasonal events & basic base forecasting
• Management of 60 FMCG standard SKUs across UK & Europe. In additional run successful seasonal campaigns such as Easter (Hot Cross Buns) & Christmas Yule Log/Caterpillar
• Continuous review of forecasts, highlighting major changes to relevant subcategories using historical sales trends, research demand drivers, prepare forecast data, develop statistical forecast models and evaluate results.
• Drives improvement of Demand Forecast Accuracy working with internal/external commercial teams to create plans to support demonstrable improvements
• Work with cross functional teams ensuring all new product launches, promotions and delists are implemented
• Manage monthly forecast ‘surgeries’ as part of the S&OP demand review with Key Account managers to assess and discuss any customer issues, base/promotional demand & new product launches/range reviews
• Lead meetings with Production team to understand short-term challenges and behaviour that could impact long term demand plan – adapt systems to aid Waitrose
• Communicate weekly reports to Senior Leadership Team, sharing Sales to Forecast data, stock holding & weeks cover – add comments with solutions or queries to challenge sales team
• Work closely with Market & Channel Development, supporting decision making that optimizes profitable sales when facing into supply constraints

Previous Employer – White Goods Manufacturing – £136.9m T/O

Position – Demand Planning Manager

Dates – October 2021-April 2023

• Maintained and updated Avercast forecasts for key brands LEC, Belling, Stoves and own label for UK and European Sales team acting as primary link between Sales, Supply Chain and Production teams
• Responsible for implementation and adoption of Demand planning processes as determined by Divisional Demand Planning Manager and for creating a robust 24mth demand consensus within the IBP process framework leading Demand Clinics and Demand Reviews
• Management of 500+ articles across UK and Europe
• Continuous review of forecasts, highlighting major changes to relevant departments
• Drives improved Forecast Accuracy and Bias (+/- 5%) creating short, medium, and long-term plans to support demonstrable improvements
• Developed new tools based on experience to improve current forecasting tools and other processes – this has led to improved FA results and info communication since my arrival 
• Worked with cross functional teams ensuring all new product launches, promotions and delists are implemented
• Chair monthly Demand Reviews with Key Account managers to assess and discuss any customer issues, base/promotional demand and new product launches/range reviews
• Chair and collaborate with Production team to understand short-term challenges and behaviours that could impact long term demand plan
• Communicated weekly reports to Senior Leadership Team, sharing Sales to Forecast data, stock holding and weeks cover – add comments with solutions or queries to challenge sales team
• Learnt and embed new demand planning tool (Avercast) to create forecasts at SKU level in volume and value (forecasted by Category previously) W
• Worked closely with Market and Channel Development, supporting decision making that optimises profitable sales when facing into supply constraints.
• Collaborated with key customers such as AO, Wren Kitchens and John Lewis

Previous Employer – Chemical Manufacturing – £80.6m T/O

Position – S&OP Planner

Dates – January 2019-October 2021

• Maintained and updated SAP forecasts for key brands Simoniz, Prestone, Redex and own label for UK and European Sales team acting as primary link between Sales, Supply Chain and Production teams

• Management of 2000+ articles across UK and Europe
• Collaborated with key contacts at customers such as Tesco, Asda, Morrison’s, Halfords, Carrefour for example
• Continuous review of forecasts, highlighting major changes to relevant departments
• Facilitated and chair monthly Demand reviews to review present results and discuss future demand by market/category
• Measured forecast accuracy, stock and service level at customer level and report to business monthly via email and at monthly demand review meeting.
• Developed and develop initiatives based on experience to improve current forecasting tools and other processes – leading too improved forecast accuracy results since arrival at Holts
• Worked with cross functional teams ensuring all new product launches, promotions and delists are implemented in a timely manner whilst all forecasting aspects are considered and implemented into SAP and reporting files
• Chair monthly supply reviews with Key Account managers to assess and discuss any customer issues, base and promotional demand and new product launches/range reviews
• Chair weekly call with Production Planning team based in Newquay – discuss out of stocks, major customer promotions, s and high demand 
• Circulated company Inventory and Sales reports to Senior Leadership Team, offering solutions and reasons for any stock issues
• Led project team to convert SAP monthly forecast process to weekly to improve forecast accuracy

Previous Employer – Hygiene Manufacturing – £980m T/O

Position – Demand Planner

Dates – March 2013-January 2019

• Worked using an SAP software package to deliver accurate and timely forecasts on a monthly, quarterly and yearly basis.  Deliver against forecast accuracy and forecast bias targets, with specific focus on promotional activity for all UK accounts (totalling 500 SKUs) including Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Morrison’s

