Alan B.

From selling safety boots to satisfying the Nation’s thirst

I followed my degree with a short stint marketing for a tool hire company, followed by 4 years as an IT manager when the computers were as big as my car. Then I landed the ideal job, getting paid to visit pubs all day, first as a Leisure Machine Manager then as Area Manager. I reckon I’ve had profit responsibility for more than 700 different pubs over the years and recruited and developed over 250 new Publicans in that time. Pandemic related changes led me to Asda, and many years experience of retailing drinks both alcoholic and soft led me to apply to CCEP as a grocery Merchandising representative which I started in May 2021. This is a varied and exiting roll that gives you the responsibility to managed your own contribution to the success of both CCEP and our National Grocery customers - you really see the difference you make on a day to day basis.

Driving product availability and promotional execution every day

Visiting six national supermarket stores per day to ensure CCEPs product portfolio has 100% availability and visibility; and ensuring that all of the brilliantly planned promotional material is effectively and profitably utilised in Store. Monitoring nationally agreed stocking policy and usage of CCEP supplied cooler equipment. Building strong, collaborative relationships with Store contacts and CCEP colleagues to ensure that sales are maximised for both CCeP and our National Grocery customers.

You can see the difference you make in every visit

There are two words that sum up this role - availability and compliance. You can only sell why the Consumer can see - eyeline is buy-line - the most stretched resource the stores have is labour so ensuring that if there are gaps in the shelf it’s not the CCEP products that are missing is key. Wise folk in the respective head-offices of CCEp and the national chains have worked out store plans to achieve the most profitable results - we make sure these are implemented. You can really see the benefit you add to stores between arriving and leaving each day.

Seize the opportunities to learn new skills

Lots of opportunities will present to work with different people or to volunteer to get involved in different areas of the business. Always volunteer to do something new - it’s great to have variety but it also gives great insight into how you could do your own job even better.