Federica Polato

Start-up, Multi Project Management, Operations and Partnership development with a mission of helping businesses to succeed while sustaining education for women and young girls in needs and living in unprivileged communities.

Clients: Medium-sized F&B international companies in expansion ( ie: Alsamadi group, Kerten Hospitality Group, Tanweer Investment, Italianity group, Candidits group, One 1 Info Ras Al Khaima Emirates Government etc)

Responsibilities: Acted externally according to the client requests as Operation and Multi-Project Manager Director, Brand and Partnership Director for medium-sized F&B international companies in expansion.

• Starting up new concepts coordinating all the different stakeholders involved.
• Created business opportunities in the GCC countries, Indonesia, India for Retail Businesses and UAE, Poland, USA and Italy for FMCG products through local distributors, government personal connections.
• Identified and managed budget, timescale and scope changes, recommending actions and improvements to deliver project goals.
• Built and nurtured professional relationships with wide range of internal and external stakeholders acting as the only point of contact.
• Supervised up to 60 staff direct reports with daily support, regular goal-setting and appraisals and coordinated up to 15 people in the Management office across the different departments.
• Conceptualised and implemented brand identity respecting all brand guidelines while opening new locations and applying corrective actions on the ones already opened.
• Worked with advertising teams to create, deploy and optimise marketing initiatives for F&B customers.
• Consulted with product development teams to enhance offerings based on customer datato drive customer engagement and firm profits.
• Planned, implemented and tracked sales and marketing strategies to promote new product lines.

• Acting as Brand Director for Rogue Coffee and Project Director for Food Hall advising on the re-branding strategy for both brands.
• Defining project scope, milestones and task allocation to establish and maintain clear progress plans.
• Advising on Operations best practises and directing their implementation in-store.
• Advising on sales and offer enhancement through the analysis of all recipes, costing, competitors.
• Training Manual development structure and content for both brands and in-store training.
• Directing cross-functional teams to draft strategic, realistic project schedules and plans.
• Advising on the gelato potential introduction at Rogue and all across the Al Samadi brands.
• Advising and implementing enhancement to optimize the delivery platforms
• Advising on Social media and seasonal calendar events strategy working together with the appointed social media agency and the internal Marketing team
• Interviewing, training and mentoring team members
• Building relationships with stakeholders and company reputation through outstanding client management skills.
• Reducing costs by allocating site resources and subcontractors for strict budget controls.
• Managing estimation processes by preparing bid packages, procurement plans and contract reviews.
• Improving operations by generating project status reports and identifying issues for corrective action.
• Securing new business opportunities by conducting research and networking.

• Acting as the Senior Project Director to set up, project manage and direct the Implementation of the new food gelato and pastry store called Nakhati: a handcrafted Premium Gelato brand, offering local and classic flavors. A brand serving a purpose: it is the first Franchise model for local female entrepreneurs.
• Reported to the Owner and Project directed the entire roll out with the CEO, COO, F&B director, Director of Communication and the KSA local partner from the concept creation to supplier selection and management, staff selection, marketing, operations set-up and opening.
• Led and motivated talented project teams, achieving targets within stipulated deadlines.
• Defined project scope, milestones and task allocation to establish and maintain clear progress plans.
• Reduced downtime with effective scheduling and resourcing.
• Reduced costs by allocating site resources and subcontractors for strict budget controls.
• Submitted performance feedback to stakeholders, keeping project teams on track.
• Interviewed and hired top-performing talent.

FBMI- Project initiated by Sheikha Fatima Bint Mohammed, daughter of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, which provides almost 3,000 Afghans with a source of income and access to health care

• Acting as the General Manager to set up, project manage, direct the Business Strategy and Implementation of the new food brand called Mira Farms (saffron, dried and fresh fruits from Afghanistan) which will be part of the Foundation together with CE’ (Jewelry), Zuleya (Interior Design) and Maywand Foundation ( Children Healthcare Foundation).
• Delivered business strategy to drive revenue and operational efficiencies by re-structuring Tanweer Investment.
• Cross functional advisory on branding, offline and online marketing strategy.
• Project Management and implementation of all the phases for Mira Farms brand set up:

o Market analysis (Industry, target, competitive analysis);

o Budgeting;

o Strategy to redefine brand, its positioning, its expression-identity;

o 4 P’s (Product, Price, Place and Promotion);

o Ho.Re. Ca and online Sales strategy;

o Supply chain (warehouse and labelling management) and distribution organization;

o Recruitment and management of the key resources;

o Supplier screening and selection.

• Strategy and advisory on future product development.
• Managed high-performing teams to deliver quality customer service and stable profits.
• Implemented effective customer service procedures to encourage positive feedback.
• Recruited top-performing candidates to build staff retention and team performance.
• Scheduled regular team meetings to discuss business updates, issues and recommendations.
• Developed and implemented budgetary and resource allocation plans.
• Prepared and reviewed procedural documents for daily operations.
• Assessed impact of marketing programmes and recommended improvements.
• Resolved internal staff conflicts to mutual benefits of all parties involved.
• Researched business opportunities with new and existing customers, notifying sales team to follow up.

