Meet our head office team

Jayden Kilpatrick profile picture

Jayden Kilpatrick

Managing Director

With 24 years of extensive experience in the FMCG industry, I possess a robust track record of success and achievement. For 14 years, I excelled in various retail roles within Foodstuffs North Island, demonstrating expertise in managing large teams, departments, and store operations.

Over the course of the last 10 years, I made a successful transition to the supplier side of the FMCG industry, progressively refining my skills and gaining valuable insights into various facets of the sector.

Throughout this period, I have held roles in Territory Management, Field Sales Management, National Key Account Management, and Business Development, consistently driving business improvements, sales and profit growth.

Leisha Kilpatrick profile picture

Leisha Kilpatrick

General Manager

As a seasoned North Island Field Sales Manager with a robust FMCG background, I bring a wealth of experience in leading teams through industry shifts, accomplishing collective goals, and nurturing meaningful human connections.

My expertise lies in specialised areas such as team development, strategic communication, and adaptability. I thrive on building trust in uncharted territories and implementing user-friendly solutions. At the core of my leadership philosophy is a "people-first" approach, fostering high team morale and a collaborative work environment.

Recognised for strategic thinking, clear communication, and an unwavering commitment to achieving results in the dynamic FMCG landscape, I am dedicated to driving success through innovation and cohesive teamwork.

Kylie Day profile picture

Kylie Day

Head of Sales

As a commercially driven FMCG sales leader with over a decade of experience across New Zealand’s grocery landscape, Kylie brings a strong track record in national account management, distribution growth, and retail performance. She has held senior roles with Lion, Good George Brewing, and Good Buzz Beverage Co., building deep expertise across both national and regional retail channels.

Her experience spans retail strategy, route-to-market planning, promotional execution, and leading high-performing sales teams. Kylie is known for building credible retail relationships, identifying practical growth opportunities, and turning data into clear, results-focused action for the brands she represents. Accountability, clarity, and disciplined execution sit at the core of her leadership approach.

Recognised for strategic thinking, commercial acumen, and a consistent commitment to measurable outcomes, Kylie is dedicated to helping brands achieve sustainable growth within the fast-moving FMCG environment.

Thilini Jayasekera profile picture

Thilini Jayasekera

Head of Finance

Thilini is a finance professional with more than 18 years of experience in the banking and finance sector, spanning business banking, client relationship management, operations support, and compliance. She brings deep expertise in business analysis, financial reporting, and risk management, underpinned by a strong foundation in business administration, finance, and accounting. This combination gives her both a strategic and practical understanding of financial management and operational efficiency.

At SCP, Thilini drives financial and operational excellence, supporting projects and brand partnerships while enhancing the value delivered to clients.

Recognised for her people-first mindset and thoughtful approach, she brings valuable insight to every project and consistently looks for opportunities to contribute to organisational growth. Her commitment to operational support and commercial delivery ensures she remains an engaged and influential member of the SCP team.

Meet our regional team

Fernanda Bandeira profile picture

Fernanda Bandeira

Regional Business Manager Auckland + Northland

Fernanda Bandeira is a seasoned sales professional with over 20 years of experience in FMCG. She has a proven track record of managing key supermarket client relationships across the Lower North Island and increasing profit margins across a diverse product portfolio.

Fernanda excels in customer service, stakeholder engagement, and cultivating strong client relationships. Her leadership experience includes supervising teams of merchandisers and executing tailored business plans.

Notably, she successfully established the Lower North Island territory for Natural Sugars and achieved significant growth, with her territory's annual valuation exceeding $1.3 million by 2022. Passionate, energetic, and results-driven, Fernanda is dedicated to driving business success through strategic sales initiatives and exceptional customer care.

Helen Stick profile picture

Helen Stick

Regional Business Manger Auckland - North Shore

Helen joins the team with extensive experience as a Territory Manager at Cerebos Greggs and Unilever. With deep-rooted industry relationships and a proven track record across multinational sales, she brings a high level of professionalism and influence to SCP.

Helen leads with conviction, leveraging her ability to foster win–win outcomes that drive success for both brand partners and retail stakeholders. Her strategic mindset and strong commercial acumen make her an invaluable asset to the team.

Olivia Wallen profile picture

Olivia Wallen

Regional Business Manager Auckland - Central South

Olivia Wallen is a highly motivated and relationship-driven Regional Business Manager at Supplier Collaboration Project (SCP), bringing a strong background in account management, sales, and customer service.

With experience in the freight industry at Post Haste Group, Olivia developed a proven ability to manage customer accounts, grow existing business, and deliver consistent results through strong client relationships. Her approach is grounded in clear communication, proactive problem solving, and a focus on driving both customer retention and sales growth.

