Role Summary:
We are looking for an organised, proactive and commercially aware individual who shares our passion for great food, sustainability and doing business the right way.
As a Grocery Supply Chain Planner, you'll play a vital role in ensuring our customers receive the products they love, when they need them. Working closely with Buyers, suppliers and cross-functional teams, you'll be responsible for planning and managing stock, forecasting demand, monitoring availability and supporting the smooth flow of products through our supply chain.
This is a fast-paced role where no two days are the same. Success requires strong analytical skills, excellent organisation and the ability to remain calm under pressure while balancing multiple priorities. You'll enjoy working with data, solving problems, building relationships and identifying opportunities to improve processes and performance.
At Abel & Cole, our relationships with suppliers are fundamental to our success. You'll work closely with our fantastic farmers, growers and producers, helping to maintain collaborative partnerships that support both excellent customer service and sustainable supply chains.
If you are passionate about food, enjoy working in a dynamic environment and want to play a key role in getting responsibly sourced products into customers' homes, we'd love to hear from you.
Key Responsibilities:
- Planning and placing purchase orders to ensure the right products are available at the right time and in the right quantities.
- Monitoring sales trends, forecasts and promotional activity to anticipate demand and manage stock effectively.
- Working closely with Buyers to understand category plans, product launches and expected fluctuations in customer demand.
- Managing availability, identifying supply risks and taking proactive action to minimise customer impact.
- Monitoring and reporting on key supply chain metrics, including availability, wastage and fulfilment.
- Investigating supply issues, short deliveries and product shortages, and working collaboratively with suppliers to implement solutions.
- Supporting new product launches and range changes by coordinating and maintaining accurate product setup within internal systems, ensuring all required data is in place to allow products to be purchased, stocked and sold effectively.
- Working cross-functionally with Buying, Technical, Operations, Customer Services and Finance teams to ensure the smooth running of the supply chain.
- Building strong, collaborative relationships with suppliers and acting as a key point of contact for operational supply matters.
- Working closely with Finance and suppliers to investigate, resolve and prevent invoice queries, pricing discrepancies and payment issues, ensuring accurate and timely resolution while maintaining positive supplier relationships.
- Identifying opportunities to improve processes, reduce waste and enhance operational efficiency.
- Acting as an ambassador for our B Corp values by considering the social and environmental impact of decisions and seeking opportunities to use our business as a force for good.
What We're Looking For:
We're looking for someone who is naturally organised, analytical and enjoys making things happen behind the scenes. Previous supply chain planning experience is beneficial, but just as important is a positive attitude and a willingness to learn.
Key Requirements:
- Strong numerical and analytical skills, with confidence working with data and forecasts.
- Excellent organisation and time management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities.
- High attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy.
- Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
- A proactive and solution-focused approach to problem solving.
- Comfortable working with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
- Ability to remain calm and effective in a fast-paced environment.
- Flexible, adaptable and able to respond positively to changing priorities.
- Experience within a food retail, food manufacturing, FMCG or supply chain environment would be advantageous.
- Ability to work collaboratively across teams while taking ownership of individual responsibilities.
- A passion for sustainability and a desire to support Abel & Cole's mission and values.
