Page 7 - Newsbites March 2019

Insights Update Jo Hussey continues to work closely with Mars across their portfolio to influence and inform innovation plans with exciting products planned to launch across every area of the business unit this year. This month Skittles Cooler ice cream sticks will launch in Tesco and within the ICC channel. Andrew Patten represents SHS GB on the Tesco Home Essentials Consortium with Standard Brands and other suppliers, which meets on a quarterly basis. Last time he demonstrated to Tesco and the other suppliers how we use our firelighter weather model to maximise sales and avoid out of stocks. By raising our profile within Tesco, SHS/Standard Brands are aiming to have influence over the whole aisle thereby delivering further growth. Arthur Bennett has been focusing on Unilever’s core distribution drive, developing a tool utilising BI ship-to points to easily identify customer depots not ordering the brand owners full core range (image below). He has also reviewed Blakemore Spar planogram opportunities and presented at a recent Blakemore Spar customer cascade meeting. Jean McBain has supported the sales team in recent range discussions at Waitrose and Morrisons with Ricola as that brand prepares it’s exciting plans to invest into new areas. The team have also continued to support the Meridian business and have plans to share ways of working across other Group brands by the end of quarter 1. 7