Piadèra -Authentic Italian Flatbread is an Italian fast casual brand born in Dubai

• Determined flaws and gaps and provided tactical solutions.
• Participated in meetings with department administrators to improve operations.
• Facilitated client project from concept to execution.
• Store Operations advisory through the organization of an Operation Excellence programme.
• Conducted a brand analysis to understand the correct customer target to help improving sales and a more structured online deliveries function.
• Business Strategy and implementation for setting up, managing and developing the Online Food Delivery platforms.
• Business Strategy and operational approach advisory on eventual Franchising requests; advising on the necessary requirement to build a comprehensive franchising book.
• Implemented the offline, online Marketing Strategy Campaign and social media collaborating with external agencies.

Grom, Il Gelato come una volta is an Italian luxury gelato brand worldwide distributed, now part of Unilever

Providing cross-functional senior-level leadership for GCC new stores Operations, Brand and Marketing Development, Project Management. Reporting directly to the Group owner Wissam Almana. Point of reference between Almana Lifestyle Group (Franchisee) and Gromart S.p.A Italian Headquarter (Franchisor).

• Led the entire plan to roll out and start-up (project management, operations, marketing strategy, logistics, procurement, staff training) of the 3 stores in Dubai and 2 in Doha, Qatar in October 2017.
• Opened the new markets ensuring compliance to all franchisor requirements as well as implementing changes to adhere to the local rules always ensuring a complete customer satisfaction.
• Implemented and managed all retail operations analysing performance data, produced monthly reports.
• Supervised logistics (saving around 400.000AED worth of products) and supply chain processes monitoring products flow, monthly inventory, shipment costs, product labelling.
• Directed digital and offline marketing strategies, social media editorial plans, produced content.
• Positioned the brand enhancing its awareness through partnership with external companies, malls, hotels, events, on line advertising, promotions and loyalty programmes.
• Saved AED 260.000 in 2017 by negotiating primary vendor contracts, products procurement and warehouse cost.
• Expanded the client base (increase of 15% compared to 2016) thanks to the identification of new distribution channels (i.e.: on line platforms: +10% sales) and cost-effective marketing strategies.
• Created, trained and managed a team of 30 and coordinated all operations and back office activities (logistics, finance, IT, HR) with the local office and Italy.
• Managed the POS and software back office operation integration liaising with the software development team in Italy to improve local processes.

Analysed the UAE market and organized all store opening requirements project managing the entire supply chain and logistic, trade marketing and marketing strategies, store fit out, IT and staff training. Primary point of liaison between the UAE operations and the Italian Headquarter.

• Collaborated with cross-company departments, developing new strategies to capitalise on emerging customer trends.
• Leveraged strong working knowledge of products and systems within Gelato industry.
• Monitored competitor activities, responding creatively to maintain relevancy and competitive edge.
• Analysed Middle East trends and customer behaviour to approach the market effectively.
• Led the operation processes and developed the strategy to implement the global brand vision into the local market ensuring all brand values and outstanding customer service are maintained.
• Led the entire labelling and export processes to be compliant to the UAE Market.
• Led the implementation of the IT system and Epos set up creating products database to be easily implemented, transferred and used locally.

Supported the company global development from 1 store to multiple locations (Japan, USA, Turkey, UAE and Brazil) including strategic planning, procurement, logistics, exports and processes to enhance those operations

• Enforced high standards of product quality, trade compliance and warehousing for timely delivery.
• Trained interns to achieve high-performance
• Supported multiple supply chain functions to facilitate business operations, including warehouse and logistics management.
• Selected, procured and introduced around 1000 food products in each market and forged robust relationships with suppliers.
• Supported all the logistics overhauling the structure between the Italian Head Office and Japan to be more effective cost-wise and quicker.
• Led all the suppliers in producing labels in line with all the export rules according to the country.
• Built strong relationships with shipment companies and organized all export documents and shipments via air and sea.
• Supported in developing the in store/merchandising for the New York, Turkish and UAE stores.
• Planned and facilitated store tours to support worldwide partners to promote the brand enhancing its awareness to facilitate the concept understanding.

Won the Master dei Talenti 2009-2010: 1 of 60 students selected across 3 region of Italy, Management Program.

• Studied the local market needs to support the marketing and retail strategy to meet Japan products trends.
• Facilitated communication between Eataly head office and Eataly Japan.
• Helped standardizing Tokyo stores ensuring compliance with Headquarter operation and marketing procedures ensured customer service standards were maintained
• Effectively coordinated all store events and PR activities.
• Arranged effective merchandising to attract attention and increase sales.
• Directed all the trade marketing material, products procurement to use in international food fairs in Japan to increase brand awareness and visibility.

Key point of contact for strategic conferences, events, corporate marketing, and bespoke business training- Capital Markets Division

• Enhanced sales performance, actively monitoring all leads and conversions.
• Improved lead generation, working collaboratively with marketing to develop enhanced selling tools, collateral and campaigns.
• Prepared winning sales proposals to address and overcome potential client objections.
• Developed a portfolio of accounts through new business development.
• Recruited, trained and motivated the team to foster ongoing favourable partnerships.
• Managed the full negotiation and close process with clients from start through to finish.
• Triggered a sales increase of 25% in a 3-month period.
• Worked closely with the marketing team to produce any sales collateral required for the target market and
• Reported business trends and area performance to the National Sales Manager

Each year during University had 5 months Internship at

• Lavazza (Marketing and Sales Division) in Torino, Italy, 2004
• Europe Economics Business Consultancy (Telecom Division) in London, UK, 2005
• Credit Suisse (HR Division) London, UK, 2007