A day in the life of an FMCG Consultant

A Day in the Life of an FMCG Consultant (Spoiler: There Is No “Typical” Day)

If you’re looking for routine, this isn’t it.

A day in the life of an FMCG consultant can look structured from the outside… but step into it, and you’ll quickly realise it’s anything but predictable. It all comes down to priorities, pressure points, and what the week decides to throw at you.

Take last week.

Monday to Wednesday alone covered more ground than most roles see in a fortnight.

It started with the essentials — catching up on admin and finalising a contracted three-part webinar. The kind of work that looks straightforward on paper but carries real weight. This is where clarity gets built. Where businesses either move forward with confidence… or stall.

Then came supplier updates — both Foodstuffs South Island and Foodstuffs North Island digital updates. These aren’t just “check-ins.” They’re critical alignment points. Miss something here, and it shows up later in ranging decisions, supply issues, or missed opportunities on shelf.

Layered in between? Supplier meetings. Retailer meetings. The constant back-and-forth that keeps the engine running.

And then — a complete shift of pace.

A full day spent as a steward at the New Zealand Cheesemakers Association judging and awards. From spreadsheets to cheeseboards. From commercial conversations to craftsmanship. A reminder that behind every SKU is a producer, a story, and a standard worth protecting.

But the real work of the week sits in the gaps.

Solving problems.

Order errors that need untangling before they become bigger issues.
Pricing challenges that can make or break a product’s viability or a supplier’s profitability.
Team alignment - conversations that quietly determine execution success.
Category review negotiations where every decision counts.
Following up new product launches to ensure they don’t just land — but stick.
Setting up new vendors so they actually have a pathway to succeed, not just a listing.

It’s constant movement. Constant prioritisation.

What gets done first?
What needs escalation?
What can’t wait until tomorrow?

Because in this world — everything matters.

And then, alongside all of that, there’s the part that doesn’t sit on a task list.

Supporting people.

Last week, that meant standing alongside a very dear friend at her first industry event — the New Zealand Cheesemakers Association judging and awards night. Watching someone step into the industry, navigate it, and find their place.

That’s one of the things I value most about what I do.

Yes, it’s about strategy. Yes, it’s about execution. Yes, it’s about results.

But at its core, it’s about helping people succeed in retail.

It’s a varied week.
No two days are the same.
There’s no space for boredom — and no room for low energy.

Just momentum, decisions, and impact.

And honestly? I wouldn’t have it any other way.