At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the Fresh & Deli buying strategy and develop high-quality food offerings.
- Company: Join a prestigious luxury food retailer in the heart of London.
- Benefits: Enjoy up to 40% discount, 25 days holiday, and a subsidised staff restaurant.
- Other info: Opportunities for personal and professional growth in an inclusive workplace.
- Why this job: Make an impact in a dynamic environment while working with fine foods.
- Qualifications: Experience in food buying, especially fresh food, and strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
Our Head Office department is in the heart of Piccadilly and occupies the 5th & 6th floor of our beautiful flagship store. This central London location offers so much to explore including restaurants, bars, cultural sites, shopping and more, and only a short walk from the Green Park Tube Station and plenty of bus stops.
We are looking for a Buyer for our Fresh and Deli area to join our team. The Buyer for Fresh & Deli is accountable for the overall development and delivery of our Fresh food offer, achieving the highest quality across all channels and management of the buying for their relevant department/category. The role is key to the delivery of the department/category sales and profit forecast.
The candidate will demonstrate strong product development and sourcing expertise, industry knowledge, with an ability to identify and create market/product trends and realise new opportunities. The ideal candidate will have an appreciation of fine food, with an excellent palate and knowledge of Fresh Food, alongside an understanding of what is important in food development and selection. They should have a network within the supply base and be respected in their area of expertise.
Key Accountabilities:- Accountable for the delivery of the business’ strategic vision across all channels
- Drive sales, profit and growth, through analysis of sales and stock performance (supported by merchandising)
- Delivers the Fresh Food buying strategy for their product group working closely with the Merchandising team and other stakeholders
- Demonstrate an understanding of the customer profile and be able to anticipate customer needs and expectations in a multichannel environment
- Demonstrate an authentic and passionate understanding of Food groups, products and the competition within the market
- Input to sales and stock planning and forecasting cycle
- Define and agree pricing strategies with multiple suppliers
- Collaborates with the chefs to develop food offer, building strong relationships
- Ability to input into negotiation of complex business terms and agreements with suppliers and other third party service providers
- Delivery of new product development in line with the Fortnum own label strategy
- Source new brands and products in line with Fortnum’s strategy and commitment to quality
- Ensure all suppliers meet the Fortnum & Mason compliance standards
- Undertakes the delivery of seasonal product calendars to capitalise on key events / holidays throughout year
- Creates, maintains and manages the departmental range plan, each season, ensuring it is undertaken effectively across Retail, Online, Wholesale and Satellite Stores
- An effective people manager with the ability to train, develop and retain team members
- Demonstrate an authentic and passionate understanding of the brand and brand values
We expect the successful candidate to have the following skills and experience:
- The candidate must have experience in food buying, ideally in fresh food
- Awareness of how to create an impact in store
- Ideally the candidate will come from a luxury multichannel Food Retailer
- They should have an ability to manage time and workload with often-competing priorities and varying demands of the business
- Ability to create and manage range planning across a multichannel business
- Exceptionally high level of verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to influence and negotiate, effectively, with all team members at all levels including Senior Management & Board Members
- Ability to effectively relationship manage the supplier base
- Be able to influence and manage multiple internal and external stakeholders
- Ability to work under pressure, be able to prioritise and manage own and direct team’s workload to meet deadlines and manage expectations
- Self-motivated, and a proactive attitude to work
- Robust experience of the CRM systems and processes and reporting mechanisms to enable a function that is growing and maturing at speed
- Digitally savvy
- An ability to challenge, build credibility with a wide range of audiences and work with integrity/confidentiality at all times
Why Work For Us:
- A generous store and restaurant discount of up to 40%
- 25 days holidays (excluded bank holidays) and an extra day off for your birthday
- A fantastic subsidised staff restaurant which uses Fortnum’s ingredients
- A range of opportunities to develop and grow personally and professionally
We are committed to developing your career and nurturing your talent, regardless of age; disability; gender reassignment; marriage and civil partnership; pregnancy and maternity; race; religion or belief; sex; sexual orientation. We respect and embrace each other's differences, to create a truly inclusive environment.
