Brand Manager – Bonne Maman Chilled (Yoghurts) in London

Company Background

Andros is a family‑owned company based in southwest France with a turnover of over 2.5 billion Euros. It is a leading European fruit transformation and chilled dairy producer manufacturing the internationally famous brand Bonne Maman, as well as many private label products.

Andros Group has 52 production facilities across Europe and beyond (USA, China, New Zealand) and operates in 4 poles of development: Fruit, Chilled Dairy, Confectionery, Frozen Desserts. The company has a real industrial know‑how and a significant will to introduce innovations, serving both branded (Bonne Maman, Andros) and private label markets.

Company culture: Andros believes in people above anything else. Their success has come from empowering hands‑on, pragmatic individuals within a dynamic, solution‑seeking and market‑share winning organisation. Entrepreneurial spirit is encouraged, and consumer satisfaction is paramount. The work environment is fast, varied and “politic” free. Communication is uncomplicated and direct, relying on the trust built through professional expertise and a real team player attitude.

There is pride within the organisation to be the manufacturer of simple, high‑quality food, offering great value to the consumer. In short, an “international good food maker”.

Andros in the UK is a major supplier of ambient fruit‑based conserves, chilled yogurts and desserts, with its commercial operations based in Hammersmith dealing directly with all major retailers and sectors within the UK. They acquired in 2008, the Oldford dairy site (Somerset) and heavily invested in new, state‑of‑the‑art, chilled desserts product lines, unique in the market.

The company has experienced rapid growth becoming a top 130 UK food & drink business in 2021. This growth has been driven across both the preserves and desserts categories through the success of the Bonne Maman brand as well as an extensive private label activity. The products are either imported or produced in the dedicated chilled dessert facility in the Southwest of England. There is an ambitious investment plan for the coming years.

Bonne Maman has seen significant success in the UK over recent years becoming brand leader of the jam category in 2013 and is now a major player in chilled desserts and yoghurt. Bonne Maman is known for its simple, great quality, natural products evoking a homely welcoming and trustworthy brand.

Job Role

This is an excellent opportunity to join Andros as the Brand Manager and be involved in the full marketing mix. Our yoghurts portfolio has grown strongly in the past 2 years, and we are looking for a candidate to grow rapidly in a 1.2B pounds market behind current offerings, and development of an exciting innovation pipeline.

You will join a close‑knit and supportive team with an autonomous working environment to create and implement the marketing strategy and deliver against ambitious growth opportunities. The successful candidate will work further to support the Marketing Manager in the planning and delivery of the annual Marketing and Brand strategies for the Bonne Maman brand. You will have the chance to support across a wide range of activities, including full mix communications, as well as NPD.

You will be a highly self‑aware, professionally mature person with strong influencing skills to direct and motivate people at all levels, both in and outside of your immediate team so to deliver positive solutions.

Detailed Job Description

This role will suit someone who enjoys taking responsibility and ownership and is looking for an opportunity to work in an entrepreneurial environment where they can really make a difference. Reporting to the Marketing Manager (in the interim to the Marketing Director), the successful candidate will be part of a progressive marketing team and collaborate enthusiastically with multi‑functional stakeholders.

Main tasks and responsibilities:

• Contribute to the delivery of the company’s vision and business plan and input into the development and execution of the annual marketing plans.
• Establish consumer & customer insights and make sound strategic recommendations.
• Develop compelling stories for growing the Bonne Maman brand in existing categories.
• Own key innovation projects, working with NPD team to manage process from concept to launch.
• Accompany and support the Commercial Manager at customer meetings, bringing to life the world of Bonne Maman for the trade.
• Develop optimum consumer communication plans to deliver both marketing and business objectives, exploring new and different ways to connect with our target consumer.
• Support Marketing Manager (Director) in development of a future vision for Bonne Maman brand in the UK.
• Management of the external Marketing Agencies.
• Monitor and control the marketing budget for consumer spend.

Candidate Profile:

• A passionate brand advocate with a natural affinity for brands and how they connect with consumers.
• Proven success in brand management in a branded FMCG company particularly in the area of communications and innovation.
• A passion for food combined with a natural curiosity for consumers & new products.
• Able to work with ambiguity and be flexibly minded and offer innovative solutions.
• A self starter, able to work alone and in a team.
• Dynamic with ability to inspire others.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills.
• Analytical, inquisitive and innovative.
• Persuasive, determined & makes things happen.
• Understanding of the UK multiple grocery channels and their associated trading issues.
• Knowledge of panel/continuous data and exposure to a wide range of market research techniques used in building brands & innovation.

Location – Head Office, Hammersmith, London

Company Package:

• Market Leader in their products and sector.
• Salary DoE.
• Healthcare single cover.
• Company pension 6% employer contribution (Salary exchange).
• Childcare vouchers (Salary exchange).
• 25 days holiday + 8.