About Holrich Consulting

Holrich Consulting is an independent consultancy which is not bogged down by burgeoning management structures.

We are based in Wigan and work exclusively in retail, buying, production and distribution. Each partner has over 25 years senior management expertise in these areas.

My name is Mark Holloway and I am the Managing Director of Holrich Consulting.

I am a dedicated and enthusiastic professional project manager with extensive senior management experience in the retail sector encompassing Sales, Buying, Merchandising and Project and Programme Management. I specialise in the development and implementation of strategic initiatives aimed at improving profitability and process efficiency. I am a strong motivational manager who coaches and empowers individuals to enable them to fulfil their potential whilst ensuring that they add value to the business.

Qualifications Master of Business Administration - University of Stirling Jan 2004 Member of the Chartered Management Institute

Key Achievements

I have managed major change programmes and coordinated the work load of a large team of consultants over the course of 3 years which delivered:

• A new promotion planning tool to aid the buyers choose the best promotion types and provide forecasts to stores ordering systems. This tool is delivering an additional £18m per annum gross margin to the retailer.
  
• The development of a promotional forecasting process using an SAS Toolset which increased sales by £20 million per annum across 1800 food stores.
  
• The introduction of a new assortment planning process to 4 trading teams across 180 product categories.
  
• The development of a web based tool to assist buyers in competitor price management and price impact analysis.

Career History

The Co-operative Group

Supply Chain Project Manager
Key achievements: Managed the reduced store order lead time project, managing a cross functional business team to deliver a reduction in the order lead time from 3 days to 2 days across all fresh food categories in 4000 Co-operative stores. This delivered increased sales and reduced wastage by £5m per annum.

Trading Project Capability Benefits Lead
Key achievements: Managed the development and delivery of trading benefits projects within a budget of £7m with delivery of benefits of £25m per annum through improvements in assortment and space, price and promotions management.

Head of Project Development
Key achievements: Managed the development and delivery of all trading projects, which included setting up a new e-tendering process. I also managed the Central Merchandising Team and developed a web based system for delivering merchandising plans to the Co-operative Group stores.

Business Process Development Manager
Key achievements: Developed a new ranging communication process between the Buying and Trading teams. Also implemented a communication process between the Supplies Support Team and the Co-operative Retail Trading Group.

Operations Manager - CRS
Key achievements: Managed the integration of the Buying and Administration Teams into the Co-operative Wholesale Society during the merger period with Co-operative Retail Services (CRS).

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