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- Tasks: Join our team as a Fruit & Veg Buyer, managing procurement and supplier relationships.
- Company: Dynamic foodservice company focused on sustainability and innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth opportunities, and a vibrant work culture.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the food industry while working with fresh produce.
- Qualifications: Experience in food procurement and strong negotiation skills required.
- Other info: Join a passionate team dedicated to quality and sustainability.
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
- You will 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.
- You will 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.
- You will support our supply chain team to ensure on-time direct supply and supply via distributor aligned to SLA’s.
- Ensure your product range is compliant with food safety regulations & CSR requirements, ensuring high quality standards always.
- You will be accountable for your category spend.
- Evaluating bids with the sourcing team and making recommendations based on commercial, technical, supply and quality requirements, using your category expertise and knowledge.
- You will communicate industry trends across the business.
- Regularly review supplier performance to support category growth.
- Manage category related queries from internal and external stakeholders.
- Support our 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.
- 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.
- Confident presenter.
- 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 in Guildford employer: Great Jobs UK
Contact Detail:
Great Jobs UK Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Buyer in Guildford
✨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 about reaching out to potential contacts. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Show Off Your Expertise
When you get the chance to chat with hiring managers or recruiters, make sure to highlight your passion for the fruit and veg category. Share your insights on industry trends and demonstrate your knowledge of procurement processes. This will help you stand out as a subject matter expert!
✨Follow Up Like a Boss
After any interviews or networking events, send a quick follow-up message to thank them for their time. This not only shows your appreciation but also keeps you fresh in their minds. A little persistence can go a long way in landing that dream job!
✨Apply Through Our Website
Don’t forget to check out our website for the latest job openings! Applying directly through us can give you an edge, as we often have exclusive listings. Plus, it’s super easy to navigate and find roles that match your skills and interests.
We think you need these skills to ace Buyer in Guildford
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, include examples of how you've used data to make informed decisions. Mention any experience with procurement systems and your proficiency in Excel.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any updates!
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 Negotiation Techniques
Since negotiation is a big part of the role, practice your negotiation skills before the interview. Think of scenarios where you had to negotiate terms or prices in the past and be ready to discuss these experiences. Highlight your ability to secure sustainable terms.
✨Build Relationships
Prepare to talk about how you've built and maintained relationships with suppliers in previous roles. Be ready to share specific examples that showcase your interpersonal skills and how they contributed to successful procurement outcomes.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
As a Buyer, you'll need strong analytical skills. Bring examples of how you've used data to drive decisions in the past. If you have experience with procurement systems or advanced Excel, make sure to mention this and how it has helped you in your previous roles.