Planner: Demand 2026 – Premier FMCG Culinary | Demand Planning and S&OP Jobs | Apply Now | High-Paying Jobs & Career Opportunities, Just for You

Demand planner jobs Midrand 2026 | S&OP demand planning jobs South Africa | Premier FMCG culinary vacancies | FMCG supply chain planner jobs Gauteng

Premier FMCG, a leading name in South Africa’s fast-moving consumer goods industry with brands across Bakery, Milling, Confectionery, Home & Personal Care and Culinary, is recruiting a Planner: Demand for its Culinary Corporate office in Midrand, Gauteng (reference 980 – Culinary Corporate). This full-time role provides demand planning and logistics process management support for key Culinary product categories: generating accurate forecasts, managing inventory buffers, supporting customer service levels and driving improvement through the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process. It suits an analytical graduate in Mathematics, Statistics, Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain Management or Logistics. Applications close 13 November 2026, which is only two days away. Apply immediately.

Job Overview

Job Title	Planner: Demand
Company	Premier FMCG
Division	Culinary – Corporate
Reference	980 – Culinary Corporate
Industry	FMCG \| Supply Chain Planning \| Logistics
Job Type	Full-Time
Positions Available	1
Location	Midrand, Gauteng
Minimum Qualification	Degree in Mathematics, Statistics, Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Logistics or a related field (essential)
Experience	3–5 years in supply chain or demand planning (desirable); 1–2 years in the FMCG sector (desirable)
Systems	Dynamics GP, Sizanani, Symphony IBP
Experience Level	Mid-Level
Salary	Market Related (Not Disclosed)
EE / Diversity	Equal opportunity employer; applications from all qualified individuals, including people living with disabilities, are encouraged
Closing Date	13 November 2026
Application Status	✅ Open — Apply Now

Notes on the advertisement: The degree is essential, while the supply chain and FMCG experience are described as desirable, so strong graduates with limited experience can reasonably apply. The reference appears on the source as “980 – Culinary Corporate” without a “PF” prefix, so quote it exactly in your application. The advert gives no feedback timeframe or salary, so if you are not contacted after the closing date, assume your application was unsuccessful.

About Premier FMCG

Premier FMCG is at the heart of South Africa’s FMCG industry, delivering trusted, iconic brands across its Bakery, Milling, Confectionery, Home & Personal Care and Culinary divisions. The group describes itself as driven by innovation, collaboration and a high-performance growth culture. This vacancy supports the Culinary division from the Midrand corporate office, where forecasting, buffer decisions and the S&OP process connect Sales, customers and the supply chain.

Purpose of the Role

The Planner: Demand provides demand planning and logistics process management support for key Culinary product categories. The role generates accurate demand forecasts for new, existing, seasonal and promotional products, manages inventory buffers, supports customer service levels and product availability, and drives continuous improvement through the S&OP cycle.

Key Responsibilities

Demand Planning and Forecasting

Develop, execute and maintain accurate demand plans for new, existing, seasonal and promotional products
Monitor market trends, demand patterns and business insights to generate reliable projections
Analyse daily and weekly system reports to identify trends, risks and variances
Liaise with internal stakeholders to confirm unusual trends or demand deviations

Buffer and Inventory Management

Adjust buffer levels in line with sales plans, stock risks and promotional activity
Provide ongoing communication on stock status, risks and expected availability
Identify opportunities to meet customer demand during periods of constrained supply

Customer Service and Cross-Functional Collaboration

Work closely with Sales, customers and Supply Chain teams to improve service levels and product availability
Participate in risk assessment and mitigation activities relating to supply and demand
Support capacity and resource planning across logistics and supply chain functions

S&OP, Systems and Continuous Improvement

Identify improvement opportunities within the S&OP cycle and demand planning processes
Support best practices that enhance forecast accuracy and reduce operating costs
Drive efficiency through improved systems utilisation and standardised processes
Maintain accurate, up-to-date records on systems such as Dynamics GP, Sizanani or Symphony IBP

Training and Knowledge Sharing

Train and support planners and site teams on demand planning and buffer management processes
Document and share best practices and insights across the organisation

Minimum Requirements

Education: Degree in Mathematics, Statistics, Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Logistics or a related qualification (essential)
Experience: 3 to 5 years in supply chain or demand planning (desirable) and 1 to 2 years in the FMCG sector (desirable)
Systems: Ability to maintain records on systems such as Dynamics GP, Sizanani or Symphony IBP; strong Excel skills are expected in practice for analysing planning data
Skills and competencies: Highly analytical with strong attention to detail; organised, systematic and process-driven; strong relationship builder with a collaborative style; resilient, adaptable and able to work under pressure; proactive, innovative and committed to continuous improvement; dependable and professional
EE / Diversity: Premier FMCG is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including people living with disabilities
POPIA: By applying, you consent to the processing of your personal information in line with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), Act 4 of 2013, for recruitment purposes

