At a Glance
- Tasks: As a Buyer, you'll optimise buying strategies and enhance product ranges for Sainsbury's.
- Company: Join Sainsbury's, a leading retailer committed to helping everyone eat better.
- Benefits: Enjoy 10-15% discounts, flexible working, and a range of financial perks.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team focused on quality, value, and continuous learning.
- Qualifications: Experience in supplier negotiation and strong analytical skills are essential.
- Other info: Inclusive culture with opportunities for personal growth and development.
The predicted salary is between 28800 - 43200 £ per year.
Wed all like amazing work to do, and real work-life balance. Thats waiting for you at Sainsburys. Here, everything in our Sainsburys stores starts out in Sainsburys Commercial. Whether its the product, proposition, packaging or price, or the fact that something tastes great, our team is responsible for all food, non- food and Clothing items available in Sainsburys stores, digitally and on demand. Youll discover its incredibly fast-paced. People here are in it together and not afraid to take risks. Theyre enthusiastic too, and their amazing leadership team is right behind them. The knowledge and experience you gain here could set you up for career moves anywhere else in the business. So, if youre passionate about your products and just as hungry to learn, youll fit in perfectly.
Why join us
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. Join us and be part of a team committed to delivering quality and value, while enjoying a flexible work-life balance and a culture that fosters continuous learning and growth.
What you\’ll do
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.
Who you are
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.
Essential Criteria
Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret financial, market, and customer data to identify opportunities
Commercial awareness, including understanding of product cost drivers, pricing strategies, and supply chain dynamics
Strategic thinking and planning skills, with the ability to develop and execute customer-focused category plans
Effective communication and influencing skills to engage stakeholders and gain commitment
Proven ability to lead cross-functional projects and deliver results
Excellent prioritisation and workload management capabilities
Proficiency in buying systems, processes, and tools, preferably within a Food retail environment
Experience in building competitive product ranges and supporting Own Brand development
We are committed to being a truly inclusive retailer, so youll be welcomed whoever you are and wherever you work. Around here, theres always the chance to try something new – whether thats 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, well 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 Sainsburys 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 - Cocktails and Liqueurs,Ready to Drink and Fortified Wines employer: Sainsbury's
Contact Detail:
Sainsbury's Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Buyer - Cocktails and Liqueurs,Ready to Drink and Fortified Wines
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with Sainsbury's product range, especially in the Food for Later 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. Attend industry events or join relevant online forums to connect with others who may have insights into Sainsbury's buying teams and their strategies.
✨Tip Number 3
Stay updated on market trends related to cocktails, liqueurs, and ready-to-drink products. Being knowledgeable about emerging trends will allow you to speak confidently about potential new offerings and improvements.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss your negotiation experiences and how you've successfully managed supplier relationships in the past. Highlighting specific examples will showcase your ability to drive value and quality for customers.
We think you need these skills to ace Buyer - Cocktails and Liqueurs,Ready to Drink and Fortified Wines
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 the company’s mission of 'Helping Everyone Eat Better'. Mention how your skills align with the responsibilities of the Buyer position and provide examples of past successes.
Showcase Analytical Skills: Since the role requires strong analytical skills, include instances where you've successfully used data to drive decisions or improve product offerings. This will show your ability to leverage financial and market data effectively.
Highlight Cross-Functional Collaboration: Emphasise your experience working cross-functionally. Provide examples of how you’ve collaborated with different teams to achieve common goals, as this is crucial for the Buyer role at Sainsbury's.
How to prepare for a job interview at Sainsbury's
✨Understand the Role
Make sure you have a solid grasp of what the Buyer position entails. Familiarise yourself with Sainsbury's product categories, especially Cocktails, Liqueurs, Ready to Drink, and Fortified Wines. Be prepared to discuss how your experience aligns with the responsibilities outlined in the job description.
✨Showcase Your Commercial Acumen
During the interview, highlight your ability to analyse financial, market, and customer data. Prepare examples of how you've previously identified opportunities for product improvement or cost savings, as this will demonstrate your capability to drive sustainable growth.
✨Emphasise Collaboration Skills
Since the role involves working cross-functionally, be ready to discuss your experience in collaborating with different teams. Share specific instances where your communication and teamwork led to successful outcomes, as this will show that you can influence stakeholders effectively.
✨Express Your Passion for Products
Sainsbury's values individuals who are passionate about their products. Be prepared to talk about your enthusiasm for the food and beverage industry, particularly in the areas relevant to the role. This will help convey that you're not just looking for a job, but are genuinely interested in contributing to the company's mission of helping everyone eat better.