Commercial Category Manager

M&S Commercial Category manager

Role Introduction:

Applegreen is in a rapid growth phase and to support this ambitious growth, we are seeking to onboard a Commercial M&S Manager who will be at the forefront of developing strategies that drive sales, enhance product offerings, and maintain strong relationships with our brand partner and customers. This role will form part of the M&S Commercial team and reports to the Head of M&S Applegreen. 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:

• As we develop more M&S stores within Applegreen a key part of the role will be working alongside the Director of coffee on commercial strategy to maximise opportunities.
• 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 range, trade levels and availability.
• Managing relationships with our brand partners M&S as well as TGTG, Olio and building on opportunities for home-delivery.
• Store openings – As we have plans to open a number of stores in the coming years, the role will involve planning out these openings and co-ordinating with departments within the business to ensure a smooth opening process
• Represent Applegreen at conferences, and other public activities relating to the brand to build awareness and understanding of opportunities
• Explore future opportunities for the M&S brand within Applegreen and prepare business cases and tender applications to support these opportunities

Sales & Financial Optimization:

• Ensuring margins are maintained to achieve budgets across all our channels .
• Working along side the supply team and M&S to ensure we minimize waste levels while also ensuring good product availability.
• Assisting with developing internal business cases for further opportunities identified for the M&S brand.
• 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 – Working with the M&S team as well as our own trading department and Distribution centre to ensure consistent availability of product across our stores while also managing levels of waste and over allocations. 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.
• Conduct regular range reviews and put in place effective planograms in conjunction with other internal departments and the M&S business.
• Full participation in strategic improvement programs and projects as required.

The Candidate should have the following:

Qualifications, experience & skills

• 3 – 5 years’ experience in a similar role
• 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.

Problem-Solving Skills:

• Capacity to identify issues and implement effective solutions quickly.

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