Supply Planning Controller

About Us:

At itsu, we're passionate about making healthy eating exciting, accessible, and affordable. As an Asian-inspired food brand, we’ve grown to over 80 restaurants across the UK and Belgium, while building a thriving grocery business that reaches customers across Europe and beyond. Known for our fresh, high-quality food prepared daily in every shop, we're on an ambitious growth journey. With plans to expand our store estate, accelerate our grocery presence, and continue investing in innovation, technology, and our people, we're shaping the future of healthy fast food.

itsu [ grocery ], where this role sits, extends the much-loved itsu brand beyond our shops and into supermarkets, health food retailers, online channels, wholesale partners, and international markets. Our growing product range includes customer favourites such as crispy seaweed thins, frozen gyoza and bao, brilliant'broth, rice'noodles, and miso'easy, bringing the taste and quality of itsu into homes around the world.

Joining itsu means becoming part of a fast-paced, innovative business with big ambitions, a strong culture, and a shared mission to help people eat beautifully every day.

About the role:

As a Supply Planning Controller, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the seamless flow of products through the supply chain by balancing service, stock, cost, and waste targets. Working cross-functionally with Demand Planning, Procurement, Logistics, and Suppliers, you will be responsible for ensuring the supply planning team maintain optimal inventory levels, driving planning excellence, and supporting business growth through effective supply planning and continuous improvement initiatives.

This is an excellent opportunity for an analytical, proactive supply chain professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment and enjoys influencing key business decisions.

• Manage supply plans to ensure targeted service levels, stock availability, and waste performance are consistently achieved.
• Champion the growth and success of the team through strong leadership, coaching, mentoring, and the creation of an inclusive and engaging working environment.
• Monitor and optimise inventory policies to balance customer service, cash flow, stock holding, and product lifecycle requirements.
• Support the S&OP process through accurate supply planning inputs, risk identification, and effective stakeholder communication.
• Drive planning efficiency through effective use of planning systems, data analysis, and continuous process improvement.
• Collaborate with Procurement and suppliers to ensure long and short-term supply continuity and capacity availability.
• Support successful product launches and SKU transitions through robust scenario planning and inventory management.

Key Role Responsibilities:

• Create, maintain, and monitor supply plans to ensure inventory availability while minimising excess stock and waste.
• Provide effective leadership and management to the team, fostering a collaborative, high-performance culture and supporting individual development.
• Manage supplier order schedules and replenishment plans to ensure products are ordered in an efficient and cost-effective manner.
• Support monthly stock close activities, inventory valuation processes, and planning system lock-down procedures.
• Work closely with Demand Planning to align supply plans with forecasted demand and communicate supply risks and opportunities.
• Analyse supplier performance, proactively identifying risks, constraints, and capacity challenges to maintain supply continuity.
• Co-ordinate product launches, delists, artwork changes, and SKU switchovers to minimise stock exposure and operational disruption.
• Maintain accurate planning parameters, master data, and system settings to ensure planning tools are fully optimised.
• Identify opportunities to improve planning processes, service levels, inventory performance, and cross-functional ways of working.

As part of the wider Supply Chain team, you will work in a collaborative, fast-paced environment where continuous improvement and proactive problem-solving are highly valued. You'll have the opportunity to build strong relationships across multiple functions, influence key planning decisions, and contribute directly to delivering exceptional service to customers while driving operational efficiency.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Previous experience within Supply Planning, Inventory Planning, Supply Chain Planning, or a similar supply chain role.
• Strong analytical skills with experience using planning systems, ERP platforms, and Excel to manage data-driven decisions.
• A solid understanding of end-to-end supply chain operations, including procurement, inventory management, and supplier performance management.
• Experience working within FMCG, food, beverage, manufacturing, or similarly fast-paced environments.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills with the ability to influence and collaborate across multiple functions.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and respond effectively to supply challenges.
• A proactive mindset with a passion for continuous improvement and driving operational efficiencies.
• Experience supporting S&OP processes, product launches, or inventory optimisation initiatives would be advantageous.

What We Offer:

• Competitive Salary
• Competitive Bonus Scheme
• 25 days holiday + Bank holidays (two bank holidays are interchangeable for other religious holidays)
• Health Insurance
• Company Pension Scheme
• Hybrid Working model: This can vary by department, with some operating on a 3-day onsite/2-day WFH model and others on a 4-day onsite/1-day WFH. Opportunity to work from abroad 2 weeks of the year.
• 50% employee discount in itsu shops
• Free itsu lunch every day!
• Discounts at major retailers
• Salary sacrifice cycle and electric vehicle schemes
• Development & Growth opportunities

At itsu [grocery], everyone’s taste matters, and so does who’s behind it. We celebrate diversity and are an equal opportunities employer. Applications from all backgrounds are encouraged. If you need support or adjustments to apply, we’ll happily accommodate.