Brand Manager

About Us

itsu is the healthy eating, Asian inspired quick service retail & grocery brand with over 70 stores in the UK and a leading grocery business across Europe and beyond. Renowned for its best-in-class food made fresh in every shop every day, itsu has huge global ambitions with a commitment to continue to open many more stores and intensify the growth of its already thriving grocery arm. With its best-in-class healthy food, latest technology, innovation, and talented workforce, itsu is the future of fast food.

itsu [grocery], which this role falls under, takes the itsu brand into supermarkets, health food stores, online, wholesale and internationally with products such as crispy seaweed thins, frozen gyoza & bao, brilliant’broth, rice’noodles & miso’easy to name a few…

D&I Statement

itsu [grocery] is committed to building a diverse, equitable and inclusive organisation. We encourage applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply for all of our opportunities.

When applying for a role with us, please remove your: full name, name of University/School, address, email address and any photos of you on your CV and covering letter. non-anonymised CVs may not be reviewed.

The Role

This Brand Manager role manages trade/retail marketing and buyer engagement for some of itsu [grocery]’s product ranges. The role works closely with the sales team to bring the itsu brand to life in store and online.

Responsibilities

• Buyer sell-ins: with the category team, build the NPD [new product development] presentations to attend & present at 1) Internal sell-in meetings to the sales team 2) external buyer meetings.
• Trade/retail marketing activity: manage all trade marketing activity in store and online across Grocery Multiples, Wholesale, High Street and Convenience, in line with allocated budget [set by the Marketing Controller]. Conduct ongoing performance reviews and make recommendations for optimisation and improvement. Manage marketing-related field sales initiatives, working with sales & business development team to implement.
• Buyer engagement: Oversee all buyer engagement [samples, food safaris, trade shows and head office sampling]. Work closely with the Marketing Executive to manage & execute.
• Trade PR: Oversee all LinkedIn, Grocer [trade magazine] and industry award activity. Work closely with the Marketing Executive to manage & execute.
• Business reporting & consumer insight: stay on top of industry news [with a particular focus on marketing/trade marketing and consumer behaviour]. Support Marketing Controller on consumer insight & strategic projects when required.
• Budget Management: Manage the trade marketing & buyer engagement budget, reporting on spend to the management team monthly.
• Line Management: Manage the Marketing Executive.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary
• Competitive bonus scheme
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays (2 bank holidays are interchangeable for other religious holidays)
• Health insurance
• Company pension scheme
• Hybrid working (2 days wfh)
• Opportunity to work from home abroad
• 50% employee discount in itsu shops
• Free itsu lunch
• Discounts at major retailers
• A sizeable training budget to support your ongoing development

The Ideal Candidate

• Has a minimum of 2 years in FMCG marketing, trade/shopper marketing or category management.
• Is ambitious, intelligent, hard-working, a fast learner and a self-starter with a can-do attitude.
• Is very organised.
• Has strong communication skills & is a confident presenter.
• Is analytical, proficient on Excel and has experience conducting and analysing market data.
• Is commercial.
• Is passionate about itsu and our products & want to grow with the company.
• Is a team player.

Key skills/competency

• FMCG Marketing
• Trade Marketing
• Shopper Marketing
• Category Management
• Buyer Engagement
• NPD Presentations
• Budget Management
• Consumer Insight
• Excel Proficiency
• Line Management