What does a day in your role look like?
I am responsible for the strategic retail customer within the consumer foods team where my responsibilities sit right at the intersection of sales, strategy, and relationships. My daily routine shifts significantly depending on trading performance, customer demands, and internal tasks. Every day I work cross-functionally with our finance, supply chain, procurement, and production teams to deliver on clear measurables targets. This includes the ongoing management of promotions and pricing performance. Building and managing retailer relationships is a critical part of the job. I handle day-to-day issues on stock, pricing and supply queries. However, my role is not just maintaining the accounts daily. My role is to identify opportunities, develop joint business plans, launch new products and respond to competitor activity. This is why every day looks so different for me.
How did you get to where you are today?
After university, I joined Dale Farm in 2016 through the graduate program, initially working as a Key Account Executive. In this role I built a strong foundation across commercial and operations. Then in 2018 I secured the role of Customer Development Manager working within the cheese business unit. This role significantly developed my commercial awareness and taught me how to navigate the complex nature of the FMCG industry. Over a further two years of strong performance and development I was promoted into a larger role of National Account Manager. This role broadened my knowledge of dairy products beyond cheddar. The role also comprised of line management and responsibility for a small team, providing guidance and support to direct reports. In 2022, I became Senior National Account Manager within the consumer foods team, assuming responsibility for the strategic retail accounts.
What do you enjoy the most about your role and working at Dale Farm?
This will sound like a cliche, but I really enjoy how fast paced and demanding the role is. I love detail and this role seems to always have multiple moving parts at any one time, and I enjoy trying my best to organise the chaos. This role also allows me to have a clear impact and influence on the big decisions happening within the business. I really enjoy the relationship building part of my job. It is often the most difficult but most rewarding part. The role is often very diverse where no day is ever the same. Overall, I love working with so many different people and while the targets are often high and demanding, you get to make a real impact.