Buyer - Beers, Wines and Spirits
Buyer - Beers, Wines and Spirits

Buyer - Beers, Wines and Spirits

London Full-Time 36000 - 60000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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Sainsbury's

At a Glance

  • Tasks: As a Buyer, you'll optimise buying strategies and enhance product ranges in the Beers, Wines and Spirits category.
  • Company: Join Sainsbury's, a leading retailer committed to helping everyone eat better.
  • Benefits: Enjoy 10-15% discounts, flexible working, and a range of wellbeing perks.
  • Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team focused on quality, value, and continuous learning.
  • Qualifications: Experience in supplier negotiation and product optimisation is essential.
  • Other info: Embrace a fast-paced environment with opportunities for career growth.

The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.

Joining Sainsbury's Buying Teams means being part of a dedicated and friendly group working towards a mission that truly matters: Helping Everyone Eat Better. As a Buyer, you will have the opportunity to own, deliver, and optimise the buying and selling strategy within a specific category, contributing to the sustainable growth of market share and cash profit. Collaborating across functions, you will leverage your commercial acumen and analytical skills to drive product improvement, develop new offerings, and identify cost savings. With a focus on customer-centricity, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the product range, influencing stakeholders, and making key decisions to enhance our customers' experience.

As a Buyer in our Sainsbury's Buying Teams, you will play a vital role in ensuring that we get the best products at the best prices to deliver quality and value to our customers. You will own, deliver, and optimise the buying and selling strategy for a specific buying area within the Food for Later category, with the responsibility of driving sustainable market share growth and cash profit through a competitive and distinctive customer offer. In this role, you will work cross-functionally to review product ranges, identifying opportunities for product improvement, new product development, and cost savings. You will make key decisions in both the Buying Strategy and Selling Strategy, influencing stakeholders and using financial, market, and customer data to drive a market-leading product range. Additionally, you will optimise the supply base, manage supplier relationships, and lead cross-functional projects to deliver successful outcomes. With your strong commercial acumen, analytical skills, and effective communication, you will contribute to the overall success of the team and help us achieve our mission of Helping Everyone Eat Better.

As a Buyer for Sainsbury's Buying Teams, you are a highly experienced professional with a proven track record in negotiating with suppliers and optimising product ranges to deliver quality and value to customers. With your strong commercial acumen, you develop and execute customer-focused category plans aligned with the company's strategy, aiming to sustainably grow market share and cash profit. Your ability to analyse financial, market, and customer data allows you to identify opportunities for product improvement, new product development, and cost savings. Collaborating cross-functionally, you review product ranges, make key decisions in buying and selling strategies, and effectively manage supplier relationships to achieve performance objectives. With excellent communication skills, adaptability, and resilience, you navigate complex information, influence stakeholders, and lead relevant projects to successful delivery.

We are committed to being a truly inclusive retailer, so you’ll be welcomed whoever you are and wherever you work. Around here, there’s always the chance to try something new - whether that’s as part of an evolving team or somewhere else across the business - and we take development seriously and promise to support you. We also recognise and celebrate colleagues when they go the extra mile and, where possible, offer flexible working. When you join our team, we’ll also offer you an amazing range of benefits. Here are some of them:

  • Starting off with colleague discount, you’ll be able to get 10% off at Sainsbury's, Argos, TU and Habitat after 4 weeks. This increases to 15% off at Sainsbury’s every Friday and Saturday and 15% off at Argos every pay day.
  • We’ve also got you covered for your future with our pensions scheme and life cover. You’ll also be able to share in our success as you may be eligible for a performance-related bonus of up to 20% of salary, depending on how we perform.
  • Your wellbeing is important to us too. You’ll receive an annual holiday allowance, and you can buy additional holiday. We also offer other benefits that will help your money go further such as season ticket loans, interest free car loan of up to £10k, cycle to work scheme, health cash plans, pay advance (where you can access some of your pay before pay day) as well access to a great range of discounts from hundreds of other retailers.
  • And if you ever need it there is also an Employee Assistance Programme, you will also be eligible for private healthcare too.
  • Moments that matter are as important to us as they are to you which is why we give up to 26 weeks’ pay for maternity or adoption leave and up to 4 weeks’ pay for paternity leave.

