Business Developer, Nicola Boyle discusses how the sales team have adapted to the challenges of Covid-19. 

Tell us about your role? 

My name is Nicola Boyle, I am a Business Developer for On-Trade here at Coca-Cola HBC which covers hotels, restaurants and bars. 

The role of a Business Developer is to support our customers to grow their business and ours. 

We bring our expansive portfolio of brands to our customers, sharing information about our growing range of soft drinks, premium spirits, coffee, energy and water! We then work in partnership with our customers to ensure they have the right products in the right place for their consumers for all occasions.

I love being out on the road, visiting my customers’ outlets and learning about their businesses. 

This can sometimes involve hosting mixology workshops, helping train staff in the art of cocktail making or attending customer events.

How do you like to unwind? 

Outside of work, I like to keep busy.  I enjoy going to the gym and recently I took up cycling! It’s been a slow start but I’m managing to do approximately 20 miles a few days per week!

In normal times, I also enjoy socialising with friends and family. 

What is your background? 

I started Coca-Cola HBC in 2013 in the customer services team. After twelve months a position became available in our sales department and I have been there ever since. I started out as a Business Developer for our supermarkets and convenience channel. This was a really special time in my career as I was recognised as Salesperson of the year twice! I then had an opportunity to move to the licensed trade channel and I have been working in this area for two years.

What is your favourite drink? 

My long-standing favourite has to be Fanta Orange, a classic! I also love all the Monster flavours – especially Mango Loco!

On a social occasion, my tipple would be a Glendalough Rose Gin, complimented with a Signature Schweppes Light Tonic. They just compliment each other perfectly!.

How have we been supporting our customers throughout Covid-19? 

I’m really proud to say that we have been out in the market every day with our customers - always ensuring to wear appropriate PPE while maintaining social distance when visiting outlets. The relationships we have with our customers have been in place for years in many cases, and we are immensely proud to be able to provide a great service to them in good times, and in bad. 

We have played a key role in helping many of our customers move online, working together to help them adapt to their new realities and ever-evolving restrictions

Our marketing team have also been supporting our customers with great campaigns to drive footfall back to outlets.– A campaign that we have live at the moment is Open Like Never Before, whereby consumers can redeem a free Coca-Cola in over 600 outlets across Ireland and Northern Ireland. This has been wholeheartedly welcomed by our customers, helping them to re-open after restrictions, and enticing consumers back to their outlets. 

I was also really proud of the role our business played for our communities throughout the earlier part of the pandemic. We delivered more than 900,000 drinks to hospitals, testing centres and charities; it was a small token of appreciation to all those on the frontline and one that I know was truly appreciated by staff.  

What has been the biggest challenge for you during lockdown? 

When the hospitality sector was closed, I wasn’t as busy as usual which didn’t suit me!. I love to be out on the road meeting my customers and missed the routine of meeting them all. I was also feeling for all those business owners that were grappling with the uncertainty of when and if they would reopen 

My husband is also an essential worker so it was difficult to stay away from our families and friends throughout the lockdown, it was a small price to pay to ensure we could keep our loved ones safe.

What advice would you give to anyone wanting to join CCH? 

Go for it! I’ve made really valuable friends and colleagues throughout my time in Coca-Cola HBC, and  truly appreciate the experience I have gained here! Its is a great company, and environment, to develop your career with lots of training opportunities. And who doesn’t want to work with the best brands in the world?!

We caught up with one of Nicola’s customers to hear his feedback