At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive sales and innovation in Grocery by developing category strategies and building supplier relationships.
- Company: Join Iceland Foods, a leading UK retailer with a focus on frozen and grocery products.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, 25 days holiday, store discounts, and subsidised onsite facilities.
- Other info: Dynamic culture that empowers you to challenge convention and grow your career.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced environment and shape the future of Grocery.
- Qualifications: Experience in Buying or Category Management within Food Retail and strong negotiation skills.
The predicted salary is between 51750 - 63250 £ per year.
When people think of Iceland Foods, they think of frozen food.
And they're right to.
We've been leading the way in frozen for over 50 years.
But there's so much more to our story!
Today, we're one of the UK's most innovative food retailers, with ambitious growth plans and award-winning ranges across Frozen, Fresh, Chilled and Grocery.
Grocery is a key growth area for the business, offering customers even more choice, value and innovation every day.
We're looking for a Category Buying Manager to join our Grocery team.
This is an exciting opportunity for a commercially driven and ambitious Buying professional to join our fast-paced Commercial team at our Head Office in Deeside.
You'll take ownership of key Grocery categories, driving performance through exceptional supplier partnerships, category strategy and a compelling customer proposition.
With significant autonomy and visibility across the business, you'll play a pivotal role in shaping our Grocery offer, differentiating Iceland from competitors and delivering sustainable growth.
As Grocery continues to be a major strategic focus for Iceland, this role offers the opportunity to influence one of the most dynamic and high-profile areas of the business.
- What You'll Be Doing
- Developing and executing category strategies that drive sales, profit and market share.
- Building strong, collaborative relationships with suppliers and key internal stakeholders.
- Identifying emerging consumer trends and translating them into winning product and category propositions.
- Negotiating commercial terms to deliver outstanding value for both customers and the business.
- Managing supplier performance, reviewing opportunities and introducing new sources of supply where appropriate.
- Driving innovation across the category, ensuring Iceland stays ahead of the competition.
- Ensuring continuity of supply, product availability and operational excellence.
- Acting as a role model within the team, coaching and influencing colleagues through your expertise and leadership.
What We're Looking For
- Proven experience in a Buying or Category Management role within Food Retail.
- Strong commercial acumen with a track record of delivering sales growth, margin improvement and category success.
- Experience managing food categories in a fast-moving retail environment.
- Exceptional negotiation, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
- A passion for product and customer insight.
- The ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced and constantly changing environment.
- Experience creating clear points of difference that drive customer loyalty and business performance.
Why Iceland?
We're one of the UK's fastest growing and most exciting retailers, with ambitious plans for the future and a culture that empowers people to make things happen.
At Iceland, you'll have the freedom to challenge convention, the support to develop your career and the opportunity to make a visible impact from day one.
We work at pace, think differently and back our people to succeed.
We expect a lot because we're passionate about what we do.
In return, you'll be trusted, supported and given every opportunity to grow your career with a business that genuinely cares about its colleagues, customers and communities.
Ready to make your mark?
Join us and help shape the future of Grocery at one of the UK's most innovative food retailers. That's the Iceland difference.
- Alongside This We Can Offer You
- A very competitive salary with an excellent benefits package
- 25 days holiday, plus 8 days bank holiday
- 15% store discount, 30% club individual restaurant discount
- Free parking
• Highly subsidised restaurant onsite with our own Michelin Star Chef!
- Subsidised Costa onsite
- Discounted gym membership
- Charity fundraising events
- Educational sponsorship
- Enhanced maternity/paternity leave
- Long service awards
- Reward & recognition
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
Category Buying Manager - Grocery employer: Iceland Foods
Iceland offers an exceptional work environment for Refrigeration Engineers, providing autonomy and flexibility in your role while ensuring a supportive team atmosphere. With over 27 years of experience, we prioritise professional development through ongoing training and clear career progression paths, all within a secure in-house position. Enjoy competitive benefits, including a company van, generous holiday allowance, and exclusive discounts, making Iceland a rewarding place to build your career in Leicester or Coventry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Buying Manager - Grocery
✨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 Iceland Foods, 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 Iceland Foods!
We think you need these skills to ace Category Buying Manager - Grocery
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 Iceland Foods, 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 Iceland Foods 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 Iceland Foods that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Iceland Foods
✨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!
