Merchandiser - Fresh
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Our Head Office department is in the heart of Piccadilly and occupies the 5th & 6th floor of our beautiful flagship store. This central London location offers so much to explore including restaurants, bars, cultural sites, shopping and more, and only a short walk from the Green Park Tube Station and plenty of bus stops.
We are seeking a strategic problem solver who is data-driven and highly organised to lead the Fresh and Bakery merchandising team. This fast-paced role is responsible for driving category profitability through precise inventory management and advanced demand forecasting using the RELEX AI replenishment system. You will provide critical financial oversight via WSSI management and range architecture analysis to optimise both all-year-round and seasonal campaign performance. As a key commercial lead, you will also be responsible for the strategic development and coaching of an Assistant Merchandiser and a Merchandise Admin Assistant.
The role requires strong relationships and collaboratively working with Buying, Branch Merchandising, Retail, Online, Marketing, Logistics, Warehouse and inhouse Chefs
Key Responsibilities:
1. Strategic Demand & Inventory Management
- Forecasting & Replenishment: Expertly manage and optimise the AI replenishment tool (RELEX) to drive accurate forecasting, ordering, and store-level replenishment.
- Lifecycle Management: Deliver on availability and wastage KPIs by adjusting buy quantities based on seasonality, historical performance, and holiday peaks.
- Range Architecture: Conduct category and campaign wash-ups providing data-backed recommendations on range architecture and future growth opportunities.
- Made In House Production Planning: Partner with in-house Chefs to manage made in house products, overseeing lead time requirements, and demand forecasts.
2. Financial Planning & Analysis
- Commercial Reporting: Deliver comprehensive weekly reports on sales and margin performance, utilising WSSI to identify trends and mitigate risks.
- Trading Strategy: Manage the financial health of both All-Year-Round (AYR) products and seasonal campaigns, ensuring stock levels align with financial targets.
- Pricing & Markdowns: Partner with the Buying team to execute strategic markdown plans, protecting margins while clearing seasonal or short-life inventory.
3. Cross-Functional Collaboration
* Strategic Stakeholder Alignment: Develop strong collaborative partnerships with Buying, Branch Merchandising, Retail, Online, Marketing, Logistics, and Warehouse to ensure a unified, joined-up approach to the end-to-end product lifecycle and inventory flow.
* Range Optimisation: Collaborate closely with Buying to refine the product mix, ensuring the assortment meets customer demand for both core and campaign ranges.
* Retail & Branch Optimisation: Partner closely with Branch Merchandising to refine in-store ranging and launch timings.
4. Supply Chain & Supplier Relations
- Operational Excellence: Manage the end-to-end supply chain from supplier to DC, holding partners accountable to OTIF (On-Time In-Full) KPIs.
- Promotional Execution: Oversee In-and-Out stock flow for high-impact campaigns and seasonal lines to ensure seamless launches and exits.
5. Team Leadership & Development
- Mentorship: Directly oversee, coach, and develop the Assistant Merchandiser and Merchandise Admin Assistant (MAA).
Required Skills & Qualifications:
Experience: 2+ years at a Merchandiser or Planner level preferably within Grocery, FMCG, or Perishables.
Analytical Prowess: Strong Excel skills You should be comfortable with LOOKUPs, Pivot Tables, and complex data modelling.
Agility: The ability to make split-second decisions and manage multiple deadlines.
Commercial Acumen: A deep understanding of margins, markdowns, and the financial impact of wastage.
Why Work For Us:
- Competitive salary
- A generous store and restaurant discount of up to 40%
- 25 days holidays (excluded bank holidays) and an extra day off for your birthday
- A fantastic subsidised staff restaurant which uses Fortnum’s ingredients
- A range of opportunities to develop and grow personally and professionally
- Excellent pension scheme
We are committed to developing your career and nurturing your talent, regardless of age; disability; gender reassignment; marriage and civil partnership; pregnancy and maternity; race; religion or belief; sex; sexual orientation. We respect and embrace each other's differences, to create a truly inclusive environment.
In the last year alone, our people have been recognised and celebrated, winning awards for their outstanding contributions to Retail, Technology, Global Hospitality & Tourism, Visual Merchandising & Display, Customer Service and Local Community Awards