Merchandiser

Do you love all things food? Do you have experience of food and packaging? Do you love all things luxury retail? If YES, we may have the role for you…

Luxury department store, Harvey Nichols, is searching for a Food Merchandiser in our Head Office in London – Knightsbridge. Our culture is based on inclusivity; we embrace diversity. Whoever you are, Harvey Nichols has a place for you.

How we reward your hard work… At Harvey Nichols, we champion career development and are passionate about our people. We will do all we can to support your journey and career path with us. Alongside this you will have access to a world of amazing benefits such as:

• Up to 40% off fashion
• Up to 40% off hospitality, foodmarket and hampers
• 30% off beauty and perfumery, wine and spirits
• Clothing allowance
• Charity days
• Season ticket/bike loan
• Learning and development opportunities
• Employee Assistance Program - Retail Trust
• Recognition schemes
• Opportunity to join one of our employee groups – Wellbeing, Diversity & Inclusion and Sustainability

About the role… As Food Merchandiser you will ensure the trading performance of all channels selling foods (Store, Online, Wholesale, International, Franchise) is maximised through the efficient management of stock and cash spend. You will produce and assimilate commercial management information to enable and assist the strategic decision-making process for your area.

As Food Merchandiser you will:

• Compile and review the Buying departments weekly and daily reports with the relevant buyers and recommend and take actions as required to ensure the delivery of the business KPIs.
• Maximise availability of stock across all channels to meet internal KPIs.
• Create and manage weekly and seasonal trackers at SKU level to keep the selling channels and wider business informed of stock positions.
• Manage stock orders using OTB and WSSI’s to ensure optimum stock holding/weeks cover at all times.
• Review Net Achievable Margin (NAM) performance and investigate any deviations from the plan for review with the key stakeholders within the Buying departments.
• Provide information and analysis with the buying teams to negotiate profit funding, markdown funding, space, and density deals with suppliers, where appropriate.
• Good understanding of stock systems and data management for operational use and analysis.
• Support the Buying departments with the development and maintenance of the own label food range considering systems, processes, suppliers, competitors, and stores.
• Develop and maintain spreadsheet records to monitor the cost and availability of own label food packaging to always avoid out-of-stock situations.
• Develop and maintain accurate store merchandising plans for each store in line with the category strategy.
• Build good working relationships with all store teams and encourage regular dialogue.
• Regularly reforecast sales, intake, markdown, density, profit, and terminal stock.
• Review the forecasts with the Senior Merchandiser and Buyers to ensure strategic decisions are made to maximise profit.
• Provide management information for all range reviews as required.
• Compile PIR’s for all seasonal ranges with recommendations to aid decision making for the following year.
• Prepare accurate plans for seasonal ranges factoring in markdown to ensure accurate forecasts are presented to the business as part of the budget process.
• Participate in agreeing sales growth with the Buying departments and assist in the preparation of budgets by department, category, store and online.
• Working with the relevant buying teams propose annual sales, margin, and stock targets for input into the business budget process.
• Working with the buying and marketing teams, ensure that the Group marketing calendar reflects the needs of the foods department, and any activity is planned and forecasted accurately and included in the budget process.
• Continually review the impact of terminal and delisted stock and recommend actions to clear and free up OTB.
• Working with the buying teams establish range parameters and SKU counts to ensure maximum stock turn of products.
• Ensure all system data is accurate and up to date integrity to manage accurate data reporting.
• Ensure regular store visits to better understand local requirements and space planning.
• Ensure regular supplier and DC visits to build and maintain relationships with key personnel to enhance communication around service and fulfilment.

Is this you? We are looking for individuals who embrace diversity, love a challenge, are passionate about luxury retail and are looking for something uniquely different.

Do you have:

• Experience of working in a Food Buying/Merchandising discipline.
• Experience in Food/Packaging planning and forecasting.
• Good understanding of supply chain processes and responsibilities across all food categories but in particular – own label food.
• Results driven, commercially focused manager, able to execute in a fast-paced environment.
• Must be highly analytical, detail-orientated, deadline driven, and able to multi-task with solid organisational skills.
• Strong stakeholder management and confident communicating to all levels within the business.
• A positive, enthusiastic problem solver who relishes a challenge.

If this sounds like you, we want to hear from you! If you are already thinking of what you will wear on your first day (no we don’t have uniforms) and this role catches your eye, hit the “apply” button below to kick-start your journey with us.