• Owned and managed the total forecasts for Bodyform brand in the SAP systems, ensuring that the system is aligned with sales, whilst ensuring Sales/Finance and Supply Chain always have full visibility to the forecasts
• Managed packaging refresh across the full Bodyform range whilst minimizing right off costs
• Implementation and initial forecast creation for NPD launches ~ working closely with Trade Marketing and Account Managers
• Key member of a cross functional team to roll out range refreshes, working closely with the Brand Marketing and National Account Managers to achieve accurate and stable forecasts whilst ensuring that the service level was always 100% 
• Jointly worked with Production Planners (based in Slovakia) and National Account Managers to identify the need to change forecasts to ensure full supply to the customer
• Ensured that the National Account Manager has complete understanding and visibility of the supply situation and understands the key drivers to best equip them to operate, informing them of any potential stock risks
• Set up and build collaborative customer relationships in person or via email communication 
• Reported creation using SAP BW reporting package for forecast/Demand analysis
• Collaboratively working with key functions, Marketing, Sales to ensure volume is available for any UK campaigns
• Managed TENA forecast as above for a duration of 6 months to cover recruitment search 

Previous Employer – Food Manufacturing

Position – Forecast and Supply Analyst

Dates – May 2012-March 2013

• Worked using SAP software package to deliver accurate and timely forecasts on a monthly, quarterly and yearly basis.  Deliver against forecast accuracy and forecast bias targets, with specific focus on promotional activity for 15 Specialty accounts (totalling 1000 SKUs)
• Owned and managed the total forecasts in APO and base forecast in CRM SAP systems, ensuring that the two systems are aligned, and that Sales/Finance and Supply Chain always have full visibility to the forecasts.
• Key member of team to roll out Extra Fill Cereal and Snack Core range to the Discounter Channel, working closely with the National Account Manager and key customer contacts to achieve accurate and stable forecasts whilst ensuring that the service level was always 100% 
• Jointly working with Finance Executives and National Account Managers to identify any need to change forecasts to ensure full supply to the customer
• Ensured that the National Account Manager has complete understanding and visibility of the supply situation and understands the key drivers to best equip them to operate, informing them of any potential stock risks
• Set up and build collaborative customer relationships in person or via email communication 
• Reported creation using SAP BW reporting package
• Collaboratively worked with Marketing to ensure volume is available for any National promotional campaigns

Previous Employer – End-To-End Supply Chain Services

Position – Supply/Demand Planner

Dates – January 2005-May 2012

• Part of the initial start-up team to create roll-out for centralised ordering for all 1300 restaurants
• Worked with an Advanced Forecasting System (Manugistics/SAP JDA) to achieve stable, sustainable results on forecasts for all menu products in 125 stores
• Responsible for the planning and forecasting for three National promotions per calendar year
• Reported creation using Business Objects package
• Management of an Assistant Planner, ensuring they are focused to meet company goals whilst assisting their development
• Responsible for undertaking Training for all new Planners
• Responsible for defining and approving restaurant inventory levels and buffer stocks for 125 restaurants at the raw item level
• Proactively maintained the AFS to ensure that project benefits to reduce raw waste, stock transfers, order modification, late adds & inventory inaccuracies are achieved.
• Key member of a designated team that will set up the forecast planning for the 2012 Olympics
• Responsible for forecasting all standard & promotional menu items for the restaurants
• Analysed restaurant sales history to identify sales trends and missing history to enable to maintain forecast accuracy above of 90%
• Liaised with Operations to ensure their understanding of the ordering system and to provide guidance on areas of opportunity. Regularly visiting restaurant group meeting to present system benefits and best practice
• Maintained individual store parameters to help achieve project and operational requirements
• Answered store queries generated via a Planner Helpdesk within an agreed SLA period
• Provision of 5 monthly Action Plans to proactively improve the performance of individual restaurants based on project benefits
• Actively contribute to workgroups relating to standard menu items and promotional planning 
• Attended personal and development courses including People Management, Presentation Skills and Time Management

Previous Employer – Retail Company

Position – Buyer/ Stock Controller

Dates – December 1999 – January 2005

• Category Manager – overseeing 15 product categories with a total turnover of £21million
• Contract Negotiations – continually undertook tenders for various product ranges to improve sales and profitability e.g. devised and conducted a contract e-auction that resulted in a total cost saving of £100K and a 4% margin gain
• New Product Development – regular liaising with suppliers in design, quality and final sign off stages for example Wild Bird Starter Kit (this has resulted in the sales of over 5000 units in first winter season)
• Forecasted Sales and profit – implementing promotional and new product launches over peak periods
• Cost negotiations and retail price setting – regular range and competitor reviews to monitor margin or retail irregularities
• Range Selector/Project Leader – total responsibility for range selection in two major category reviews, Health and Hygiene and Wildlife, with a joint turnover of £16 million. This included supplier and customer liaising, cost and margin reviews. In first three months post launch sales increased by 60%.
• Stock Control – established good relations with the replenishment department to ensure that all products are in regular supply and to offer accurate forecasts over seasonal periods
• Supplier Vending – regular involvement in new supplier sourcing, taking part in vendor rating exercises, e.g. in 2003 I put out to tender our own label wild bird food business worth £5million, during this exercise I visited potential new suppliers and undertook quality and vendor appraisals to ensure that all our requirements would be met
• Managed GNFR items category ~ responsible for forecasting and price negotiation on Carrier Bags, Starter Kit packaging  
• Managed stock holding for core and promotion ranges for 60 suppliers into one central distribution centre
• Forecasted stock levels for 12 promotion periods