Why Join Premier FMCG – Culinary Corporate

Central role in the S&OP cycle: You contribute to the process where Sales, customers and Supply Chain agree one plan, which gives early exposure to commercial and operational decision-making
Analytical work with direct impact: Forecast accuracy and buffer settings affect product availability and operating cost, so the results of good analysis are visible in service levels
Planning systems experience: The advert names Dynamics GP, Sizanani and Symphony IBP, which gives you experience with enterprise and integrated business planning tools
Trainer and mentor opportunity: The role includes training planners and site teams, which builds communication and leadership skills early in a planning career
Route into senior planning roles: Demand planning is a core skill for S&OP, supply planning and supply chain management positions, so this is a solid foundation for career growth
Midrand corporate location: Midrand sits between Johannesburg and Pretoria, with good access to major roads and the Gautrain, widening commuting options across Gauteng

Career Growth Path

Planner: Demand – Culinary Corporate — Build forecast accuracy, buffer management and S&OP participation across key Culinary categories (Years 1–2)
Senior Demand Planner / Demand Planning Lead — Own a wider category portfolio, set forecasting standards and coach other planners (Years 2–4)
Demand and Supply Planning Manager / S&OP Manager — Lead the S&OP process, balance demand and supply and manage a planning team (Years 4–7)
Head of Supply Chain / Supply Chain Director — Take end-to-end accountability for planning, logistics and service performance for a division (Years 7+)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. How do demand planners forecast new, seasonal and promotional products differently?

Existing, stable products are usually forecast from sales history using statistical methods, producing a baseline forecast. Seasonal products add a seasonal index that reflects predictable peaks, such as colder months or festive periods for many food categories. Promotional products need a separate uplift estimate on top of the baseline, based on past promotions, the retailer’s promotional calendar and the depth of the discount, and should also consider cannibalisation (the promotion pulling sales from similar products) and the post-promotion dip. New products have no history, so planners rely on analogous products, sales team and retailer input, distribution targets and launch plans, then revise quickly as real sales appear. In each case, the planner combines statistics with market knowledge from Sales, which is why the advert stresses working closely with Sales and customers.

2. What are MAPE, WMAPE and forecast bias, and how are they calculated?

MAPE (Mean Absolute Percentage Error) averages each product’s percentage error, while WMAPE (Weighted MAPE) weights errors by volume so large products count more. Bias shows whether forecasts are consistently too high or too low. Take three items with actual sales of 100, 200 and 50 units and forecasts of 120, 180 and 70. Each is out by 20 units, so the total absolute error is 60. Total actual sales are 350, so WMAPE is 60 divided by 350, or about 17.1%. Total forecast is 370 against 350 actual, so bias is +20 units, or about +5.7% over-forecast. Accuracy tells you how big the errors are, while bias tells you whether they lean in one direction, which usually points to a process problem such as over-optimistic sales input. Many planning teams also measure Forecast Value Added (FVA), which checks whether each manual adjustment improved on the statistical forecast.

3. What is a stock buffer and how is it linked to service levels?

A buffer is extra stock held to protect customer service when demand or supply is uncertain. A common safety stock formula is safety stock = z × standard deviation of demand × square root of lead time, where z reflects the target service level (about 1.65 for 95%). For example, if weekly demand varies with a standard deviation of 40 units and the lead time is 4 weeks, safety stock is 1.65 × 40 × 2 = 132 units. Raising the service target raises the buffer and the cost of holding stock, so planners balance service against working capital. The advert asks for buffers to be adjusted for sales plans, stock risks and promotional activity, meaning the buffer is not a fixed number but is reviewed as conditions change. Companies use different buffer methods, so ask the employer which approach Premier uses.

4. What do S&OP and integrated business planning systems like Symphony IBP do?

An integrated business planning (IBP) platform holds the demand plan, supply plan, inventory targets and financial view in one place so that the S&OP meeting works from a single version of the plan. Typical functions include statistical forecasting, collaboration between Sales and planners, scenario comparison (for example, what happens to service if a promotion is bigger than expected) and exception alerts. The advert names Dynamics GP, Sizanani and Symphony IBP, so the role records and maintains planning data across systems. It does not describe them in detail, so ask at interview how each is used. If you have worked with other planning tools such as SAP IBP, Kinaxis, Anaplan or advanced Excel models, mention them. The logic of loading history, adjusting forecasts, reviewing exceptions and publishing a consensus plan transfers well between platforms.

5. How should a planner respond when supply is constrained and demand exceeds what can be delivered?

When supply cannot meet demand, for example because of a raw material shortage or a production breakdown, planners must decide who receives limited stock. Typical steps are to quantify the gap and its expected duration, tell Sales and customers early with realistic availability dates, and apply an agreed allocation rule, such as fair share based on past orders, priority for key customers or promotions, or priority for higher-margin items. They also look for ways to close the gap, such as alternative pack sizes, alternative sites or expedited transport, which the advert describes as identifying opportunities to meet customer demand during constrained supply. Clear, early communication matters as much as the numbers, because retailers can plan around a known shortfall but not around a surprise. Document the decision, so the S&OP meeting can review it and prevent a repeat.

⚠️ How to Apply

Documents Required:

Updated CV (maximum 4 pages) showing planning, forecasting or supply chain experience, systems used and measurable results (for example, forecast accuracy or service level improvements)
Certified copy of your degree and academic record
Copy of South African ID document
Cover letter quoting reference 980 – Culinary Corporate and explaining your analytical and planning experience

⚠️ Closing Date: 13 November 2026. The advertisement states no closing time, so submit your application as early as possible.

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Planner: Demand 2026 – Premier FMCG Culinary | Demand Planning and S&OP Jobs | Apply Now