Demand Planner

About the Role:

The Demand Planner Belux is responsible for delivering an accurate and dynamic sales forecast for the Belgian and Luxembourg markets across all channels (HD, MT, OOH). Acting as the central integrator between Sales, Supply Chain, Finance, Marketing and Trade Marketing, the role ensures optimal visibility of demand, early identification of risks and opportunities, and seamless alignment across functions.

The position reports to Demand Planning Manager BNL and plays a key role in achieving service level targets, optimizing inventories, and steering the S&OP process for the Benelux cluster.

Main Responsibilities:

Forecasting & Analysis

• You build and maintain the annual sales forecast leveraging historical data, sell‑out trends, market signals, and business insights.
• You deliver a rolling weekly and monthly demand forecast for all BeLux channels, ensuring:
• Baseline volumes reflect the latest trends
• Promotional activities are properly integrated
• Full compliance with internal forecasting ways‑of‑working
• You monitor and adjust forecasts based on weekly performance, customer inputs, and internal stakeholder feedback.

Seasonal Planning

• You ensure customer‑confirmed seasonal volumes are accurately reflected in the forecasting tools.
• You track incoming orders and highlight deviations from planned promotional or seasonal volumes to the Demand Planning Manager and KAMs.

Forecast Accuracy & Continuous Improvement

• You analyze top offenders and key product deviations; identify root causes and recommend corrective actions.
• You monitor forecast accuracy and bias, ensuring continuous improvement of data quality and forecasting processes.
• You implement structured improvement initiatives with Sales, Marketing, and Trade Marketing.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Reporting

• You establish a structured process for forecast alignment with KAMs through weekly and monthly touchpoints.
• You build and maintain standardized reporting templates summarizing forecast changes, gaps, risks, and opportunities.
• You support KAMs in defining promotional and seasonal volume estimates.
• You provide accurate, timely reporting to Sales, Finance, Supply Chain, and Management.

Risk & Opportunity Management

• You identify, quantify, and communicate risks and opportunities impacting the business.
• You support scenario analysis and decision‑making during the S&OP cycle.
• You ensure full transparency to Supply Planning on volume changes or potential service risks.

Communication & Leadership

• You prepare and lead the weekly demand review meeting, presenting insights on demand evolution, key drivers, risks, and corrective actions.
• You actively participate in cross‑functional meetings with Sales, Finance, Trade Marketing, Marketing, and Planning.
• You facilitate alignment across teams to ensure a single, agreed‑upon forecast is used in all planning processes.

About You:

You are graduated of a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Supply Chain, Business Administration, Economics, Engineering, or related field.

You have 1–3+ years of experience in Demand Planning, Supply Chain, Commercial Finance, or similar analytical roles (FMCG experience is a strong asset).

You have a previous experience working with Sales and commercial teams in a multi‑stakeholder environment.

You are able to prior involvement in S&OP / IBP processes is an advantage.

You are fluent in French and English; Dutch is a plus.

Technical Skills

• You have strong analytical capabilities; excellent command of Excel (pivot tables, formulas, data handling, PBI).
• You have a first experience with forecasting tools (SAP APO, OMP, Anaplan or similar), SAP ECC is a plus.
• You have a solid understanding of Supply Chain processes (S&OP, demand planning, promotional planning).
• You are comfortable working with large data sets and turning insights into actionable recommendations.

Behavioral Competencies

• You are structured and rigorous approach to data and processes.
• You have a strong communication skills, capable of challenging and influencing stakeholders at all levels.
• You are proactive mindset with a strong sense of ownership.
• You have the ability to work under pressure during seasonal peaks and tight deadlines.
• You are recognized as collaborative, team-oriented, and customer-focused.
• You have an high attention to detail and commitment to continuous improvement.

Our Benefits & Perks:

Careers with caring built in - discover our benefits here.

About Ferrero:

Ferrero began its journey in the small town of Alba in Piedmont, Italy, in 1946. Today, it is one of the world’s largest sweet-packaged food companies, with many iconic brands sold in countries all over the world. Find out more about Ferrero at ferrero.com.

DE&I at Ferrero:

Ferrero is committed to building a diverse and inclusive culture in which all employees feel welcomed and appreciated and have the same opportunities. We believe all our people are equally talented in their own way. In nurturing the curiosity and natural abilities of our employees, we provide them, generation after generation, the means to succeed personally and professionally, enabling them to craft their journey at Ferrero. The diversity of our talents is what makes our work environment multicultural, innovative, and highly rewarding.
Find out more here.