Buyer – Food Service Wholesale

We need an energetic and talented Buyer to join a leading (National) Food Service Wholesaler. They predominantly serve the ‘Out Of Home’ (OOH) Market, having a share of this £40bn sector – so plenty of scope! The Trading Team cover 11 categories with around 6k SKU’s.

The objective of the Buyer is to have ownership of the full product life cycle within designated categories to achieve range and financial targets while aligning to the business needs and customer demand. Liaise with Marketing to ensure Trading strategy dovetails with Channel and Consumer insight.

• Manage Suppliers and Customers:

>Build and maintain relationships with suppliers and customers to    ensure effective communication and collaboration.

>Negotiate terms, pricing, and contracts with suppliers and internal Sales Teams to optimize value and profitability.

>Address any issues or concerns raised by suppliers or Sales Team in a timely and professional manner.

• Category Management:

>Develop and implement category strategies to drive growth and profitability.

>Analyse market trends and consumer insights to identify opportunities for product assortment optimization.

>Monitor category performance and make recommendations for assortment changes and promotional activities.

>Price management, Range Reviews, Competitor Analysis, Market updates, Commodity Tracking and reporting.

• Source New Product Lines:

>Research and identify new product opportunities to enhance the product portfolio.

>Source new suppliers and products that align with market trends and customer preferences.

>Evaluate potential suppliers based on quality, cost, and reliability to ensure alignment with company standards.

• Own the Category:

>Take ownership of specific product categories and drive initiatives to maximize sales and profitability. In this case more than likely the Ambient Food category.

>Develop a deep understanding of customer needs and preferences within the category.

>Collaborate with cross-functional teams to execute category plans and achieve business objectives.

• Product Life Cycle Management:

>Manage the entire product life cycle from introduction to discontinuation.

>Monitor product performance and make recommendations for product improvements or discontinuations.

>Develop strategies for product launches, promotions, and end-of-life management.

• Attend Trade Shows and Other Industry Events:

>Represent the company at trade shows, conferences, and industry events to network with suppliers and customers.

>Stay informed about industry trends, innovations, and best practices.

>Identify opportunities for partnerships, collaborations, and business development.

• Food Safety:

>Ensure compliance with food safety regulations and standards.

>Work closely with suppliers to maintain quality and safety standards throughout the supply chain.

>Implement food safety protocols and procedures to minimize risks and ensure product integrity.

• Legal Regulation Requirements:

Stay up to date with relevant legal regulations and compliance requirements.

>Ensure that all products and operations adhere to applicable laws and regulations.

>Collaborate with legal and compliance teams to address any regulatory issues or concerns.

Key attributes / Experience:

>Highly self-motivated to achieve agreed goals, able to work efficiently and independently within time constraints.

> An organised and methodical approach to work and prioritisation that ensures the achievement of deadlines.

> A good understanding of key metrics that impact the commercial revenues including Overrider, Marketing income & Product Rebates.

> Experience managing relationships across the product supply chain.

> Excellent stakeholder management skills and experience working with both internal and external stakeholders of all levels.

> Experienced and confident at delivering presentations.

> Excellent communication, interpersonal and relationship building skills.

> Excellent numeracy skills and GCSE grade C(4) or equivalent as a minimum.

> Proficient in MS Office, particularly Excel and ideally with experience using Office 365, Teams and SharePoint.

> FMCG Product knowledge ideally gained from within one of the ‘out of home’ channels.

> Experience managing the Product Lifecycle; List, Launch, Review, De-list.

> Experience collating, tracking, managing, and reporting on personal revenue targets accurately.

> Experience working as part of a team within an office environment.

> Experience sourcing new products from both an existing supplier base and new suppliers.

> An understanding of product allergens, nutritional information, and government food legislation (Sugar Tax, HFSS Etc)

> A strong understanding of Foodservice and Wholesale marketplace

> Excellent networking skills

> Experience co-ordinating, contributing to and adding value to company, industry and supplier events including exhibitions, insights and networking.

> Willingness to Travel and the flexibility to accommodate planned overnight stays for attendance at events, with reasonable notice provided.

Desirable Experience:

> 2 Years experience working within Food, FMCG or other commercially related industry. > Experience managing a supplier or customer portfolio.

> A good understanding of traditional and digital marketing execution including print and digital advertising and E-Commerce.

> A good understanding of the sales process and customer management processes for large, complex or national accounts.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary +Bonus
• Work From Home options
• Usual Company benefits (details on request)

How to Apply:

Please submit your CV and a note detailing your experience in a Buying or Sourcing role in FMCG Ambient or Frozen products. business development achievements, and how your skills align with the role.

Send a CV to frank@fmkconsulting.co or call + 44(0)7734 861 080.