Findus Group is a major European food business with operations in the UK, the Nordic countries, France and a growing presence in Central and Eastern Europe. The company has more than 6,000 employees across 21 facilities in 5 countries and in 2009 generated over £1.1 billion of turnover. The Group was acquired by private equity firm Lion Capital in July 2008, and has ambitious growth plans through optimizing current markets, bolt-on acquisitions and organic growth.In the UK, Young's is the leading branded producer and distributor of frozen seafood, with a 200 year old heritage of selling a wide range of high quality seafood products, in retail and foodservice channels. Findus is the leading branded frozen food manufacturer in Scandinavia, with market leadership in Sweden, Norway and Finland within each of the frozen ready meals, fish and vegetables segments in which it operates. Findus also has a strong presence in France, where it has the strongest brand recognition of any frozen food brand.
Findus Group is currently transforming the organisation, implementing a new operating model, based around a matrix way of working. Key to this change process is recruiting the highest calibre individuals and increasing the organisations capacity to deliver the ambitious growth agenda. The small Group team based in London includes the functional Heads of Sustainability, Nutrition, Packaging and Technical and Consumer Insight along with four Category Directors (Fish, Ready to Eat, Vegetables and Shellfish) and Innovation Directors. The Category Director is responsible for defining strategy and portfolio management in terms of revenues, profitability and market share and to make an effective contribution to the overall commercial agenda. The Group is poised to exploit the potential that exists across Europe for high quality nutritious fresh food, frozen that meets changing consumer needs. The Group board has set the non-retail channel to be a strategic imperative and an important part of the overall international growth strategy. The Group CEO Chris Britton has a real passion for growth in Out Of Home.
Further information on the company can be found on its website: www.findusgroup.com
The Role
Establish the non-retail channel as an important and valuable growth engine with both central colleagues and the GMs of the major and developing markets. Mobilize and energize an ambition amongst the Line Directors to “lead in Food Solutions”.
Establish key strategic growth platforms and develop robust commercial plans which clearly identify investment and revenue generation opportunities across international markets in…
Traditional channel offering (HORECA)
Health and nutrition and special foods
Brands in the hospitality channel
Drive a coordinated innovation agenda to support the Food Solutions strategy utilizing locally based innovation resources and ensuring the transfer of best practice and innovation across the Group.
Pioneer the development of NPD initiatives and execute them in market quickly and effectively passing initiatives back to the Group for consideration for the retail markets.
Work closely with retail teams to ensure the Food Solutions strategy not only delivers revenue and profit growth but enhances the overall Findus Brand. Ensure appropriate manufacturing and supply chain resources are made available to support business expansion. Provide a strategy framework for the local markets to balance investment priorities, reduce complexity through SKU reduction and supply chain simplification and also in marketing and promotional initiatives ensuring consistency in execution throughout geographies.
The Candidate
S/he will be of graduate calibre with at least 10 years of broad business exposure in FMCG, ideally gained in marketing and sales, both in the retail and/ideally with some exposure to consumers in non-retail channels.
A senior Marketing Channel or Category Director, with a tangible track record of outstanding growth delivery ideally in international contexts. Experience in developing and growing successful and profitable markets. Has good marketing skills and can demonstrate the use of insight to develop effective strategy.
Has developed and delivered change strategies which use innovation as core accelerators of profitable growth. Experience in working effectively in a diverse, matrix organization demonstrating the ability to deal with ambiguity. Proven experience in developing effective internal relationships achieving successful outcomes.
