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- Tasks: Join our team as a Fruit & Veg Buyer, managing procurement and supplier relationships.
- Company: Dynamic foodservice company committed to sustainability and quality.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth, and a chance to make a difference in food sourcing.
- Why this job: Be part of a team that drives innovation and supports CSR commitments in the food industry.
- Qualifications: Experience in food procurement and a passion for fruit & veg.
- Other info: Fast-paced environment with opportunities to influence and grow your career.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
One of our clients in the foodservice industry are looking for a Fruit & Veg Buyer to join their team.
Overall Purpose of the Role
As the buyer for fruit & veg, you will support and develop the end-to-end procurement process for this category. You will be responsible for planning, negotiating and executing contract renewals as well as managing supplier relationships. Commercially you will be expected to support their overarching strategy to drive volume growth, negotiate sustainable terms & provide value and benefit to their Clients and GPO’s. You will be key to supporting their CSR commitments, following their sourcing standards during the procurement process. You will engage with their culinary teams and development chefs to support their client’s food strategies by providing products to meet their requirements.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the Category Manager to develop and execute a long-term category strategy to deliver sustainable improvements in terms of cost, quality, service and innovation, in collaboration with the procurement team & other relevant business stakeholders.
- Identifying potential suppliers, visiting, and meeting existing suppliers, building, and maintaining relationships.
- Understand key cost drivers, industry trends and standard methodologies to design/implement the category strategy for the fruit & veg category.
- Develop and maintain long-term pricing mechanisms across the fruit & veg supply base to drive sustainable competitive advantage.
- Support the supply chain team to ensure on‑time direct supply and supply via distributor aligned to SLA’s.
- Ensure the product range is compliant with food safety regulations & CSR requirements, maintaining high quality standards at all times.
- Accountable for your category spend.
- Evaluate bids with the sourcing team and make recommendations based on commercial, technical, supply and quality requirements, using your category expertise and knowledge.
- Communicate industry trends across the business.
- Regularly review supplier performance to support category growth.
- Manage category‑related queries from internal and external stakeholders.
- Support sales and bid teams with content.
Candidate Profile
- Results Oriented – comfortable delivering against bold and stretching targets.
- Experience in food procurement/sourcing.
- Passion for the veg & fruit category, with subject matter expertise.
- Has the technical skill combined with enough gravitas to become recognised as a subject matter expert.
- Competent with procurement systems, ideally having used these in current/previous employment.
- Demonstrated ability to develop credible business relationships.
Internal
- Strong decision maker, with good commercial acumen who is comfortable working under pressure.
- Effective interpersonal skills – excellent negotiator and strong communication and influencing skills.
- Ability to influence - not afraid to challenge across all levels of seniority.
- Strong communication skills – able to communicate concisely and steer conversation towards decisions needed.
- Strong analytical skills with advanced knowledge of Excel.
- Proven ability to reduce costs against tough market conditions.
- Problem solving – ability to work independently to solve challenging problems.
- Evidence of an ability to work cross‑functionally.
- Ambitious high performer with excess enthusiasm, energy, passion and resilience.
- High sensitivity to deadlines and providing information in a timely manner.
Buyer employer: Great Jobs UK
Contact Detail:
Great Jobs UK Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Buyer
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with people in the foodservice industry! Attend events, join relevant groups on social media, and don’t be shy to reach out to potential colleagues or suppliers. Building relationships can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Show Off Your Expertise
When you get the chance to chat with hiring managers or during interviews, make sure to highlight your passion for the fruit and veg category. Share your insights on industry trends and how you can contribute to their procurement strategy. Let them see your enthusiasm!
✨Prepare for Negotiation
Brush up on your negotiation skills before any interviews. Think about how you would approach contract renewals or supplier relationships. Being able to demonstrate your commercial acumen will set you apart from other candidates.
✨Apply Through Our Website
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 with our platform. Let’s get you that Buyer role!
We think you need these skills to ace Buyer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Buyer role. Highlight your experience in food procurement and any relevant achievements that showcase your skills in negotiating and managing supplier relationships.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter should tell us why you're passionate about the fruit & veg category. Share specific examples of how you've driven volume growth or improved supplier performance in previous roles.
Showcase Your Analytical Skills: Since strong analytical skills are key for this role, mention any experience you have with Excel or data analysis. We want to see how you've used these skills to make informed decisions in past positions.
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at Great Jobs UK
✨Know Your Produce
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of the fruit and veg market. Understand current trends, pricing mechanisms, and key suppliers. This will not only show your passion for the category but also demonstrate your expertise during discussions.
✨Master the Art of Negotiation
Since negotiation is a big part of the role, prepare by practising your negotiation skills. Think of scenarios where you might need to negotiate terms with suppliers and how you would approach those conversations. Be ready to showcase your commercial acumen.
✨Build Relationships
Think about how you can build and maintain relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders. Prepare examples from your past experiences where you successfully managed supplier relationships or collaborated with teams to achieve common goals.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
As a Buyer, you'll need strong analytical skills, especially with Excel. Be prepared to discuss how you've used data to make informed decisions in previous roles. Bring examples of how your analytical abilities have led to cost reductions or improved supplier performance.