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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead food strategy and manage complex supply chains in a dynamic market.
- Company: Join Foodbuy, the UK's top food procurement organisation within a FTSE 100 company.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth, and the chance to influence the future of food procurement.
- Why this job: Shape the future of food procurement and deliver real value for clients.
- Qualifications: Senior experience in food procurement with strong leadership and strategic skills.
- Other info: Opportunity to work in a collaborative environment with significant autonomy.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.
Location: London/Chertsey/Hybrid
Salary: Competitive
Contract: Permanent
Reporting to: Chief Commercial Officer
About Foodbuy
Foodbuy Group is the UK’s leading food procurement organisation, managing over £2bn of spend across foodservice and hospitality. Part of Compass Group UK & Ireland, a FTSE 100 business, Foodbuy partners with clients and suppliers to deliver resilient supply chains, commercial value and sustainable outcomes at scale.
The Role
We are looking for an experienced Food Category Development Director to lead Foodbuy’s food strategy across core and specialist food categories during a period of ongoing market volatility and growth. This is a senior leadership role focused on shaping strategy, strengthening supply resilience and creating long‑term commercial advantage. It goes beyond traditional category management, combining deep food expertise with strategic procurement leadership, innovation and risk management. You will operate with significant autonomy and executive‑level influence, playing a pivotal role in Foodbuy’s credibility, performance and growth agenda.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead Foodbuy’s food commercial strategy across all food categories
- Translate scale, insight and supplier capability into strong client outcomes
- Manage inflation, supply risk and continuity across complex food supply chains
- Shape and deliver a market‑leading food procurement proposition
- Strengthen strategic supplier partnerships and develop new relationships
- Collaborate across sourcing, category, account management and operations
- Represent Foodbuy at senior client, supplier and executive levels
- Build and develop a high‑performing food commercial team
About You
- Senior commercial leader with strong experience in food procurement or foodservice supply chains
- Proven track record managing inflation, supply disruption and complex negotiations
- Deep understanding of food markets, quality, specification and logistics
- Strong strategic judgement with high commercial and analytical capability
- Experienced people leader with a collaborative, delivery‑focused style
Desirable:
- Experience within GPOs, buying groups or multi‑client environments
- Exposure to hospitality or contract catering
- Strong understanding of sustainability and responsible sourcing
Why Join Foodbuy?
This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of food procurement within a market‑leading organisation. You’ll lead critical categories, influence senior stakeholders and deliver tangible value for clients — all within the scale and stability of a FTSE 100 group.
Food Category Development Director in Chertsey employer: Foodbuy
Contact Detail:
Foodbuy Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Food Category Development Director in Chertsey
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts on LinkedIn or attend food procurement events. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that Food Category Development Director role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Foodbuy and its competitors. Understand their food strategies and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals. We want to see you shine and show us why you’re the perfect fit!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your expertise in food procurement during conversations. Bring examples of how you've managed inflation and supply risks in the past. We love hearing about real-life experiences that demonstrate your strategic judgement and leadership skills.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. We’re excited to see your passion for food procurement and how you can contribute to our team at Foodbuy.
We think you need these skills to ace Food Category Development Director in Chertsey
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the Food Category Development Director role. Highlight your experience in food procurement and any relevant achievements that showcase your strategic judgement and leadership skills.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about food procurement and how your background aligns with our mission at Foodbuy. Be specific about your experience managing inflation and supply risks.
Showcase Your Leadership Style: We want to know about your people management skills! Share examples of how you've built high-performing teams and collaborated across departments. This will help us see how you can fit into our culture at Foodbuy.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity to shape the future of food procurement.
How to prepare for a job interview at Foodbuy
✨Know Your Food Market Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on the latest trends and challenges in the food procurement sector. Understand how inflation and supply chain disruptions are affecting the industry, and be ready to discuss your insights during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Thinking
Prepare examples of how you've shaped food strategies in previous roles. Highlight your experience with complex negotiations and how you've managed supplier relationships to deliver strong client outcomes.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
As a senior leader, it's crucial to show that you can build and develop high-performing teams. Be ready to share your approach to leadership and collaboration, especially in a fast-paced environment like food procurement.
✨Align with Sustainability Goals
Foodbuy values sustainability, so come prepared to discuss your understanding of responsible sourcing and how you've implemented sustainable practices in your previous roles. This will show that you align with their mission and values.