An opportunity for an accomplished Buyer to join an established food supplier who provide fresh, quality products to the foodservice industry including, contract caterers, restaurants, gastro pubs, bars, schools through to Michelin star restaurants and 5 star hotels.
The Buyers main objective is to maximise the long-term profitability of a specified category of products, whilst achieving budgeted income and targets. You will ensure ensure that the company remains highly competitive in terms of true net cost prices and establishing successful supplier partnerships. Above all the Buyer will work towards delivering the overall company strategy and plans which ultimately drives excellence in customer service and the company's overalls sales and profit targets.
The Buyer role includes:
- Negotiating and managing the lowest nett delivered product cost for the company (including and not limited to the best cost effective Route to Market options, a timely Tender management programme, and ensuring that every interface with suppliers allows for reduction in cost, increasing income and extracting value)
- Overseeing and ensuring the accurate maintenance of product and cost price files on the central operating system - preventing any margin losses and data errors
- Negotiating, generating and managing all Buying Income & Terms with suppliers.
- Managing an effective supplier selection process for trading and compliance to the commercial guides and inventory terms & conditions
- Being proactively aware of supplier, market and competitor developments across all areas of responsibility and to take appropriate action to ensure that the company obtains and maintains a leading market profile.
- Actively contributing to and implementation of the Range Optimisation Control process in order to achieve an effective balance and range offering for customers
The successful Buyer will demonstrate the following skills and experience:
- Strong influencing and negotiating skills in managing product costs and income generation.
- Commercially aware purchasing professional with category and food market knowledge and relevant experience gained in a similar role.
- Ability to develop and implement category plans with the Category Managers and achieve annual targets.
- Operate an effective Range Management Programme with agreed set of KPI's
- Effective communicator at all levels.
- An awareness of latest industry practices and supplier bases.
- Financially astute in managing & reconciling income and terms, plus budget setting
- Managing multiple tasks & stakeholders internally & externally.
- Implement Best Practice at all times and continually look at innovative and enhanced ways of working to improve and better develop outputs & results.
- Professional and logical approach to problem solving
- Good enthusiasm to grow and work as part of the team
- Flexibility in approach to work
- To show a willingness to learn and self-development
- Good communication skills
- Ability to work to deadlines in an efficient manner
- Demonstrates an interest in food service and shows an ability to turn facts and figures into measured decision making
- Strong administrative skill set
- Highly organised and has a proactive approach to planning
- Has a keen eye for detail
- Can demonstrate the ability to work to tight deadlines and prioritise effectively
- Can work independently and as part of a team
- Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Outlook, MS Word and Excel)
On offer is a basic salary up to £35,000, company pension scheme, employee discounts and store discounts.