Job Introduction
As we continue our mission to make people and nature happy through reinventing chocolate, we’re looking for a Merchandiser to join our Supply Planning team on a fixed term contract basis.
As a Merchandiser, you’ll play a key role in building accurate sales forecasts, managing stock commitments and helping us make confident commercial decisions across our product categories and sales channels.
This is an important time for the team as we continue to embed our forecasting and replenishment system. You’ll help us move from manual planning into a more system-led way of working, using data, commercial insight and cross-functional input to build forecasts that are robust, realistic and actionable.
You’ll work closely with teams across Commercial, Trading, Supply Planning, Outbound and Finance to ensure we have the right products, in the right quantities, in the right place, at the right time, supporting availability, sales, margin and stock risk.
As well as a competitive salary and a range of company benefits, you’ll receive 50% discount on all products, and a 70% discount for you and your guests when you stay at our Rabot Estate hideaway on the paradise island of Saint Lucia.
Here at Hotel Chocolat, we've adopted hybrid working. This means you’ll join us on site for three days a week, and for the other two days, you can work from wherever you like. The on-site location for this role is our support office, Mint House, in Royston, Hertfordshire. Our home from the very beginning, it’s just off the A505 and 10 minutes’ walk from Royston train station, with direct rail links to London King’s Cross.
What you’ll be doing…
Forecasting and planning: Build and maintain SKU-level forecasts using historic sales, current performance, future range plans, promotional activity and commercial insight.-
System-led ways of working: Use our forecasting and replenishment system to support forecasting and stock decisions, helping the team move away from manual inputs and towards a more automated, insight-led planning process.
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S&OE / S&OP input: Provide timely and accurate updates into our planning processes, highlighting forecast movements, stock risks, opportunities and key assumptions for your area of responsibility.
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Stock and availability management: Support the optimisation of stock levels, availability and risk, balancing sales opportunity with inventory control and waste reduction.
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Insight and analysis: Review sales, margin, volume, forecast accuracy, stock cover and performance trends, converting data into clear actions and recommendations.
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Cross-functional collaboration: Work closely with Commercial, Trading, Outbound, Finance and wider Supply Planning teams to ensure forecasts reflect the latest business view and operational constraints.
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Continuous improvement: Challenge existing ways of working, identify opportunities to improve forecast quality, reporting and process discipline, and help build confidence in our planning tools.
Who you are…
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You enjoy working in a fast-paced, changing environment and can stay focused when priorities move.
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You’re analytical and curious, with the ability to spot patterns, challenge numbers and turn data into clear insight.
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You’re comfortable working with detail, but can also step back and explain what really matters.
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You build strong relationships and enjoy working with different teams to get to the right answer.
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You’re proactive, organised and solutions-focused, with a positive approach to problem solving.
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You’re comfortable challenging assumptions in a constructive way and helping others understand the impact of decisions.
Essential
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Previous experience in supply planning, merchandising, demand planning, inventory management or a similar analytical planning role.
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Strong Excel skills, with the ability to analyse, manipulate and interpret large data sets.
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Good commercial awareness, with an understanding of how sales, stock, margin and availability connect.
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Strong communication skills, with the ability to make complex information clear and actionable.
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Ability to organise, prioritise and manage workload across multiple deadlines.
Desirable
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Experience using a forecasting, replenishment or demand planning system.
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Exposure to seasonal, promotional or fast-moving product categories.
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Experience contributing to S&OE, S&OP or wider business planning processes.
Who are we?
We’re one of the UK’s favourite premium chocolate brands, with a range of products spanning luxury gifts, alcohol and our pioneering drinking chocolate system, the Velvetiser™.
A cacao pod takes years to grow – it can’t be rushed if it’s going to be just right for our products. The same can be said for Hotel Chocolat, which originally started as a mint production company before we realised it was luxury chocolate that we were really passionate about.
Now, we’re market leaders in the industry. What began as an online-only business grew to over 100 stores across the UK, and we’re still growing… Today, we’re multi-category, multi-channel, and multi-territory, and our customers, colleagues, cacao farmers and suppliers all benefit from the success we make together.
To learn more about us and read about our People Pledge – our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion – click here: hotelchocolat.com/uk/engaged-ethics/our-people.html
