Demand Planner

Frive; Gillingham; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading meal delivery service in Gillingham seeks a Demand Planner to manage inventory and supplier communication. The role involves analytics, report generation, and maintaining supply chain efficiency. Ideal candidates hold a degree in supply chain management and possess advanced Excel skills, with a commitment to minimizing waste while ensuring stock availability.

Qualifications

• Strong analytical skills; able to interpret complex data.
• Strong communication skills for collaboration within the supply chain.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented; able to prioritize independently.

Responsibilities

• Plan to FEFO/FIFO, tracking inventory and minimizing waste.
• Build weekly reports that surface trends and opportunities.
• Spot demand shifts and lead cross-functional solutions.
• Raise, expedite, or manage purchase orders.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Advanced Excel

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree in supply chain management or related field

Tools

SAP

ERP/MRP systems

Job description

Overview

Demand Planner

Reporting to: Demand Planning Manager

About us

Frive (formerly Lions Prep) is the UK’s highest-rated ready-to-eat meal delivery subscription, delivering tens of thousands of fresh, natural, chef-prepared meals to customers’ doors across the UK each week.

We are committed to our vision of creating 100% organic meals without the hefty price tag, freeing us from a food system that compromises our health for profit.

We work with people from all different backgrounds and communities and recognise our own biases. We strive to create a strong sense of belonging and believe we will be better equipped to achieve our goals by building a team that approaches problems from different angles, using different perspectives and experiences to solve problems. All qualified applicants will be considered and we have no regard for age, ethnicity, ability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, nationality, race, religion, or sexual orientation — the more the merrier, and together we can achieve greatness.

Mission:

We help busy people enjoy natural, healthy eating with ready-to-eat meals delivered to their door, proven to support their health goals.

Vision:

To transform health by revolutionising eating habits and restoring food to its natural form.

Values:

Empowerment: We empower our people to make strong, independent decisions with confidence

Transparency: We share information openly and with intention

Open Communication: We communicate directly and honestly

High Performance: We foster an environment that attracts, retains, and rewards high performance

Agility: We encourage flexibility in our people by reducing blockers and prioritising their creativity and productivity

Your Impact:

You will be working closely with the Demand Planning Manager and own the demand plan. This role relies on clear, timely communication across the supply chain; partnering with Commercial, Operations, Warehouse, Procurement, and suppliers to keep plans aligned. It’s a fast-paced environment where you’ll be expected to hit the ground running, take initiative, and deliver results from day one.

Responsibilities

• Inventory & waste control: Plan to FEFO/FIFO, track short-dated risk, and shape demand/substitute/redeploy to minimise write-offs while protecting availability.
• Stock holding & cashflow: Set days-of-cover targets; tune MOQs, lead-times, and safety stocks to balance cash tied up in inventory vs run-out risk.
• Reporting & insight: Build weekly reports that surface trends and opportunities to reduce waste and maximise margin.
• Trend & issue management: Spot patterns early (demand shifts, supplier reliability, lead-time creep) and lead cross-functional solutions.
• Plan ahead: Maintain a rolling risk/opportunity view (supplier, cost, delivery charges) and propose actions before issues land on the line.
• Materials & POs: Raise, expedite, defer, or cancel purchase orders; manage disputes/partial receipts, close variances, and drive supplier OTIF.

About you

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, logistics, or related field preferred
• Understands P&L, unit economics, and the cash implications of stock decisions.
• Strong analytical skills; able to interpret complex data and convert insights into actions.
• Advanced Excel (XLOOKUP/INDEX-MATCH, PivotTables); ERP/MRP fluency (SAP or similar)
• Highly organised, detail oriented, and comfortable with tight deadlines; able to priorities independently.
• Strong communication skills for collaboration within the supply chain

Seniority level

• Associate

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Supply Chain and Strategy/Planning
• Industries: Food and Beverage Manufacturing

All qualified applicants will be considered. EEO statement retained above as part of About us.