Inventory Planner in Theale

Location: This is a hybrid role and includes an opportunity to work from home; however, you must be able to work from the office or warehouse (in Reading) at least three days a week. Therefore, we are looking for someone living within a maximum of 50 miles from our Theale office (RG7 5AW).

Role Summary: An exciting opportunity has arisen to join an award-winning speciality food and drink wholesaler as a member of our Operations team. The focus of this role is to maintain the company’s stock levels at appropriate levels, to maximise availability to customers while maximising margins through tactical and strategic procurement decisions whilst limiting exposure to stock wastage.

Why Join Us: Reporting to Supply Chain Manager, this is more than an operational leadership role; it is an opportunity to shape how a purpose-driven business grows with integrity and impact. As one of the UK’s founding B Corporations, Cotswold Fayre is built on the belief that business should be a force for good. You’ll be joining a team committed to putting people and planet first and seeing the profit follow, creating lasting positive change for our customers, communities, and the food and drink industry as a whole.

Key Responsibilities of the role:

• Monitor and analyse inventory levels to ensure optimal stock levels.
• Placing orders with suppliers so that availability and fulfilment is maximised without holding excess stock.
• Identify and mitigate risks related to inventory shortages or excesses.
• Maximising margin opportunities through tactical purchases where available.
• Maintaining strong working relationships with suppliers.
• Work closely with the buying team to influence ranging decisions.
• Conduct regular inventory audits and reconcile discrepancies.
• Establishing and maintaining strong relationships with Cotswold Fayre’s 3PL partners.
• Daily review of inbound supplier deliveries, chasing of any no shows and resolving issues on receipt with the supplier / the goods in team, in a timely manner.
• Daily analysis of current fulfilment levels, investigation / resolution of issues and communication of the status to the business.

Essential Personal Qualities:

• Excellent with numbers, analytical, and highly organised. Self-motivated and able to juggle a large workload with good judgement on prioritisation in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication skills and an ability to converse in an inspiring manner.
• Resilient, resourceful, and tenacious and confident to make decisions that will drive the business forward.
• Energetic and dynamic, with an entrepreneurial spirit and a hands-on approach.
• Commercially focused and able to analyse data to make thoughtful and high impact decisions.
• Strong cultural awareness in order to work with our diverse team and suppliers.
• Passion for food and sustainability.
• Be comfortable in a values-led, entrepreneurial culture that prizes partnership, sustainability, and innovation.

Desirable Experience and Attributes:

• 2-3+ years working in Inventory Planner/ Supply Planning in Operations /Supply chain roles.
• Demonstrates strong enthusiasm for data analysis and translating data/numbers into action.
• Experience of working in a food or drink business would be desirable.
• Strong working knowledge of S&OP processes.
• Must be able to demonstrate experience in delivering high levels of customer service.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Good understanding of Word/Outlook and advanced level in Excel.

About Cotswold Fayre: Cotswold Fayre is an award-winning business, having won 10 awards over the past few years: including being named in 2023 as the Elite Business No. 1 SME in the UK, The Lloyds Bank Purpose Before Profit Business of the Year and a coveted Grocer Gold Award. We are a speciality & fine food wholesale distributor, leading the way by offering a consolidation service to supply retailers with premium food and drink products, both ambient and chilled, sourced from the best producers in the UK and across the globe. We aim to inspire, delight, and make a difference to people’s lives and to the planet through our shared passion for food. We are proud to be a certified B-Corporation! This accreditation is increasingly recognised as a label which highlights companies with exceptional environmental and social standards. Using a business as a force for good to benefit both people and planet. We are pleased to be a member of the Living Wage Foundation and since August 2019 all our business activities have been Carbon Neutral. We are constantly seeking ways in which to minimise the impact of our supply chain on the planet and seek to encourage delivery consolidation as part of the process. We differ from other wholesalers by working in close partnership with our suppliers, many of whom we count as friends, not just suppliers! This means that customers are ‘close’ to the people making the food and drink they are selling. We have an experienced, diverse team that collectively, provide extensive market knowledge and offer retailers an appropriate delivery solution that benefits both their business, local community, and the planet.

Interested? As well as a competitive salary, a company pension, private health scheme after 6 months and Company performance bonus scheme is offered. Modern offices in a high street location, working with a small forward thinking and friendly team. We are looking for a person who, like us, believes business should be a force for good and welcome applications from people from all backgrounds and with all levels of ability. Diversity and inclusion are at the heart of what we stand for. We want our people to grow and develop their confidence and responsibilities treating our customers with kindness and care; all within an atmosphere of fun and rewarding hard work.