Curtis Bennett Email & Phone Number

United Kingdom

Kidlington, England, United Kingdom

Milton Keynes

Waterside, Paddington

Highlighting sales, in cash & volume, to Marks & Spencer UK Cut Flower team then increasing profitability for said lines. Project managed multimillion-pound launches between M&S and MM Flowers efficiently, working closely with the product buyers. Increased profitability by 20%. Identify store waste and creating sensible solutions to reduce it. Forecast & review products for week on week, year on year sales trends & performances. Decreased top level waste for all products by 15%. Agreeing & communicating estimates for new lines. Identifying & presenting product performance, availability & sell outs. Coordinate launches between M&S and MM Flowers efficiently, working closely with the product buyers. Sample coordination & presentation preparation, including new product & existing product development.

Developed and maintained key customer working relationships for ambient product innovation for the following - Jordan’s, Pioneer Foods, Weetabix, Newly Weds Foods, Premier Foods. Solely managing the entire New Product Development department, reporting weekly to the Head of Sales. Responsible for new product development & existing product development. Developed 8 retail products still on currently on stores shelves. Working closely with technical & engineering departments, aiding factory protocols. Hosting on site factory tours providing rigorous knowledge of everyday production. Daily coordinating multiple NPD projects, throughout all developmental phases: kitchen trials, scale up trials, factory trials and eventually mass production. Weekly communication with the finance department regarding the costing of trials and costings of new raw materials. Collecting primary & secondary information from clients, then proceeding to create product recipes and trial paperwork. Daily liaising with suppliers, often to chase missing documentation (CoA, supplier questionnaires etc). Presenting new product concepts to the board, including the presentation of concluded ideas & products. Attending numerous exhibitions, including Food Matters Live in London & PLMA’s World of Private Label in Amsterdam.

Hitchin, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom

Developed and maintained key customer working relationships for frozen product innovation for the following - McDonalds, Young’s, SFC, 2 Sisters Food Group, Greencore, Birds Eye & Iceland. Support customers with trials, product presentations, facilitating communication with relevant departments whilst being the primary point of contact for all technical or account related project, issues or concerns. Coordinate and lead internal & external pilot plant & production line trials. Helped to developed 6 products still currently produced, including the spicy nugget for McDonald’s. Understanding and following the critical path of all NPD Projects to ensure a success-ful product launch. Adhering to the entire Product Development process and ensur-ing each stage is precisely documented and communicated through to key stake holders. Remain technically current and competent plus maintain thorough knowledge of the ingredients market through suppliers, research associations and other reverent technical information sources. Developed new product formulations and existing product optimisation through a firm understanding of suppliers’ product range. Generate innovative products or processes and manage implementation from concept to launch. Proactively researching new market trends and product concepts relevant to key customer accounts. Understand business priorities, coordinate resource allocation and help to maintain good code of practice. Responsible for project management of identified strategic projects for diversification and growth in the UK and overseas. Responsible for accurate updating of project records, reviewing and optimising systems as appropriate.

Bedford, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom

NPD management

Multisite managed various medium to large stores. Helping to develop/execute marketing campaigns, including coaching, performance management daily operations. Presenting Cadbury concept/ideas to directors including project managing accounts. Improving Product displays and POS to encourage rate of sale and profitability. Customer facing, dealing directly with managers and customers. Being proactive - whilst adapting to every situation. Feedback reports generated each evening detailing store visits, SMART targets, progression plans, product and merchandise development and store development plans including management and staff development.