Job Title:
Business Development Manager
Company:
Bart Spices
Professional Qualification(s):
10 O levels 3 A levels – Biology, Chemistry, Physics BSc (Hons) 2:1 Biological Sciences
Degree studied at Reading University
Brief job description
I look after our national accounts (supermarkets) on a day to day and strategic basis for products supplied by Bart Spices and other WT Foods Group companies.
My career so far…
- Production Graduate Trainee – Courgae Brewing Ltd
- Shift Manager – Courage
- Shift Manager – Cow & Gate Nutricia
- Project Manager – Cow & Gate Nutricia
- Accounts Manager – Aaron Associates
- Business Development Manager – Bart Spices
What does your job involve in a typical day?
This is difficult because I don’t do the same thing every day, but I usually start by checking my emails to see if anything needs dealing with immediately.
I then check that everything is running as it should be on my accounts e.g. are the orders are coming in as expected? Have deliveries been made successfully? I discuss any problems or anything unexpected with the buyers and with my colleagues in sales order processing, logistics and production.
I try to get out to visit the stores at least once a week, to check the prices and positioning of our products and to see what the competitors are doing. If we are running a promotion I will visit several stores to check that the point of sale is as arranged and that the stores are not running low on stock.
A key part of my role is to increase business within my accounts, so I am usually woking on new proposals, e.g. I may be negotiating to supply private labelor to get a new range listed. This involves preparing a presentation for the buyer on the market sector and how our products will fit their proposition, as well as detailed price proposals. I calculate prices by looking at our costs and overheads and checking our own and competitor retail prices.
If a new listing is gained I produce a plan for the first orders and ongoing monthly volume forecast so that production can plan manufacture.
I am also Category Manager for particular product groups within our business (currently ethnic bread and tea), which involves leading a project team of individuals from marketing, production, technical and sales to develop our brands and product ranges. In the run up to a new launch I co-ordinate the various tasks, e.g. packaging – collating pack copy and dimensions for the artwork company, estimating volumes for packaging quotes, timing the launch so that we minimise write-off of old stock etc. I will attend meetings with customers to support other BDM’s when presenting products from my categories.
What do you like most about your job?
I enjoy the variety, and the fact that I can organise my own time and schedule.
What skills are required in your job?
- PC literacy, presentation and communication skills
- An ability to listen to customers’ ideas for their category, and build relationships, both with customers and colleagues.
- An ability to manage numerous different tasks at the same time, some long and some short term, which needs good time management.
- Enthusiasm and self motivation.
How many people work for you?
None directly
What is your advice to people looking for a career in the food and grocery industry?
Take a broad role to start with, so that you can learn about all aspects of the business before deciding what suits you best. Don’t be afraid to change discipline, many of the skills developed in one role can be applied to another.
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