Started in retail as a Store Manager of a Sony centre in Kent in 1982
After working for a small independent retailer. I decided to join a large multinational company.Mainly to join their management training programme.
After 20 years in retail management I decided I wanted to give something back to society.So I embarked on a lower paid job.This was working for my favourite charity the British Heart Foundation.I became an Area manager setting up the first Furniture & Electrical stores in this country & expanding the charities portfolio of stores.
I managed to Take early retirement at 50 but found I missed the hustle & bustle of retail.So that’s when I joined Coca Cola as a part time Grocery Merchandiser.
Grocery Merchandiser cover 16 accounts across east kent.
As a grocery merchandiser I call on 5 or 6 accounts per day.I Focus mainly on the stores promotional compliance.Availability of all our products & merchandising any product that aren’t available to the stores customers.
The accounts we currently visit are,Tesco,Asda,Morrisons & Sainsbury’s.These are all large format stores & I spend around an hour in each account.
Coca Cola are really flexible with start & finish times.Your route for the day is organised for you up to 3 weeks in advance.
I can move my calls around daily.This gives me the flexibility to focus on key accounts on a daily basis.
Working on my own for the first time.Not having to rely on others.
During Covid Coca Cola really looked after me.As I have a respiratory illness they insisted I stay off work for over a year.They paid me full pay including bonuses & didn’t claim any monies from the government’s Furlough scene.This was the case for all Coke employees.They have also given a lump sum of money to all employees to help with the cost of living crisis.I think this is fantastic that such a large multi National company look after their employees in this way.It makes you feel that you are not a small cog in a large wheel.In fact it feels like your working for a small local company.
If you want a career Coke is a great company to work for.
You will have a great opportunity to grow with the company.If you just want to be the best in your role & not want to process you can certainly do that in any role within the company.
Just be yourself you will build some great relationships in store with your internal customer.This is a key part of the role making you work load much easier to manage on a daily basis.
Managing a £150 million pound business & 70 staff at Gatwick Airport.
I was the Operation’s manger for World duty free at Gatwick airport.
This was a 24 hour 365 days a year job I was accountable for the Night operation in the airport.
I’m also really proud of being able to work for a large charity.I started the first British Heart foundation furniture & Electrician store & then opened many more.
I also managed to take early retirement & be Mortgage free at the young age of 50!