Buyer in Manchester employer: Fortnum & Mason
Fortnum & Mason, located in the vibrant heart of Piccadilly, is an exceptional employer that offers a dynamic work environment enriched by the cultural and culinary delights of London. As a Buyer for our Fresh and Deli area, you will not only enjoy a generous discount and 25 days of holiday but also benefit from a strong commitment to personal and professional development within a diverse and inclusive workplace. Join us to be part of a passionate team dedicated to delivering the highest quality food experiences while fostering your career growth in a luxury retail setting.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Buyer in Manchester
✨Get Your Retail Game On
Start by getting to know the local retail scene. Make a list of stores that align with your vibe and visit them. You'll be surprised at how many job openings come from chatting with staff or managers in-store. Plus, showing that you have a genuine interest in their brand can make you stand out when applying for that full-time role!
✨Join Retail Networks and Forums
Tap into retail-specific communities and forums, whether online or in-person. Platforms like Retail Week or local retail meetups can provide invaluable insights and connections. You never know who might drop a tip about an upcoming job at companies like Fortnum & Mason, so don’t miss out on building those relationships!
✨Be Ready for Busy Season Opportunities
Keep your eyes peeled for seasonal hiring windows, especially in the run-up to major shopping periods. Retailers often look for full-time staff to carry through busy times and may even keep you on after the season. Stay proactive by regularly checking in with your favourite retailers about their hiring plans.
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail’s all about customer interactions, so make sure you showcase any relevant experience in your conversations and interviews. Share specific examples of your customer service skills and how they’ve led to positive outcomes. This is your moment to shine when applying to roles at places like Fortnum & Mason!
We think you need these skills to ace Buyer in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Customer Service Skills:In retail, customer service is key! Make sure your CV highlights any experience where you've dealt with customers, whether it’s resolving issues or enhancing the shopping experience. Use concrete examples to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and ability to handle difficult situations with ease.
Tailor Your CV for Retail:When applying for a full-time role like this one at Fortnum & Mason, customise your CV to reflect retail-specific buzzwords. Include any relevant skills such as inventory management or visual merchandising, and if you have experience with POS systems, shout about it! This will show you’re serious about joining the retail team.
Craft a Genuine Cover Letter:Don’t just repeat your CV in your cover letter! Use it as a chance to explain why you're excited about the opportunity at Fortnum & Mason and how your values align with their brand. Mention specific aspects of the company that resonate with you and let your enthusiasm shine through!
Highlight Your Adaptability:In retail, things can get busy and unpredictable, so demonstrate how adaptable and flexible you are. Share examples of times you've had to adjust your approach on the fly or take on new responsibilities. This will show Fortnum & Mason that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Fortnum & Mason
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail is all about providing an exceptional customer experience, so be ready to discuss your past customer service stories. We should have examples on hand of how we've handled difficult situations or gone above and beyond to meet a customer's needs. These anecdotes will bring your application to life!
✨Familiarity with Point of Sale Systems
Many retail roles require us to work with Point of Sale (POS) systems, so it's a good idea to brush up on any relevant software you’ve used before. If you’re familiar with systems like Shopify or Square, don’t forget to mention this during the interview. Highlighting technical proficiency can set us apart from other candidates!
✨Understand Product Knowledge
Be prepared to discuss the products that the store sells and how we can contribute to their sales. Showing enthusiasm for the products and a willingness to learn can impress interviewers. We should research popular items or trends in the industry before the interview, so we can speak confidently about them.
✨Be Ready for Role-Playing Scenarios
Many retail interviews include role-playing scenarios where we might have to deal with a difficult customer or upsell a product. Practising these scenarios with a friend or family member can help us feel more comfortable. The key here is to showcase our problem-solving skills and ability to remain calm under pressure!
