JTI (Japan Tobacco International) has announced that it will be evolving its sales force and transitioning their award-winning team into JTI Business Advisers. The move will create 58 new jobs and the aim is to offer JTI’s valued trade partners unrivalled, best-in-class support.
The JTI sales force is an integral part of the UK business, historically operating as a dual entity with an internal JTI team and a third-party sales force which was split across channels. This transition will see JTI consolidate the team and create an in-house sales force of JTI Business Advisers.
The JTI Business Advisers will be allocated smaller, dedicated catchment areas where they will be responsible for every trading channel within it – from Independent to Key Multiple Grocers and Wholesale. The evolution will enable JTI to increase its speed, agility, and efficiency in the field. It will also allow JTI Business Advisers to provide a more bespoke, personal service so they can identify commercial opportunities with their trade partners to an even greater extent.
JTI Business Advisers will be "total category experts". Whether it’s advice on what JTI products to stock across tobacco, vaping, heated tobacco or nicotine pouches to maximise sales, information on responsible retailing such as Youth Access Prevention and how to tackle illicit trade, or sustainability support, JTI Business Advisers will be "on hand to support trade partners every step of the way".
“The industry is moving forward at a rapid pace and as a business we are always looking at ways we can innovate to help us to continue delivering world class service to all of our trade partners," Ross Hennessy, JTI’s Sales Vice President, told Asian Trader. "The transition to Business Advisers is the biggest change that JTI has made in the last 20 years and has been in planning for over two years to ensure that the move is as seamless as possible for our customers.
“Our highly skilled Sales Force has always operated at a high level, but we have taken the time to upskill our JTI Business Advisers to a superior standard. Combine this with the fact that this role is completely customer centric, we are confident that the transition can only be of benefit to our trade partners as they will receive an even greater level of service than they have come to expect from JTI.”
The transition commences this month. Retailers can find out more information on who their new JTI Business Adviser will be by calling JTI’s Customer Care line on 0800 163503.*
*Calls to these telephone numbers may be recorded
