Demand Planner
Newton‑le‑Willows (Hybrid) 3 days per week in the office.
Company Overview
We’re Nichols – the home of Vimto. Since 1908 we’ve been making life taste better with a portfolio that spans still, carbonated, post‑mix and frozen drinks. Working with the UK’s leading food manufacturers, we deliver products people love. Our culture is energetic, ambitious and innovative – we celebrate wins, encourage collaboration and keep the work experience fizzing with positivity.
About the Opportunity
We are looking for a Demand Planner to create assumption‑based demand forecasts per SKU and collaborate with Commercial Teams to enrich and align on a consensus demand plan. Responsibilities include gathering customer insights, generating statistical forecasts, analysing trends, cleansing historical sales data, and constantly improving forecast accuracy.
Key Responsibilities
* Create and own the rolling 24‑month base demand plan aligned to the commercial and brand plan, validated using statistical models, historical data, market trends, customer insight and sales data.
* Analyse forecast accuracy, identify variances, root cause, and adjust the projected forecast to improve accuracy and influence key business decisions.
* Collaborate with Sales and Marketing to ensure correct promotional phasing, product launches, and base phasing and market trends into demand forecasts.
* Statistically cleanse historical sales data to improve forecast outcomes.
* Analyse sales performance, trends, and customer insights to identify risks and opportunities.
* Collaborate with customers to manage availability issues, ordering profiles, and shelf‑life exceptions.
* Generate and maintain demand scenarios to support Integrated Business Planning (IBP) decisions.
* Provide regular reports and insights through analytical techniques to drive data‑driven decision making.
* Participate in IBP meetings, providing insights and recommendations on demand forecasts, risks and opportunities.
* Collaborate with Supply & Inventory Planning, Customer Service & Logistics, and Sales teams supported by in‑month demand sensing to ensure proactive and timely product and customer allocation decisions.
Required Experience & Skills
* ERP systems knowledge for statistical forecasting and demand planning (e.g., SAP, Access, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics).
* Experience in a customer‑facing role.
* Demonstrated experience in continuous improvement.
* Experience working within an S&OP/IBP cycle.
* Commercially savvy with a solid general supply‑chain and business understanding.
* Knowledge of FMCG market dynamics.
* Experience with data visualization tools such as Power BI or Tableau.
* Ability to coordinate and engage others to achieve team objectives and targets.
* Be driven, resilient, passionate, agile and adaptable.
* Embrace and drive change.
* Hands‑on attitude with natural curiosity to learn.
* Focus on sharing good practices, continuous improvement and finding better ways.
* Organised, completer/finisher mentality.
* Open, honest, authentic and approachable.
Job Details
* Seniority level: Associate
* Employment type: Full‑time
* Job function: Supply Chain
* Industries: Food and Beverage Services; Food and Beverage Manufacturing
Benefits
* 25 days holiday (with option to buy extra each year).
* Annual bonus.
* Save as You Earn Share Scheme.
* Option to join a private medical cover scheme.
* Holiday home stay.
* Your birthday off work.
* 1 day a year off work to volunteer in the community.
* Access to our drinks and slush drinks at sites.
* Staff shop with discounts on our products.
EEO Statement
We are committed to being an inclusive employer and are learning what this means every day. We strive to build diverse teams and celebrate different life experiences, ways of thinking and individuality. Any job offer is subject to an individual’s right to work in the UK. Unfortunately, we are unable to sponsor visas.
Location
Newton‑le‑Willows, UK (Hybrid – 3 days per week in the office).
Apply Now
Apply now if you want a taste of a new career and join Nichols – Where work tastes better.
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