Marlena Chambers
Soham
Summary
Experienced professional across fresh produce categories. Proven track record of End to End supply chain management: Key retail accounts, driving cross-functional collaboration, delivering business tenders, logistics, procurement and leadership. Strong focus on customer service, consistency and relationship building. Successful in managing multiple and complex tasks, working well under pressure and to timeframes. Positive and ‘can do’ attitude, embracing people and business culture. Highly loyal, committed and dedicated.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Commercial Manager
AM FRESH UK
Alconbury, Cambridgeshire
11.2023 - Current
- An integral part of Onboarding new major customer, Sainsburys with 11 citrus growers as part of service provision supply model, managing cross-functional teams for successful project execution.
- Landed project ahead of launch
- Managing key account relationships, both retailer and grower
- All aspects of daily supply: Daily order, volume forecasting, volume actuals, grower programmes, operational capacity planning
- Growers reporting: Weekly Teams conference calls, full stock management accountability, daily reporting of volumes and quality
- Primary contact for the resolution of supply issues related to customer and grower
- Contract negotiations for logistics and management of product movements from source to site
- Monitored weekly financial budget vs actual, service level
- Leadership of dedicated team
- Grower reviews, data and performance based
- Supply chain management of other key accounts: M&S and Ocado, working within a team to meet daily service level targets and the execution of FMS activities
- Direct contact with M&S and Ocado supply chain teams, 28 days delivery plan, ASNs, daily orders executions, stock transfers between sites, day to day issue resolution.
Head of Supply Chain
AM FRESH UK
Spalding, Lincolnshire
11.2021 - 10.2023
- Managed AM FRESH Tropical Fruit with 3rd party sites in UK, also an integral part of onboarding new business in Europe
- Negotiated contract terms with operational service providers, clearing agents, logistics, packaging
- Identifying opportunities within the supply chain to reduce / remove cost
- Ensured compliance with industry and retailer regulations / requirements
- Managed complex logistics operations for efficient goods distribution.
- Created and agreed WOW and service level agreements with 3rd parties
- Launched demand forecasting model, aligning inventory with customer requirements and product seasonality
- Managed UK customers portals for Sainsburys, Morrisons, Aldi and direct communication with IPL Asda and indirect supply to Costco
- Managed European customers
- Prepared and delivered tender proposals for UK and European business
- Managed end-to-end procurement processes from grower to customer, all Incoterms & logistics
- Developed strategic supplier relationships, driving product quality, delivery on time and in full.
- Carried out day-to-day duties and working collaboratively with all stakeholders and colleagues
- Category leading customer service, reviewing performance and implementing improvement plans
- Represented AM FRESH at trade exhibitions, hosting customers meetings
- Team leadership of 6 reports
Senior Commercial Manager
AM FRESH UK
Fordham and Peterborough, Cambridgeshire
09.2015 - 10.2021
- Managed AM FRESH Central European business: Tesco Poland, Czech, Slovakia, Hungary supplying citrus, grapes, NFC juices and cut flowers
- Led the key account management with all Tesco Central Europe Entities. Engaged with Tesco commercial teams to create and execute trade driving activities and promotional campaigns
- Prepared and tendered for all business in Central Europe
- Negotiated and managed all aspects of contracts with 3rd party service provision
- Managed custom clearance, storage and logistics
- Managed NFC juices procurement and planning
- Significant and complex direct delivery campaigns for key trading periods across all 4 countries
- Launch of MM Flowers with Tesco Central Europe, landed 1st International Women’s Day campaign
- Managed commercial execution of all products, cost prices, promotional plans and key events dates
- Weekly competitor and market review report
- Engaged with Senior Tesco Teams, to support sustainability and supply chain efficiency projects
- Team leadership of 6 reports
Quality Control Specialist, Sales and Procurement Specialist, Sale Team Lead, Commercial Executive, Commercial Manager
MMUK
Fordham, Cambridgeshire
04.2002 - 08.2015
- Tesco UK and Tesco Central Europe Citrus Business
- Performed number of roles
Quality Controller
G's Marketing
Barway, Cambridgeshire
12.2001 - 03.2002
Education
Master of Science - Management and Marketing in Agribusiness
Warsaw University of Life Sciences
11.2001
Bachelor of Science - European Food Chain Agribusiness
CAH Dronten University
05.2001
Bachelor of Science - Agriculture
Warsaw University of Life Sciences
06.1999
Skills
- Key account handling
- Customer-centric approach
- Thorough industry knowledge
- Decision-Making authority
- Risk assessment and mitigation
- Negotiating agreements
- Supply chain management
- Customer relationship building
- Mental resilience
- Driving cross-functional collaboration
Languages
English - Fluent
Polish - Native
Spanish - Elementary
Timeline
Senior Commercial Manager
AM FRESH UK
11.2023 - Current
Head of Supply Chain
AM FRESH UK
11.2021 - 10.2023
Senior Commercial Manager
AM FRESH UK
09.2015 - 10.2021
Quality Control Specialist, Sales and Procurement Specialist, Sale Team Lead, Commercial Executive, Commercial Manager
MMUK
04.2002 - 08.2015
Quality Controller
G's Marketing
12.2001 - 03.2002
Bachelor of Science - European Food Chain Agribusiness
CAH Dronten University
Bachelor of Science - Agriculture
Warsaw University of Life Sciences
Master of Science - Management and Marketing in Agribusiness
Warsaw University of Life Sciences
References
References available upon request.
Awards
Summer student work placement at G's Shropshire Group (1998-2000), Member of ERASMUS programme and international student group whilst studying in Netherlands (2000), Placement student at Chrystal in Netherlands (2001), Completed Tesco Leadership Course delivered by MorePerformance (2007-2008), Completed Leadership skills development delivered by Impellus (2016), Completed Coaching skills for Managers delivered by Impellus (2016), Part of AMFRESH Leadership Development Programme delivered by KWT (2023-2025)
Hobbies and Interests
Floristry, Taking part and support Race for Life events, Beagle owner and lover, Outdoor living and travelling