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- Tasks: Lead and innovate in the snacks and beverages category, driving strategy and supplier negotiations.
- Company: Join a fast-growing, people-first European household brand in Central London.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus, hybrid work, and a vibrant team culture.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a high-visibility role with senior stakeholders.
- Qualifications: Experience in buying/category management within food or retail sectors.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities for innovation and career growth.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Location: Central London / Hybrid (2 days working from home)
Salary: Competitive salary + bonus and package
About the Company
Our client is a well-established, fast-growing multi-site food and beverage business operating across the UK and international markets. Known for quality products, strong brand presence and a people-first culture, they operate at pace in a highly commercial environment. The business offers a collaborative, high-energy setting where procurement and category teams play a central role in driving innovation, margin improvement and strategic supplier partnerships across a large and complex area.
About the Role
We’re supporting a leading food and beverage brand in the search for a Category Buying Manager to take ownership of key food and drink categories within a high-revenue, commercially critical portfolio. This is a highly visible role responsible for driving category strategy, negotiating with strategic suppliers and working closely with internal stakeholders across operations, marketing, finance and NPD. You’ll play a key role in improving category performance, delivering strong commercial outcomes and proactively identifying opportunities to enhance range, margin and operational compliance. The role requires a hands-on, solutions-focused individual who thrives in a fast-paced environment and can influence across a diverse stakeholder group.
Skills and Experience Required
- Proven buying/category management experience within Food, QSR, Hospitality, or Retail environments
- Strong background managing food and/or beverage categories
- Commercially astute with strong negotiation and supplier management skills
- Demonstrated ability to overcome challenges and deliver results in complex environments
- Proactive mindset with the confidence to influence internal stakeholders and suppliers
- Experience delivering category strategies, tenders and cost optimisation initiatives
- Strong analytical capability with a data-driven approach to decision making
- Ability to work cross-functionally with operations, marketing, supply chain and finance etc
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence at multiple levels
Why You Should Apply
- Opportunity to own and shape high-impact, revenue-generating categories
- High-visibility role working closely with senior stakeholders
- Fast-paced, commercially driven environment where your ideas will make a difference
- Collaborative culture with strong cross-functional exposure
- Clear opportunity to drive innovation and category performance
- Hybrid working and exposure to both head office and operational environments
If you’re a proactive category or buying professional from a food, retail, hospitality, or QSR background looking for your next challenge, we’d love to hear from you.
Category Buying Manager - Snacks and Beverages employer: Pod Talent
Contact Detail:
Pod Talent Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Buying Manager - Snacks and Beverages
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its products. Understand their market position and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals. Show them you’re not just another candidate!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! As a Category Buying Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to negotiate effectively. Role-play scenarios with friends or mentors to build confidence before the real deal.
✨Tip Number 4
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 about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Category Buying Manager - Snacks and Beverages
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Category Buying Manager role. Highlight your experience in food and beverage categories, and don’t forget to showcase your negotiation skills and commercial acumen. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've driven category strategies or improved performance in previous roles. We love a good story that shows your impact!
Showcase Your Analytical Skills: Since this role requires strong analytical capabilities, make sure to mention any data-driven decisions you've made in past positions. We’re looking for someone who can use data to influence outcomes, so don’t hold back on those numbers!
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 important updates. Plus, it’s super easy – just a few clicks and you’re done!
How to prepare for a job interview at Pod Talent
✨Know Your Categories Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into the snacks and beverages categories. Understand current trends, key players, and market dynamics. This knowledge will not only impress your interviewers but also help you articulate how you can drive category strategy effectively.
✨Showcase Your Negotiation Skills
Prepare specific examples of past negotiations you've led, especially in food or beverage sectors. Highlight your approach, the challenges faced, and the outcomes achieved. This will demonstrate your commercial acumen and ability to influence suppliers.
✨Cross-Functional Collaboration is Key
Think about times when you've worked with different teams like marketing, finance, or operations. Be ready to discuss how you navigated these relationships to achieve common goals. This shows you can thrive in a collaborative environment, which is crucial for this role.
✨Data-Driven Decision Making
Brush up on your analytical skills and be prepared to discuss how you've used data to inform your decisions in previous roles. Whether it's optimising costs or enhancing product ranges, demonstrating a data-driven mindset will resonate well with the interviewers.
