SNEHAL GAIKWAD

• Oversee end‑to‑end business operations, from manufacturing to market launch.
• Design and develop products that align with trade requirements, consumer trends, and quality standards.
• Conduct thorough product inspections, manage packaging design, and ensure compliance with brand guidelines.
• Establish and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), streamline workflows, and execute regular internal audits to drive efficiency.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams—finance, marketing, R&D, and supply chain—to align strategies and achieve financial targets.
• Lead marketing planning and creative direction; approve social‑media calendars, coordinate photo shoots, and schedule regular content releases.
• Perform competitive benchmarking to identify market gaps and opportunities for brand differentiation.
• Conceptualise and launch new products that drive topline growth and enhance brand equity.
• Develop and manage B2B business.
• Negotiate contracts and grow key accounts to expand market presence.

• Category strategy and portfolio planning.
• Oversee the end-to-end category strategy for chocolate and café offerings across airport retail and food-service outlets.
• Conduct market and price benchmarking to identify emerging supermarket trends, and shape assortment plans that maximise sales per square foot.
• Led the launch of new brands and products, coordinating product development, packaging design, and in‑store placement to align with airport shopper expectations.
• Perform detailed price and product analysis; negotiate with vendors to secure favourable terms, promotional support, and optimal shelf-space allocation.
• Travel to key business sites to evaluate on-site operations, establish SOPs, and enforce consistent service standards.
• Analyse sales and consumer data to refine assortment, optimise inventory turns, and drive margin improvement.
• Collaborate with the culinary team to create café recipes and limited-edition offerings that enhance the airport experience, and boost ancillary revenue.
• Work cross‑functionally with marketing, finance, and operations to ensure seamless execution of launches and ongoing category performance.

• Category strategy and portfolio planning.
• Assortment optimisation and shelf-space allocation.
• Research and analyse market data to uncover actionable insights.
• Identify consumer needs and wants to guide product development.
• Develop and execute long-term category growth strategies.
• Design exit plans for underperforming SKUs.
• Build and nurture enduring vendor relationships; negotiate Joint Business Plans (JBP) that sustain mutually beneficial partnerships.
• Trade partner negotiation and contract management.
• Lead negotiations on vendor-funded promotions and new product listings to accelerate growth.
• Manage vendor financial reconciliations and identify additional revenue streams from brand partnerships.
• Pricing and promotion analytics.
• Drive topline growth while optimising category margins.
• Position product categories for maximum shelf visibility and market impact.
• Partner with the marketing team to evaluate and refine product development strategies.
• Collaborate with customers and merchandisers to devise expansion strategies, and uncover new growth opportunities.
• Cross-functional stakeholder alignment (marketing, finance, sales, supply chain, and R&D).
• Budget P&L ownership.
• Produce demand forecasts to inform inventory and business planning.

• Overlook all logistics Vendor Management Inventory Management
• Handling Cost control Management
• Tracking shelf life of products & maintain Hygiene
• Manage kitchen staff and coordinate food orders.
• Supervise food prep and cooking.
• Check food plating and temperature and establish portion sizes.
• Schedule kitchen staff shifts.
• Price menu items in collaboration with the Restaurant Manager
• Order food supplies and kitchen equipment, as needed.
• Train kitchen staff on prep work and food plating techniques
• Store food products in compliance with safety practices (e.g. in refrigerators)
• Keep weekly and monthly cost reports.
• Maintain sanitation and safety standards in the kitchen area

• Inventory Management
• Team and vendor Management
• To examine Quality, Hygiene and to control DAD, RTV, ordering for food department.
• To manage and track margin.
• To execute day to day operations through staff training supervision and team building.
• Ensure proper approval for customer discounts, returns and exchanges while providing customer satisfaction.
• Actively seek to resolve any concerns while adhering to the company policy and standards of behaviour
• Ensure company goals and objectives are being met by each employee and provide feedback.
• Address customer concerns in reference to products, services rendered or employee interactions

• Gourmet Consultant
• Responsible for sharing recipes and cooking tips with the customers on how the product should be used in various recipes.
• Give expert advice to high profile and discerning customers.
• Responsible for all types of food sampling and cooking demos inside the stores and for outdoor cooking demo sessions.
• Customer Service: Delivering world class customer service experience and building customer satisfaction and loyalty.
• Taking care of customer request and doing follow ups on the same to ensure closure
• Handling customer queries and complaints.
• Designing hampers and platters on orders.
• Responsible for advising, sampling, suggesting food categories like Wine, Cheese, Cold Cuts, Confectionary and other imported gourmet food products.
• Keeping the customer aware about product availability in the store
• Store Operations: Increasing the sales by selling the in-house products, Taking bulk orders of hampers, platters and other products
• Ordering & Stock count at the end of every month
• Taking care of expiry & damages.
• Managing opening & closing shifts and maintenance of allotted section, Training staff on international cuisine & grooming standards.
• Responsible for specific category sales, ordering, visual merchandising and cleanliness of Section.
• Helping Store to increase the home delivery Sales.
• Worked with Celebrity Chef Ranveer Brar
• Nominated as Best Department Manager in Mumbai (2016)
• Successfully accomplished 1crore target for hampers in Festive Season (2015 & 2016)

• Responsible for fulfilling the production list, given by management, which includes all prep items.
• Responsible for operating and monitoring proper functioning of equipment to include mixers and choppers; following safety procedures for using equipment; sanitize work area during and after use.
• Ensuring all prepped items reflect the highest standards of quality, consistency, aesthetics, and taste.
• To execute all recipes consistently according to the recipes and standards.
• To demonstrate safe food handling practices and follow safety procedures for using equipment and cleaning supplies.

• Managing the day-to-day operations of a store, including training new employees on proper procedures and policies
• Monitoring employee performance to ensure that they meet the standards of customer service and quality workmanship
• Overseeing the ordering process of supplies and equipment to ensure proper inventory levels are maintained
• Ensuring that company standards for food quality and presentation are met
• Coordinating with the marketing department to create new marketing campaigns or specials for specific times of year, such as holidays or sporting events
• Ensuring that the store is stocked with supplies, including napkins, plates, cups, and silverware
• Answering customer questions about products and specials
• Managing employees’ schedules, including time off requests, time sheets, and change requests
• Handling customer complaints or concerns regarding the quality of service or products

• To schedule and manage preparations and food processing for both Bakery and Continental kitchen.
• To carry out day to day operations such as food quality inspection, temperature check, shelf life and FIFO management
• To keep high standards of personal and kitchen hygiene.

Post Graduate In Product Management