At SCP, Olivia plays a key role in supporting brand partners across her region, working closely with retailers and internal teams to execute sales strategies, strengthen in-store presence, and unlock new growth opportunities. She is passionate about building meaningful partnerships and delivering outcomes that create long-term value for both clients and customers.
Her earlier experience at Rydges Formosa Golf Resort saw her step into leadership roles across food and beverage, guest services, and operations, further strengthening her ability to perform in fast-paced, customer-focused environments.

Olivia brings energy, professionalism, and a results-focused mindset to her role, making her a valuable part of the SCP team and a trusted partner to the brands she represents.

Connor Kilpatrick profile picture

Connor Kilpatrick

Regional Business Manger Waikato + Bay of Plenty

Connor Kilpatrick brings a dynamic and fresh perspective to SCP as the Regional Sales Manager, a role he’s held since March 2024.

With a solid background in sales and territory management across companies like Plum Agencies NZ Ltd, LILO Desserts, and KML, Connor has developed a strong understanding of retail and client management. His youthful approach and keen insight into emerging consumer trends, particularly what the next generation seeks, allows SCP to stay ahead in an evolving market. 

Connor’s relationship-building skills and innovative outlook make him an integral part of the team, driving sales growth and helping SCP adapt to new opportunities.

Nour Karara profile picture

Nour Karara

Regional Business Manager - Rotorua and Taupō Central

Nour brings over nine years of experience in talent leadership, people management, and organisational development to her role as Regional Business Manager at SCP. With a career spanning HR, recruitment, and end-to-end talent consultancy across the Middle East and GCC, she has built a strong reputation for her ability to identify potential, develop high-performing teams, and foster positive workplace culture.

As the founder of NK Talent Consultancy and a former HR leader across several organisations, Nour has deep expertise in stakeholder engagement, problem solving, and driving operational excellence. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Law from Ain Shams University, giving her a strong foundation in analytical thinking and labour compliance.

Nour brings a calm, people-first approach to leadership at SCP, supporting our field teams, strengthening client relationships, and contributing to our continued growth across the region.

Natasha Hinga profile picture

Natasha Hinga

Regional Business Manager Taranaki + Whanganui 

With over 21 years of experience in the retail and grocery industry, Natasha has built her career across Woolworths NZ Ltd, The Warehouse NZ Ltd, and Foodstuffs North Island. This journey has given her a strong understanding of both customer needs and operational excellence.

In the past four years, Natasha has expanded her expertise within the FMCG sector, gaining valuable insights into the supplier landscape. Her roles have spanned merchandising through to Territory and Regional Business Management, equipping her with a unique perspective on how collaboration between suppliers and retailers drives mutual growth and success.

Passionate about people and products, Natasha is self-driven, goal-oriented, and committed to building lasting relationships. Her strong communication skills and ability to connect with others have helped foster meaningful partnerships that contribute to long-term business success.

Lisa Mabbett profile picture

Lisa Mabbett

Regional Business Manger Central North Island

Lisa has built her career in sales and merchandising through her work with leading broker agencies across New Zealand. Her extensive experience is reflected in her thoughtful approach with stores and the long-term relationships she continues to uphold.

Known for her humility and dedication, Lisa consistently delivers strong results for brand partners and retail stakeholders alike. Her ability to balance professionalism with genuine connection ensures a positive impact across every part of the business.

Penny Stichbury profile picture

Penny Stichbury

Regional Business Manger Napier + Hastings

Penny brings a wealth of sales and merchandising experience, having worked with global leaders such as Mondelez International, Crossmark, and DKSH New Zealand.

Known for her enthusiasm and results-driven approach, Penny thrives on delivering outcomes that make a difference for both brands and retailers. Keen and eager to succeed, she adds energy and commitment to every project she takes on, ensuring strong execution and measurable impact.

Juan Fonseca profile picture

Juan Fonseca

Regional Business Manager Wellington Region

Juan brings over three years of experience in New Zealand’s FMCG sector, with a strong background in merchandising and sales. Overseeing the Wellington region, Juan is recognised for building strong customer relationships and consistently delivering results in fast-paced retail environments.

He thrives on the autonomy of field work and values the opportunity to connect with diverse people across his territory. Driven by a passion for continuous learning, Juan is focused on deepening his expertise as a Regional Business Manager and contributing to the success of our Brand Partners, SCP, and the wider FMCG network.

Elyse Sivyer profile picture

Elyse Sivyer

Regional Business Manager Upper South Island

Elyse brings diverse experience across events, hospitality, and FMCG, with a strong background in coordination, customer service, and retail execution. She has managed weddings, music events, and corporate functions, demonstrating her ability to lead teams, handle logistics, and deliver seamless experiences. Elyse has also worked in food production and merchandising roles, giving her a practical understanding of both front-line and behind-the-scenes operations.

With her strong organisational skills, perseverance, and people-first approach, Elyse excels at building relationships and ensuring results. Whether managing an event for hundreds or supporting brand partners at store level, she approaches every challenge with dedication, flexibility, and attention to detail.

