At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our team to develop and implement exciting food and drink buying strategies.
- Company: Fenwick, a leading retailer with a focus on innovation and collaboration.
- Benefits: 33 days annual leave, birthday off, up to 25% discount, and hybrid working.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for growth and development.
- Why this job: Make an impact in a fast-paced environment while working with food and drink products.
- Qualifications: Experience in buying, strong analytical skills, and a passion for food and drink.
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.
Food & Drink Assistant Buyer — Hybrid, Growth Focus in Newcastle upon Tyne employer: Fenwick Limited
Fenwick is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture, particularly within 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 while engaging in meaningful projects that drive the Food & Drink category forward, making it an ideal place for those seeking a rewarding career in retail buying.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Food & Drink Assistant Buyer — Hybrid, Growth Focus in Newcastle upon Tyne
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its products. Show your passion for food and drink, and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their buying strategy. We want to see that you’re genuinely interested!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! As an Assistant Buyer, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to build supplier relationships. Role-play scenarios with friends or family to boost your confidence before the real deal.
✨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 about joining our team at Fenwick.
We think you need these skills to ace Food & Drink Assistant Buyer — Hybrid, Growth Focus in Newcastle upon Tyne
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 achievements that align with our needs at StudySmarter.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter should tell us why you're passionate about this role and how your skills can contribute to our team. Be sure to mention your analytical skills and any experience you have in a multichannel retail environment.
Showcase Your Analytical Skills:Since the role involves a lot of data analysis, make sure to include examples of how you've used data to drive decisions in previous roles. This will show us that you can identify opportunities for growth and efficiency.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and keep track of it as we review candidates!
How to prepare for a job interview at Fenwick Limited
✨Know Your Food & Drink Trends
Before the interview, dive into current trends in the food and drink industry. Familiarise yourself with popular products, emerging brands, and market shifts. This will not only show your passion for the role but also demonstrate your analytical skills when discussing how these trends can influence buying decisions.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
Be prepared to discuss specific examples of how you've used data to drive buying decisions in the past. Whether it's analysing sales performance or identifying opportunities for growth, having concrete examples ready will highlight your analytical prowess and commercial awareness.
✨Build a Connection with the Team
Collaboration is key in this role, so make sure to express your enthusiasm for working with various teams. Share experiences where you successfully collaborated with others, whether in retail or other environments, to show that you're a team player who values input from different departments.
✨Prepare Questions About the Role
At the end of the interview, have thoughtful questions ready about the buying strategy and how the Assistant Buyer fits into the bigger picture. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if the company culture aligns with your values.
