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 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
The Role
This role manages trade/retail marketing and buyer engagement for itsu [grocery]’s 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, write the NPD [new product development] presentations and attend and present at 1. Internal sell-in meetings to the sales team 2. At 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 the Marketing Executive who will implement.
- Buyer engagement: manage & plan all buyer engagement [samples, food safaris, trade shows and head office sampling]. Work closely with the Marketing Executive to help execute.
- Trade PR: manage & plan all LinkedIn, Grocer [trade magazine] and industry award activity. Work closely with the Marketing Executive to help 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 & market research budget, reporting on spend to the management team monthly.
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