Amit Ramwani profile picture

Amit Ramwani

Regional Business Manager South Island Central

Amit Ramwani is a dedicated and results-driven sales professional with over four years of experience as a Sales Manager in the FMCG sector. Known for his ability to cultivate strong client relationships and generate repeat business, Amit has been instrumental in expanding the company’s presence across the South Island. He brings in-depth expertise in effective sales strategies and excels under pressure, consistently surpassing monthly sales targets.

Amit's key achievements include leading a highly successful product launch that expanded market share by 30%, and revitalizing an underperforming territory, doubling sales volume through strategic marketing efforts. His analytics-driven sales approach has also contributed to a 70% year-on-year growth, identifying key trends and opportunities.

Resilient and optimistic, Amit stands out for his unwavering determination to overcome challenges and achieve outstanding results.

Ella Sneddon profile picture

Ella Sneddon

Regional Business Manager Lower South Island

Ella has recently graduated with a degree in Food Science and is now completing her Postgraduate Diploma alongside her role as Regional Business Manager at SCP. She brings a foundation in food quality, safety and production systems, combined with hands on experience in fast paced retail and hospitality environments.

Through her studies and professional experience, she has developed a strong attention to detail, problem solving, and organisational skills. Her background has also strengthened her communication and relationship building skills, enabling her to work with internal and external team members efficiently.

In her role at SCP, Ella supports brands across her region and is passionate about delivering high quality outcomes. She brings energy, reliability and a strong work ethic to her role and is committed to continuously developing her skills to contribute to the team.

Storehouse

Jayden is adept at building relationships at customer, supplier, team level negotiating positive outcomes between all. Jayden can think creatively and has shown many times how adaptable, resilient and trustworthy he is. During his time as our key account manager, he became a trusted confidant and advisor.

Sarah Campbell, Managing Director, The Storehouse Importing Company Limited

Modest

Finding the right partnership in the FMCG space was one of our biggest hurdles to date.

From the moment I met Jay, I knew that he had the right experience, skills and connections to help get our brand on, and off the shelves. Jay goes above and beyond for his clients, with a level of detail and care that you don’t get from larger companies.

The biggest element was being able to trust that our business was in the right hands, and it is.

Nerys Whelan, Managing Director, Modest

Baxters Sauce

It is clear that Jay has an immense passion for FMCG and vast experience in this field. He is an absolute pleasure to deal with and always transparent with clear communications. This is a welcome relief for us in knowing that we have the best support in brand development, whilst enabling us to focus on scaling manufacturing and distribution to supply the growing demand that SCP brings to the table, and the shelves!

Berrin Moody, Managing Director, Baxter’s Original

Frequently Asked Questions

We’ll not only help you stock your product throughout New Zealand’s major retailers, we’ll also help you understand this new phase of growth and what to watch out for in the industry landscape. Here are some common questions our customers find helpful.

What are Ranging Classifications

Ranging classifications are meticulously determined by category managers at a head office level. The process involves intricate considerations, including store clusters and sizes. These classifications are tailored to align with the demographics of each store’s consumers and the overall footprint of the establishment.

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Where Does My Product Fit?

Our collaborative approach begins with understanding your product’s unique position in the market. Whether it’s securing a place in head office ranging or optimizing placement at the store level, we analyze your journey. Employing a ‘good, better, and best’ model, we evaluate your competitors’ offerings and category performance to ensure your positioning aligns with current market dynamics.

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How Do I Develop My Pricing Model and Structure?

Partnering with you, we assist in constructing a comprehensive bottom-up pricing model. This collaborative effort enables us to strategically position your brand and product within the market.

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How Can I Plan Forecasting as a New Market Entrant?

Navigating the challenge of forecasting without sales history can be formidable. Leveraging data trends and the current sales rates of similar products or categories, we employ a scalable model. This model incorporates your growth potential over the initial 3 years, making forecasting more robust as sales history accumulates through marketing and ongoing consumer education.

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How Can I Scale and Grow My Business with Limited Funds?

Recognizing the critical role of working capital in scaling, we collaborate with you to provide resources for business projections and growth targets. Our goal is to assist you in navigating the path to scalable success even with limited financial resources.

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Where Do I Start?

Initiate your journey by scheduling a free, no-commitment call with us. During this consultation, we’ll delve into your ideas, plans, or product journey. From there, we can collaboratively explore opportunities without stress or strings attached.

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Location In the heart of the golden triangle.

Strategically located in the small town of Pukekawa, positioned between Auckland and Hamilton, we efficiently service all major retailers, providing comprehensive coverage nationally across both the North and South Islands of New Zealand.

Physical Address: 85 Hunt Road, Pukekawa 2696

Let’s take it to the shelves

Schedule an appointment to discuss how we can help

Our comprehensive support, steadfast dedication to local brands, and profound industry expertise helps supplier who are aiming to thrive in the dynamic FMCG grocery industry. Schedule an obligation free discovery call with us today.

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