At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our team to develop and implement buying strategies for Food & Drink.
- Company: Fenwick, a leading retail brand with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: 33 days annual leave, birthday off, and up to 25% store discount.
- Other info: Enjoy hybrid working and excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make an impact in a fast-paced environment while working with food and drink products.
- Qualifications: Intermediate buying experience and strong analytical skills required.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Are you looking for a new challenge in a buying role? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you to join our Home, Food & Wine buying team as Assistant Buyer for the Food & Drink category! We offer hybrid working between your home and our functional hub offices in our Newcastle Flagship store, offering a collaborative and innovative working space.
Benefits:
- 33 days annual leave (inclusive of 8 bank holidays) and a buying holiday benefits scheme in which you are eligible to buy a further 5 days across the year.
- Your birthday off as an additional day annual leave – this can be taken any day within your birth month.
- Up to 25% discount in all Fenwick stores and fenwick.co.uk.
- WeCare - 24/7 GP, wellbeing advice & support service.
- Hybrid Working (typically Thursday and Friday working from home).
About the Role:
The Assistant Buyer plays a key role in delivering the buying strategy for the Food & Drink category across Fenwick’s stores and online. Working closely with the Buyer and wider Buying & Merchandising teams, the role supports the development and implementation of commercially sound range plans that reflect the Fenwick brand, respond to market trends and meet the needs of local customers, with a clear focus on driving sales, margin and market share.
The role is involved across the end-to-end buying process, including sourcing and developing food and drink ranges, supporting supplier negotiations, analysing trading performance and managing stock and OTB effectively. Through detailed trade analysis and strong attention to data, the Assistant Buyer helps identify opportunities for growth, improve efficiencies and reduce markdown risk, while ensuring ranges remain current, balanced and customer-focused.
Collaboration is central to the role, working closely with Retail, Digital, Marketing, Logistics and support functions to deliver seasonal strategies, product launches and promotional activity across the Food & Drink category. This role suits someone with buying experience in a multichannel retail environment, strong commercial awareness and analytical skills, and the confidence to build supplier relationships, contribute ideas and support continuous improvement within a fast-paced buying team.
Qualifications:
- Intermediate level experience in buying, and sales.
- A keen interest in food, drink and premium gifting products.
- Experience in developing product strategies and building business cases.
- Analytical with a keen ability to identify opportunities for efficiency and improvement.
- Negotiating and contracting skills.
- Intermediate communication, influencing, and relationship-building skills.
- Experience within a retail multichannel environment.
Assistant Buyer - Food & Drink employer: Fenwick Limited
Fenwick is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture, particularly in our Newcastle Flagship store. With generous benefits such as 33 days of annual leave, a unique birthday off policy, and a significant employee discount, we prioritise the well-being and growth of our team members. Our hybrid working model allows for flexibility, making it an ideal environment for those looking to thrive in a dynamic buying role while contributing to the success of our Food & Drink category.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Buyer - Food & Drink
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that Assistant Buyer role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its products. Familiarise yourself with their Food & Drink range and think about how you can contribute to their buying strategy. We want you to show them you’re not just another candidate, but someone who truly understands their brand.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! As an Assistant Buyer, you’ll need to be confident in supplier negotiations. Role-play scenarios with friends or family to get comfortable with discussing prices and terms. We believe in you, so let’s make sure you shine in those discussions!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged. So, get your application in and let’s get you one step closer to that dream job!
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Buyer - Food & Drink
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Assistant Buyer role. Highlight your buying experience, especially in food and drink, and showcase any relevant skills that match the job description. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about food and drink, and how your experience aligns with our buying strategy. Keep it engaging and personal – we love to see your personality come through!
Show Off Your Analytical Skills:Since the role involves a lot of data analysis, make sure to mention any relevant experience you have with trade analysis or identifying growth opportunities. We’re looking for someone who can spot trends and make data-driven decisions!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, you’ll find all the details about the role and our amazing benefits there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Fenwick Limited
✨Know Your Products
Before the interview, dive deep into the Food & Drink category. Familiarise yourself with current trends, popular products, and what makes them appealing to customers. This knowledge will not only impress your interviewers but also show your genuine interest in the role.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
Be prepared to discuss how you've used data in previous roles to drive decisions. Bring examples of how you've identified opportunities for growth or improved efficiencies. This will demonstrate your analytical mindset, which is crucial for the Assistant Buyer position.
✨Highlight Collaboration Experience
Since collaboration is key in this role, think of specific instances where you've worked closely with other teams. Whether it’s Retail, Marketing, or Logistics, share how you contributed to successful projects and how you can bring that teamwork spirit to Fenwick.
✨Prepare Questions
Interviews are a two-way street! Prepare thoughtful questions about the buying strategy, team dynamics, or future product launches. This shows you're not just interested in the job, but also in how you can contribute to the company's success.
