Helena Fleming

Enthusiast
DISC Type : i

Expert Panellist at FDReviews.com

United Kingdom

Overview

Helena is an award-winning Senior Product Development Manager at Sainsburys with extensive experience at Marks & Spencer and Dominos. A previous Gold Q award winner, she excels at transforming concepts into commercially successful products across prepared foods and drinks. She holds a BA Hons from the University of Bristol.

Passionate about creating a more resilient food system, Helena is a specialist in sustainability and wellbeing. She is a strong promoter of diversity, serving as a core member of Sainsburys DEI team and actively supporting initiatives that empower women in the food and drink industry.

Helena has applied her food development expertise on a national stage, appearing as an expert panelist on the final of the BBCs "The Apprentice".

Personality Overview

Consensus Focused

Optimistic

Amiable & Agreeable

They are generally friendly, so be careful when relying on their word.  Unlike D or C types, they are convinced more by stories and testimonials. They are more about building relationships than just cutting deals.

Topics They Care About

Food Innovation
Her career is defined by creating first-to-market tastes and commercially viable products for major UK retailers like Sainsbury's and Marks & Spencer.
Health & Sustainability
A stated specialist in health and sustainability, she is interested in future-proofing the food system and developing products that meet health and lifestyle requirements.
Diversity in Food
As a core member of Sainsbury's DEI team and a judge for industry awards, she is a strong promoter of diversity and women in leadership.

Media Appearances

Helena has no verified media appearances

Work History

1-2025
Expert Panellist at FDReviews.com
3-2023
Senior Product Development Manager at Sainsbury's
1-2022 - 1-2023
Product Development Consultant - Beers, Wine and Spirits Category at Marks and Spencer
4-2020 - 8-2021
Head of Development and Innovation for UK and Eire (interim) at Domino's
10-2019 - 3-2020
Food Product Development Management Consultant (interim) at Greencore

Education

1988 - 1991
BA Hons from University of Bristol
Education details unavailable from Kingston Grammar School

More Information

Social Presence :

Prographics :

Exp : 30 Location : United Kingdom Job Level : Middle Designation : Expert Panellist at FDReviews.com
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Insights For Selling To Helena

During A Call Or A Meeting

DO's

  • Ask them how their day is going or exchange some other pleasantries
  • Speak from experience about success that the product has seen with other customers
  • Compliment them about their personality if you get a chance

DONT's

  • Don’t push them for a direct ‘no’, take lack of ‘yes’ as ‘no’ after some time
  • Don’t be too formal with them, they trust informality more
  • Don't be critical or challenge them openly, they can react defensively

When Cold Calling

When Writing An Email

While Negotiating & Closing

    The secret to closing fast with Helena is

  • Relationships and rapport matter to them, but so does the value of the product.
  • Will you ever get a clear answer from Helena

  • They will hardly ever say a direct no.

Insights For Deal Planning

    How fast (or slow) will Helena move?

  • Even when they are constantly engaged, they do not reach decisions quickly.
  • Can Helena take some risk or not?

  • If it seems really necessary, they can take small risks.

You And Helena

Personality Compatibility


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