Learning the intricate details of sales and distribution with my internship at Britannia Industries Ltd. - By Manasa Bharathi N from NMIMS Bangalore

Interning with Britannia in the middle of a pandemic, was an experience I will remember for life.

During the selection process, I distinctly remember being surrounded by nervous faces. While everyone browsed through their laptops, I was reading my small notepad where I had jotted down some critical pointers. The GD had me thinking on my feet. I took a stand supporting the given topic, but after ten minutes the moderator asked us to switch sides! It was a test of spontaneity and I am guessing I did something right because I was one of the ten shortlisted candidates. I remember, during the PI, I had a question about women’s role in sales. Even as I answered it, I knew I believed in every word I was saying.

Overcoming field and language barriers

My project involved driving the productivity of the South one region with Andhra Pradesh, and parts of Telangana and Karnataka under it, during the pandemic. I began with data analysis and tracking. One of the biggest challenges was to interact with the field force without a physical visit to the market. I learnt to collaborate with salesmen, retailers, wholesale, and rural dealers from a distance. 

Another major challenge was language. Language barriers can prove to be patience-testing but I kept my cool. I tried both Hindi and English, and when that failed, I turned to my virtual guru- Google translator. I even started to understand a bit of Telugu!

My mentors, the Regional Sales Manager, and the Business Development Manager of South one were consistent in their review and feedback. That helped me improve at each stage of the internship at Britannia. I got acquainted with the various processes involved in marketing and it was thrilling to work on the field.

Finally, in the last week, I had a chance to present my finding to the senior executives at Britannia. The response I got was very positive and the suggestions I was left with added to my experience.

Takeaway from this experience

The FMCG industry is widespread. I always wanted to associate myself with an FMCG giant. Over the years, I have been a consumer of so many products, and an internship at Britannia was like a dream come true! Learning the intricate details of its sales and distribution was extremely insightful. Hands-on experience with MS Excel and Tableau helped me work on my basic tech skills - which are important for data analysis and tracking activities. I improved my presentation skills and soft skills.

The best part is that, as a result of constant interaction with salesforce in Andhra, I had a chance to understand another language when the situation demanded it! As a virtual employee, I had to perform all tasks in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana, while I was at home in Chennai.

A heartwarming gesture

Nearing the end of my internship, I received a little surprise from the team. A couple of frontline staffers came in person to deliver a Britannia hamper with a little note of gratitude for my contribution. I was touched by this sweet gesture.

I am hoping to work with Britannia again, I have seen the inner workings of the company and it seems like an interesting fit. I plan to use my insights and knowledge to develop a long-standing relationship with the company. Further, the internship at Britannia contributed greatly to my communication skills. I learned the art of brand storytelling, and how to understand team dynamics to get sustainable results. I also learnt how to club creativity with data for the best possible outcome.