Wayne Abbiss

Retail category and space-planning specialist with 30+ years' of both store and head office experience across major UK grocery retailers, FMCG suppliers and Brands, including Marks & Spencer, Heineken UK, Unilever, Wickes, Superdrug and Sainsbury's and Morrisons account teams. Building range, display and promotional strategy that translates directly into sales and share growth, backed by strong analytical rigour and stakeholder management from board level to shopfloor. A ‘hands on’ deliverer who understands the trading realities of daily operations and how the customer must always be front and centre of everything we do.

Category Manager at Earthfare (2026-03 – 2026-09)

• Own end-to-end range and supplier strategy for the Chilled, Frozen and Fresh Produce categories, working hands-on across all three departments rather than purely at a strategic remove.
• Develop and deliver shopfloor environments directly alongside category strategy, balancing supplier relationships with owner and stakeholder priorities.
• Design and deliver promotional and pricing plans aimed at measurable category and margin growth.
• Utilised AI tools (Claude, ChatGPT) in category analysis and reporting, speeding up decision-making and stakeholder communication.
• Coach category team members, building individual decision-making ownership and analytical capability.

Owner at Tukosawa Creative (alongside Earthfare, part-time) (2017-04 – Present)

• Run a bespoke home & garden renovation workshop, managing client relationships from brief through to on-time, on-budget delivery.

Commercial Director at Kalista Retail Ltd (2015-06 – 2016-07)

• Led UK market entry for Kalista Retail Ltd, standing up accounting, supplier and operational infrastructure from scratch.
• Sole UK point of contact for France-based directors and shareholders, aligning local execution with group strategy.
• Built senior-level relationships across retailers and brands; produced all marketing collateral, including white papers, blogs and advertising.
• Designed and delivered space & range planning training and best-practice sessions for clients across Europe.

Range Planning Manager at Heineken UK Ltd (2013-05 – 2014-09)

• Owned cider and beer range and space-planning recommendations for Sainsbury's and Morrisons accounts, presenting to internal and retailer stakeholders.
• Applied IRI, AC Nielsen, Sainsbury's Nectar/EPOS data, JDA Spaceplanning and Red Dot Square VR tools to build evidence-based recommendations.
• Delivered 2014 share-of-shelf and range targets in both accounts, directly strengthening 2015 JBP negotiations.
• Advised Heineken's global Amsterdam team on system requirements and vendor selection for a new VR space-planning tool.

Senior Display Manager, Foods at Marks & Spencer PLC (2009-06 – 2013-03)

• Built and launched M&S's first-ever Space, Range and Display function — systems, people and process — across Chilled Foods, Fresh Produce and Frozen in 500+ stores (£70m+ weekly turnover).
• Led and developed a team of 6 Display Planners against brand standards and project timelines.
• Delivered space & display strategy for major UK and Western Europe store openings (Champs-Élysées, So Ouest, Westfield Stratford, Cheshire Oaks).
• Pioneered 3D modelling for display and fixture development, cutting cost and lead time by removing the need to physically build concept versions.

Head office, salesfloor and operational roles at Wickes, ExxonMobil, Superdrug and Unilever (2009)

Prior to 2009, held head office, salesfloor and operational roles at Wickes, ExxonMobil, Superdrug and Unilever, developing and strengthening store operations through consistent, performance-focused category management, communication, coaching and delivery.

8 GCSEs (Grade C and above) in Maths, English Language & Literature, Physics, Chemistry, Geography, Art, Craft-Design & Technology – Bucklersmead Comprehensive School (1985 – 1990)