At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the spirits category and shape our premium and boutique spirits range.
- Company: Join Scotland’s leading independent wines and spirits merchant with a focus on quality and sustainability.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, holiday entitlement, company bonus, private health care, and staff discounts.
- Other info: Dynamic role with travel opportunities and a chance to attend exciting trade events.
- Why this job: Make an impact in the spirits industry while working with top brands and innovative products.
- Qualifications: Strong experience in spirits buying and excellent negotiation skills required.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Company Description
Inverarity Morton, founded in 1945, is Scotland’s leading independent wines and spirits merchant, known for its strong focus on people, product, and service.
As a composite wholesaler, the company supplies the licensed trade with an extensive portfolio of packaged drinks, including over 1,000 handpicked wines from around the world, many of them exclusive.
Inverarity Morton is the only SOPA-certified organic wine importer in Scotland and offers a wide range of boutique premium spirits, craft beers, real ales, and soft drinks.
A highly efficient logistics, warehousing, and fulfilment operation supports customers with reliable, day-and-night service.
Role Description
A recent retirement has led to an opportunity to join our dynamic and independent drinks wholesale business that prides itself in supplying the finest wines, spirits and beers to the On Trade in Scotland.
We are passionate about quality and sustainability, and we work closely with both established and emerging brands.
The Senior Spirits Buyer is a full-time, on-site role based in the Greater Glasgow Area, responsible for leading the spirits category and shaping Inverarity Morton’s premium and boutique spirits range.
This role involves managing supplier relationships, negotiating commercial terms, and sourcing new products that align with market trends and customer needs.
The Senior Spirits Buyer will analyse sales data, monitor performance across key accounts, and adjust the portfolio to maximise profitability and customer satisfaction.
Day-to-day responsibilities include collaborating with sales and marketing teams on promotions, training internal stakeholders on the spirits range, and ensuring stock levels and forecasts support smooth logistics and fulfilment.
The role also includes attending trade events, visiting producers, and representing the company within the wider spirits industry.
- Key Personal Skills
- Passionate about spirits.
- Proven track record of successful negotiations in a spirits buying related field.
- Ability to analyse data and market trends to inform purchasing decisions.
- Ability to communicate with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders, suppliers and customers.
- You will be a key ambassador for our business in promoting our market leading drinks portfolio to the On-Trade.
- Team player.
Essential Experience
- Strong experience in spirits buying, category management, or procurement within the drinks or hospitality industry.
- Proven skills in supplier relationship management, negotiation, and contract management.
- Competence in sales and margin analysis, forecasting, and portfolio performance reporting.
- Deep knowledge of spirits categories, premium and boutique brands, and current market trends.
- Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and collaboration skills across commercial, marketing, and logistics teams.
- Ability to work on-site in the Greater Glasgow Area, with readiness to travel to suppliers, customers, and trade events as required.
- Strong organisational and time-management skills, with attention to detail and a focus on delivering results.
- Relevant knowledge of wine and spirits and prior experience in the licensed trade are highly beneficial.
WSET qualifications are desirable, but willingness to learn & develop is essential.
- IT competency with strong working knowledge of Excel.
- Working Environment
- Predominantly office-based in Glasgow.
- Travel and nights away are part of the job.
- Attendance at trade events as and when required.
- Resilience under pressure and an ability to manage priorities in a role which isn’t ‘’9am-5pm’’.
- Success Measures
- Achieve supplier income targets.
- Working in close partnership with the Commercial & Finance teams.
- Maximise performance from a range of over 1,000 SKUs.
- Working to our values … Passionate, Dependable, Easy to work with and Professional.
Benefits
- Competitive Salary.
- Holiday entitlement.
- Company Bonus Scheme.
- Private Health Care.
- Staff Discounts.
To apply please send your cv and covering letter to outlining why you would be a great fit for the Senior Spirits Buyer role.
Senior Spirits Buyer in Milton employer: Inverarity Morton
Inverarity Morton is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that values passion for quality and sustainability in the spirits industry. Located in the Greater Glasgow Area, employees benefit from competitive salaries, a company bonus scheme, and private healthcare, alongside opportunities for professional growth through collaboration with leading brands and participation in trade events. Join a team that prides itself on being dependable and easy to work with, while enjoying staff discounts and a supportive environment focused on delivering results.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Spirits Buyer in Milton
✨Get to Know the Industry Events
Dive into wholesale distribution trade shows and local industry meet-ups. These events are gold mines for networking and can even lead to job leads. Plus, getting face time with companies like Inverarity Morton can make you stand out!
✨Connect with Industry Professionals
Join online forums and communities specific to wholesale distribution. Places like LinkedIn groups or industry-specific Slack channels can put you in touch with insiders who know about the latest job openings at companies like Inverarity Morton before they even get posted.
✨Tailor Your Approach to Distribution Roles
When you apply for full-time roles, make sure your interactions highlight your understanding of supply chain management and logistics. Companies like Inverarity Morton want to see that you get the bigger picture and can contribute to their efficiency!
✨Follow Up Like a Pro
After you've sent in your application, don't be shy! Follow up with a brief message to express your enthusiasm for the role. This not only shows initiative but keeps your name fresh in the minds of recruiters at Inverarity Morton.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Spirits Buyer in Milton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Distribution Know-How:For a role in wholesale distribution, it’s crucial to highlight any experience you have with supply chain management or logistics. Make sure to detail any relevant projects or roles on your CV that show you understand how products move from point A to point B efficiently.
Quantify Your Achievements:When crafting your CV, don’t just list tasks; instead, focus on achievements that can be quantified. For example, mention how you increased delivery efficiency by a percentage or managed a specific number of vendors. Numbers stand out and prove you can make a difference at Inverarity Morton.
Tailored Cover Letter Approach:In your cover letter, express why you're passionate about wholesale distribution and what excites you about the specific challenges at Inverarity Morton. Show us you’ve done some research on the company, and mention any values or initiatives they have that resonate with you.
Highlight Team Collaboration Skills:Since wholesale distribution often requires working closely with teams, emphasise your teamwork skills in your application. Include examples of how you’ve successfully collaborated with colleagues, suppliers, or stakeholders to improve operations or resolve issues.
How to prepare for a job interview at Inverarity Morton
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
In the wholesale distribution sector, being able to analyse market trends and inventory data is key. Be ready to discuss how you've tackled inventory management issues or implemented solutions that improved efficiency; this will show Inverarity Morton that you can handle the analytical side of the role.
✨Know Your Logistics Inside Out
Since logistics play a massive part in wholesale distribution, it's vital to familiarise yourself with the tools and software used in the industry, like ERP systems or supply chain management platforms. Mention any experience you have with these tools during the interview to impress Inverarity Morton.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that revolve around real-life situations in wholesale distribution, such as how you'd handle supply chain disruptions or manage relationships with suppliers. Practice articulating your thought process and decision-making strategies on these topics to demonstrate your problem-solving skills.
✨Highlight Your Long-Term Potential
As you're applying for a full-time role, Inverarity Morton will want to see your commitment to growing within the organisation. Be ready to discuss your career aspirations and how this role aligns with your goals, emphasising that you are in it for the long haul!
