Commercial Category Manager

Role Introduction:

Established in 1992, Applegreen is a leading convenience roadside retailer in the Republic of Ireland, the UK and the US in both large-scale Motorway Service Areas and Travel Plazas, as well as smaller petrol stations. The business has grown to over €3BN in annual revenue, operating 600 Motorway Service Plazas and forecourt sites internationally and employing over 16,000 people.

Applegreen is in a rapid growth phase and to support this ambitious growth, we are seeking to onboard a Commercial Food Manager who will be at the forefront of developing strategies that drive sales, enhance product offerings, and maintain strong relationships with both brand partners and customers. This role will form part of the coffee team and reports to the Coffee Director. It is an exciting opportunity for the right candidate to excel. The successful candidate will be a confident people person who can fit into Applegreen seamlessly and adopt a hands-on approach to their role.

Key Responsibilities:

As Applegreen expands, the responsibilities will evolve and change over time. The core responsibilities will centre around the following areas:

Commercial Strategy Development and Relationship Management:

• Braeburn coffee brand is still in its infancy. Key part of the role will be working alongside the Director of coffee on commercial strategy to maximise opportunities.
• Ensuring that all coffee and food products are of high quality, innovative, and align with the overall strategic goals of the company.
• Working hand in hand with Operations teams to maximise sales and overall operational profitability
• Use data insights to support operations to deliver a better customer experience on site for the customer – improving product quality, trade levels and availability.
• Maximising the rich data from telemetry to identify gaps and opportunities to drive sales and introduce new products

Product Development and NPD Leadership:

• This responsibility focuses on leading the New Product Development in our coffee and food offers including and not exhaustive extension of our merchandise lines.
• Successful project delivery of seasonal campaigns, from concept to launch will be essential part of the role. Working closely with the op’s teams, the brand manager and trading teams to plan, execute and post appraise our NPD and seasonal campaigns
• Ensuring the ops teams and colleagues at site have the right product, at the right time and price is very important. Getting ahead of trends to ensure we are first to market
• The success of NPD and campaigns will be a collaborative approach, but accountability will sit within this role

Sales & Financial Optimization:

• Ensuring margins are maintained to achieve budgets across all our channels
• Assisting with business case development
• Responsible for drafting, implementing and evaluating cross-functional decisions that will enable the organization to achieve its long-term objectives
• Competitor pricing analysis and benchmarking
• Budget and forecasting at certain times of the year
• Category management – ensuring we have the right products or service on offer to our customers across all our channels. Reporting weekly on sales performance and trends. Looking at our product portfolio to analyse rate of sale. Exploring data metrics on customer preference to identify trends and understanding what factors improve our sales. Maximising our digital capacity across our menu screens and drive thru locations to ensure we are displaying the correct items and content. Looking into consumer behaviour to maximise our ATV.
• Conduct regular range review and effective planograms.
• Represent Applegreen at trade fairs, conferences, and other public activities to build awareness and understanding of opportunities to offer a point of difference within our coffee business
• Full participation in strategic improvement programs and projects as required.
• Managing some supplier relationships to ensure all SLA are met and JBP are effective and maintained

Supporting a Team:

• Lead and support a team
• Provide guidance, coaching, and mentorship to team members.
• Foster a collaborative and high-performance team culture.
• Ensure effective communication and coordination within the team.
• Conduct regular performance reviews and provide feedback to team members.

The Candidate should have the following:

Qualifications, experience & skills

• Strong commercial acumen
• Excellent verbal, written, communication and presentation skills.
• High proficiency in all Microsoft Office software also essential (Excel, PPT)
• Experience in a high-volume retail environment preferred but not essential.
• Passion for hospitality and customer centric approach to their work
• Ability to manage multiple relationships, duties and priorities.
• Clean, full drivers’ licence
• SAP experience preferred

Additional key skills & attributes:

Leadership Skills:

• Ability to manage and motivate a team effectively.
• Strong communication skills to train and guide staff.

Operational Skills:

• Excellent organizational and multitasking abilities.
• Proficiency in budgeting, forecasting, and financial management.

Customer Service Orientation:

• Strong focus on customer satisfaction and quality service.
• Ability to develop and implement strategies to enhance the customer experience.

Analytical Skills:

• Ability to analyse sales data, customer preferences, and market trends.
• Proficiency in using software for inventory management and sales forecasting.

Problem-Solving Skills:

• Capacity to identify issues and implement effective solutions quickly.

Knowledge of Food Safety Standards:

• In-depth understanding of health and safety regulations pertaining to food handling and storage.

Adaptability:

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and adjust to changing priorities or challenges. A dynamic individual who adapts well to change and can thrive in a rapidly growing organisation that continues to evolve.
• Proven track record of delivering to tight deadlines.
• Willing to travel ad hoc if required

Illustrative Application & Screening Process (subject to change):

Application Process:

• Please submit an up-to-date tailored CV (max 2 pages) and cover letter

Interview & Selection Process:

• Two interview rounds will be required for this role