Fresh Produce Procurement Category Manager

Competitive Salary plus Performance based Bonus

25 days holiday + Bank holidays

Reports to: Commercial Director

Location: Woods Foodservice at Uxbridge, UB8 2YF, with flexibility for occasional travel

Here at Woods Foodservice, we are known as a market leader in the quality sector of the food hospitality industry. We provide high-quality ambient, chilled, fresh, and frozen produce from around the world and supply some of the most prestigious chefs in the country. Our aim is to provide customer service excellence with every order and to stock the most innovative and unique range of fine, specialist and staple products, tailored for the quality sector of the market.

At present, most of our customers are London-based, but we have already begun the expansion process into other major UK cities such as Manchester, Brighton and Bristol. The future is very promising!

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Demand Planning: Forecast levels of demand for products and sales, with cashflow in mind in quieter months. Ensure security in the range and have awareness of current and potential factors contributing to the disruption of supply.
• Range and Suppliers: Ensure the product range is on brand and conduct research to source the best products and suppliers that align with this whilst keeping in mind: quality, value, sustainability credentials, terms.
• Run tenders, evaluate bids, and make range recommendations, based on commercial and technical factors.
• Negotiate and agree cost-effective SLAs and contracts in terms of value, delivery schedules and quality.
• Review underperforming lines and either try to upsell or remove from the range accordingly.
• Ensure maximum benefit from the buying group, taking advantage of terms and promotions.
• Engage with the buying group and provide feedback to them on what suppliers and terms could be more beneficial to us as a business.
• Build and maintain good relationships with new and existing suppliers, making sure they are aware of business objectives.
• Attend relevant meetings and trade conferences.
• Forecast price trends and their impact. Setting Fresh Produce Prices on a monthly basis, managing the profit margins.
• Assessing the impact of seasonality on the range offering, including the impact on pricing and promotions.
• Present information to the Management Team on market analysis and possible growth opportunities.
• Develop and implement procurement category strategies.
• Analyse spend and other relevant data, and produce reports and statistics on procurement activities.
• Keep up to date with trends and innovations, regulation and new technology that can impact the business.
• Help facilitate communication between suppliers, manufacturers, internal teams such as Commercial, including Business Relations and Marketing.
• Develop strategies to make sure that cost savings and supplier performance targets are met - or exceeded. This will rely on great communication with the Business Development and Marketing Teams.
• Always ensure we are on track to hit companywide KPIs.

REQUIREMENTS

• Post-Secondary relevant qualification e.g. University degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business Admin
• Certification from Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS) would be a plus.
• Proven experience in procurement category management, sourcing and purchasing fresh produce food products within the foodservice or food FMCG industry.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build rapport and trust with colleagues and suppliers.
• Strong Commercial acumen including identifying business opportunities, keeps up to date with and monitors competitor, market and industry information and trends.
• Financial awareness, thinks in terms of profit and loss. Develop and execute account plans to achieve revenue and other KPI targets.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills and a pro-active approach to address customer needs and concerns.
• Very good organization and planning skills, with a keen attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple priorities and deadlines effectively.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and CRM software, with the ability to generate reports and analyse data to inform decision-making.
• Applicants must have the Right to Work in the UK and hold a valid UK Driving License.

Working at Woods Foodservice means you’ll be working alongside a real team-spirited group of people. We value honesty, integrity and big ideas and ensure that work-life balance is enjoyed by all. We are committed to building an inclusive culture that values and respects difference combined with creating a safe and inclusive working environment for all staff.

We provide the tools and support necessary to ensure our teams remain passionate about their work and deliver excellence throughout their career with us. We are big on learning & development and consistently strive to identify upcoming talent in-house. If you’re willing to work hard and looking for a long-term career opportunity, this could be the role for you!

We always aim to live Wood Foodservice company values of Innovation, Adaptability, Positivity and Sustainability. You’ll be joining a well-established family business where hard work and dedication is highly rewarded. Not only do we pride ourselves on being an official Living Wage Employer that offers a highly competitive salary and access to a number of generous benefits which include company pension, YuLife health & wellbeing benefits, EAP, discounts, 25 days holiday plus bank holidays.