Please see for a range of our benefits (note, length of service and eligibility criteria may apply).

Buyer - Beers, Wines and Spirits employer: Sainsbury's

Sainsbury's is an exceptional employer that prioritises a supportive and inclusive work culture, offering flexible working arrangements and a commitment to employee development. As a Buyer in London, you will enjoy a dynamic environment where your contributions directly impact the mission of Helping Everyone Eat Better, alongside a comprehensive benefits package that includes generous discounts, performance-related bonuses, and a focus on wellbeing.
Sainsbury's

Contact Detail:

Sainsbury's Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Buyer - Beers, Wines and Spirits

✨Tip Number 1

Familiarise yourself with Sainsbury's product range, especially in the Beers, Wines, and Spirits category. Understanding their current offerings and identifying gaps or opportunities can help you demonstrate your commercial acumen during discussions.

✨Tip Number 2

Network with professionals in the retail and buying sectors, particularly those who have experience with Sainsbury's or similar companies. Engaging with them on platforms like LinkedIn can provide insights into the company culture and expectations for the Buyer role.

✨Tip Number 3

Stay updated on market trends in the Beers, Wines, and Spirits industry. Being knowledgeable about consumer preferences and emerging products will allow you to speak confidently about potential improvements and innovations during interviews.

✨Tip Number 4

Prepare to discuss your negotiation strategies and experiences with suppliers. Highlighting specific examples of how you've successfully optimised product ranges or achieved cost savings will showcase your suitability for the role.

We think you need these skills to ace Buyer - Beers, Wines and Spirits

Commercial Acumen
Negotiation Skills
Analytical Skills
Data Analysis
Supplier Relationship Management
Product Range Optimisation
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Customer-Centric Approach
Financial Acumen
Project Management
Decision-Making Skills
Market Research
Cost Savings Identification
Effective Communication
Adaptability

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in buying, negotiating with suppliers, and optimising product ranges. Use specific examples that demonstrate your commercial acumen and analytical skills.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for the role and Sainsbury's mission of 'Helping Everyone Eat Better'. Mention how your skills align with the responsibilities outlined in the job description, particularly in driving sustainable market share growth.

Showcase Analytical Skills: Provide examples of how you've used financial, market, and customer data to make key decisions in previous roles. This will demonstrate your ability to contribute to Sainsbury's buying and selling strategies effectively.

Highlight Cross-Functional Collaboration: Emphasise any experience you have working across different teams or functions. Sainsbury's values collaboration, so showcasing your ability to influence stakeholders and lead projects will strengthen your application.

How to prepare for a job interview at Sainsbury's

✨Know Your Products

As a Buyer for Beers, Wines, and Spirits, it's crucial to have a deep understanding of the products you'll be dealing with. Research current trends, popular brands, and customer preferences in the market. This knowledge will help you demonstrate your passion and expertise during the interview.

✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills

Highlight your ability to analyse financial, market, and customer data. Prepare examples of how you've used data to make informed decisions in previous roles. This will show that you can contribute to Sainsbury's mission of optimising product ranges and driving sustainable growth.

✨Prepare for Stakeholder Management Questions

Expect questions about how you've influenced stakeholders in past roles. Be ready to discuss specific situations where your communication skills helped you negotiate with suppliers or collaborate with cross-functional teams. This is key for a role that involves managing supplier relationships and making strategic decisions.

✨Demonstrate Customer-Centric Thinking

Sainsbury's focuses on enhancing customer experience, so be prepared to discuss how you've prioritised customer needs in your previous work. Share examples of how you've developed customer-focused category plans or improved product offerings based on customer feedback.

Buyer - Beers, Wines and Spirits
Sainsbury's
Location: London
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