At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the strategy for fresh and frozen fruit and veg, driving growth and sustainability.
- Company: Join Foodbuy, part of Compass Group, shaping the future of food procurement.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and genuine career progression opportunities.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with access to industry-leading suppliers and culinary teams.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic team focused on sustainability and innovation.
- Qualifications: Experience in Category Management or Senior Buying, with strong negotiation skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
At Foodbuy, we’re not just buying food – we’re shaping the future of food procurement. As part of Compass Group UK & Ireland, we manage over £1.5bn in spend, partnering with some of the biggest names in hospitality and foodservice to deliver smarter, more sustainable supply solutions. We’re now looking for a Category Manager (Fruit & Veg) to take ownership of a key fresh category and drive strategic growth, supplier partnerships, and commercial value.
This is a high-impact, strategic role where you’ll shape and deliver the end-to-end category strategy across fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables. You’ll work closely with suppliers, chefs, and internal teams to deliver the right product, at the right price, while embedding sustainability, provenance, and innovation into everything you do.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Leading the category strategy to drive growth, cost optimisation and innovation
- Owning supplier relationships, negotiations and contract management
- Identifying new suppliers and bringing fresh thinking into the category
- Driving sustainability initiatives and ensuring full supply chain transparency
- Working with development chefs to support menu and product development
- Delivering financial targets including inflation mitigation and commercial value
- Influencing internal stakeholders and supporting sales and bid activity
What We’re Looking For
- Proven experience in Category Management or Senior Buying (ideally food/fresh)
- Strong commercial acumen with negotiation and supplier management expertise
- Confident using data and insight to inform decisions and strategy
- Passion for sustainability and responsible sourcing
- A collaborative, fast-paced mindset with the ability to influence and deliver
Why Join Foodbuy?
- Be part of a market-leading procurement business with unrivalled scale
- Work at the forefront of sustainability and food innovation
- Collaborate with industry-leading suppliers and culinary teams
- Access genuine career progression and development opportunities
- Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package
If you’re ready to take ownership of a key category and make a real impact in a dynamic, forward-thinking team – we’d love to hear from you.
Category Manager employer: Chartwells Independent
At Foodbuy, we pride ourselves on being a leading force in food procurement, offering our employees the chance to work at the forefront of sustainability and innovation within the industry. Located in Chertsey/London, our hybrid work model promotes a healthy work-life balance while providing access to genuine career progression and development opportunities. Join us to collaborate with top suppliers and culinary teams, all while enjoying a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package that truly values your contributions.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Manager
✨Join Supply Chain Meetups
Get yourself out there by attending supply chain meetups and industry events. It's a great way to meet fellow professionals, learn about trends, and maybe even hear about job openings before they’re posted online.
✨Show Off Your Skills on LinkedIn
Don’t just sit back and wait for opportunities! Post insights or articles on LinkedIn about supply chain challenges or solutions you’re passionate about. This not only showcases your expertise but can catch the eye of recruiters looking for someone like you.
✨Engage with Supply Chain Communities
Dive into online communities related to supply chain operations like forums or groups on Reddit and LinkedIn. Engaging in discussions can help you network, get advice, and you might even stumble upon some hidden job opportunities.
✨Apply through Our Website
When you spot a position at Chartwells Independent, make sure to apply through our website directly. It's often the quickest way to get your application in front of the right people and show that you’re genuinely interested in the role of Category Manager.
We think you need these skills to ace Category Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Supply Chain Savvy:Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in supply chain operations. Whether it’s managing logistics or coordinating with suppliers, we want to see examples of how you've navigated the complexities of the supply chain. Concrete achievements, like reducing costs or improving delivery times, will definitely catch our eye!
Quantify Your Impact:When listing your previous roles on your CV, go for numbers! Mention percentages or actual figures where possible—like how much you've improved efficiency or reduced waste. It's all about showing us the tangible impact you've made in your past positions in supply chain operations.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:In your cover letter, don’t just regurgitate your CV. Instead, connect your experiences specifically to the role at Chartwells Independent. Share why you're passionate about supply chain operations and how this full-time role aligns with your career goals—I mean, who wouldn’t want to hear that!
Research and Reflect:Before you apply, take some time to research Chartwells Independent and its supply chain operations. Reflect on how your skills and experiences can fit into their operations. Being able to discuss their challenges and how you can contribute to solving them in your application will really make you stand out!
How to prepare for a job interview at Chartwells Independent
✨Know Your Basics in Supply Chain Management
Make sure you've got a solid grasp of key supply chain concepts like demand forecasting, inventory management, and logistics. We could be quizzed on these during technical rounds, so brush up on any software tools commonly used in the industry like SAP or Oracle. This knowledge will help us show we can hit the ground running!
✨Show Off Your Analytical Skills
Prepare to discuss real-world scenarios where you've used data analysis to solve supply chain challenges. If you've got experience with tools like Excel or Tableau, get ready to talk about how you've used these to optimise processes or improve efficiencies. Employers love seeing that we can turn data into actionable insights!
✨Highlight Your Teamwork and Project Management Skills
In a full-time role, collaboration is key. Think of examples where you've worked on cross-functional teams or managed projects. Sharing how you navigated challenges while working with diverse groups will show that we can thrive in a dynamic environment like at Chartwells Independent.
✨Research Specific Challenges Faced by Chartwells Independent
Look into any unique supply chain challenges Chartwells Independent might be facing, whether it's sustainability, supplier relationships, or global disruptions. Being prepared to discuss these topics shows that we're not only informed but also genuinely interested in how we can contribute to their success. That’s a big plus in any interview!
