At a Glance
- Tasks: Own the demand forecasting process and collaborate with major UK retailers.
- Company: Join a friendly food business with strong values and a supportive culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus potential, and flexible working options.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a growing company while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in demand planning within the food sector and strong Excel skills.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth and to influence key decisions.
The predicted salary is between 34000 - 46000 Β£ per year.
Location: Leicestershire (Office-based, with flexibility for 4 days on site / 1 day WFH for the right person)
Salary: Β£40,000 - Β£50,000 small bonus
Type: Full-time, permanent
Looking for a Demand Planning role where you can genuinely influence decisions and work closely with retail customers?
About the Role
We are supporting a highly collaborative food business to recruit a Demand Planner into a newly created role within their Supply Chain team. This role has been created to strengthen demand planning capability and support continued growth. You will own the demand forecast end to end, working closely with Sales, Commercial, and major UK retail customers to create a single, credible view of demand that balances service, cost, and waste. It is a role suited to someone who enjoys being close to the commercial conversation, adding value through insight, and helping shape how planning is done - rather than inheriting a fixed process.
Key Responsibilities
- Own and maintain the end-to-end demand forecasting process across customers and channels.
- Develop and manage a rolling 18-month forecast for product ranges.
- Lead the Demand Review as part of the S&OP cycle, driving cross-functional alignment.
- Work closely with Sales and Commercial teams to capture promotions, range changes, and retailer plans.
- Liaise directly with major UK retailers to support joint forecasting and service level improvement.
- Provide clear, timely forecasts to support production planning and supply chain decision-making.
- Analyse sales data, promotions, and trends to improve forecast accuracy (MAPE, bias).
- Use Excel-based tools to build robust forecasts, with scope to support future system development.
What You Will Bring
- Proven experience in demand planning or forecasting within a food environment (essential).
- Experience working with major UK retailers (e.g. Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons, M&S, Waitrose) (non-negotiable).
- Strong Excel capability and confidence handling large datasets.
- Commercial mindset with the ability to influence and add value beyond the numbers.
- Confident communicator, comfortable working cross-functionally and with external customers.
- Proactive, organised, and improvement-focused.
Why Apply?
You will be joining a business known for its approachable culture, strong values, and genuine investment in people. With ongoing growth, this role offers clear opportunity to develop, take on more responsibility, and grow alongside the Supply Chain function.
Interested? If you are a Demand Planner with food and retail experience looking for a role with ownership, visibility, and progression, apply now or get in touch for a confidential discussion.
Demand Planner employer: Henderson Brown Recruitment
Contact Detail:
Henderson Brown Recruitment Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice π€«
We think this is how you could land Demand Planner
β¨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the food and retail sectors. We all know that sometimes itβs not just what you know, but who you know. Attend industry events or join relevant online groups to meet potential employers or colleagues.
β¨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research the company and its culture, especially their approach to demand planning. We want you to be able to showcase how your experience aligns with their needs, so think about specific examples from your past roles that demonstrate your skills.
β¨Tip Number 3
Show off your Excel skills! Since this role requires strong Excel capabilities, brush up on your data analysis techniques. We suggest preparing a few examples of how you've used Excel to improve forecasting accuracy in previous jobs.
β¨Tip Number 4
Donβt forget to apply through our website! Itβs the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to connect directly with us. Letβs get you that Demand Planner role!
We think you need these skills to ace Demand Planner
Some tips for your application π«‘
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the Demand Planner role. Highlight your experience in demand planning, especially within the food sector, and any work you've done with major UK retailers. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about demand planning and how your skills align with our needs. Donβt forget to mention your commercial mindset and how you can influence decisions β thatβs what weβre looking for!
Showcase Your Excel Skills: Since strong Excel capability is essential for this role, make sure to highlight your experience with Excel-based tools in your application. If youβve worked with large datasets or built forecasts, let us know β we love seeing those skills in action!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of applications and ensures you donβt miss out on any important updates. Plus, it shows youβre keen on joining our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at Henderson Brown Recruitment
β¨Know Your Numbers
As a Demand Planner, you'll need to demonstrate your strong Excel skills and ability to handle large datasets. Brush up on your forecasting techniques and be ready to discuss how you've used data to influence decisions in previous roles.
β¨Understand the Retail Landscape
Familiarise yourself with the major UK retailers mentioned in the job description. Be prepared to discuss how your experience aligns with their operations and how you can add value to their demand planning processes.
β¨Showcase Your Communication Skills
This role requires cross-functional collaboration, so practice articulating your thoughts clearly. Think of examples where you've successfully communicated with sales or commercial teams to drive alignment and improve forecasts.
β¨Be Proactive and Improvement-Focused
The company is looking for someone who can shape the planning process. Prepare to share instances where you've identified areas for improvement in demand forecasting and how you implemented changes that led to better outcomes.