At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape sourcing strategy and optimise costs for fresh food categories.
- Company: Dynamic food retail company focused on innovation and quality.
- Benefits: 25 days holiday, pension, life assurance, and gym membership.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on category performance in a fast-paced environment.
- Qualifications: 2+ years in food retail buying or sourcing, especially in fresh categories.
- Other info: Opportunity to work with suppliers and drive product innovation.
The predicted salary is between 43000 - 60000 ÂŁ per year.
Harrow, London | Up to ÂŁ53,500 + benefits
35 hours per week | Occasional UK travel to supplier meetings
Are you an experienced food retail buyer or sourcing specialist, confident operating in fastâmoving fresh categories? This role gives you the chance to shape strategy, optimise costs, and strengthen supplier performance across a national ownâlabel range. You'll take ownership of key food categories â with a particular focus on fresh and shortâshelfâlife products â ensuring great value, strong availability, and continued product innovation.
What you'll bring
- At least 2 years' buying or sourcing experience within food retail or wholesale â ideally within fresh categories (produce, chilled, meat, dairy, bakery, or similar).
- Strong understanding of production processes, supply chains, MLOR, date coding and retail waste, especially for perishable ranges.
- Proven experience managing cost of goods for ownâlabel products.
- Confident running tenders that deliver measurable commercial outcomes.
- Comfortable operating within a matrix structure.
Skills
- Excellent negotiation skills using varied tactics and approaches.
- Strong crossâfunctional collaboration with internal teams and suppliers.
- Ability to interpret commercial and operational data and turn insight into practical action.
- Skilled at influencing at all levels.
- Able to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fastâpaced environment.
- Competent with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and PowerPoint.
What you'll be doing
- Develop and deliver the sourcing strategy for your food categories, aligned to the wider brand blueprint.
- Review market trends, cost drivers and supply chain performance to highlight risks and opportunities.
- Lead negotiations on cost price increases, ensuring clear communication and strong commercial outcomes.
- Build and implement plans to reduce COGS while supporting retail pricing and margin targets.
- Work closely with suppliers to unlock cost efficiencies and drive product enhancement or range development.
- Maintain and review a sustainable supply base with clear SWOT insights and development plans.
- Identify and onboard new suppliers to support innovation, quality, and commercial performance.
Benefits
- 25 days holiday
- Pension
- Life assurance
- Gym membership
If you have strong food retail experience â especially in fresh â and want to make a real impact on category performance, we'd love to hear from you.
Sourcing Manager in Harrow on the Hill employer: Antal International Network
Contact Detail:
Antal International Network Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice đ¤Ť
We think this is how you could land Sourcing Manager in Harrow on the Hill
â¨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts on LinkedIn or at events. We all know that sometimes itâs not just what you know, but who you know that can get you in the door.
â¨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by researching the company and its sourcing strategies. We want you to show off your knowledge about fresh categories and how you can optimise costs. Be ready to discuss your past experiences!
â¨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! Whether it's role-playing with a friend or simulating a tender process, we need you to be confident in showcasing your ability to drive commercial outcomes during interviews.
â¨Tip Number 4
Donât forget to apply through our website! Itâs the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Sourcing Manager in Harrow on the Hill
Some tips for your application đŤĄ
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Sourcing Manager role. Highlight your experience in food retail and sourcing, especially in fresh categories. We want to see how your skills align with what weâre looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why youâre passionate about this role and how your background makes you the perfect fit. Donât forget to mention any specific achievements in managing costs or supplier relationships.
Showcase Your Negotiation Skills: Since negotiation is key for this role, make sure to include examples of successful negotiations you've led. We love seeing how youâve achieved strong commercial outcomes in your previous roles!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. Itâs super easy, and youâll be able to submit all your documents in one go. Letâs get your application in!
How to prepare for a job interview at Antal International Network
â¨Know Your Fresh Categories
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of fresh categories like produce, dairy, and meat. Be ready to discuss specific trends and challenges in these areas, as well as how you've tackled them in the past.
â¨Showcase Your Negotiation Skills
Prepare examples of successful negotiations you've led, especially those that resulted in cost savings or improved supplier relationships. Highlight your tactics and how they contributed to measurable outcomes.
â¨Understand Supply Chain Dynamics
Familiarise yourself with the production processes and supply chain intricacies related to perishable goods. Be prepared to discuss how you've managed costs and reduced waste in previous roles.
â¨Demonstrate Cross-Functional Collaboration
Think of instances where you've worked with different teams to achieve a common goal. Be ready to explain how you influenced stakeholders and drove projects forward in a fast-paced environment.