At a Glance
- Tasks: Source and develop exciting new food products while building strong supplier relationships.
- Company: Join a fast-growing food brand passionate about quality and local produce.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, free food, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Autonomous role with visible influence and opportunities for growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic team and shape the future of our brand.
- Qualifications: 3-6 years in buying or product development, ideally in food or gifting.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 55000 £ per year.
About The Cornish Company
Born and buttered in Cornwall, we're on a mission to smuggle our land's finest produce to mouths nationwide, from cream teas to pasties, and everything delicious in between. Five years in, we're one of the UK's fastest growing food and gifting brands, with a team of 20 and serious ambitions for what comes next. We're passionate about our producers, obsessive about quality, and we move quickly.
The Role
This is a commercially-focused role sitting at the heart of how we grow our product range. You'll be responsible for finding, developing, and launching new products, sourcing quality suppliers across the UK, negotiating white-label arrangements, and building seasonal ranges that land with our customers. This isn't a product manager role in the tech sense. It's a buying and new product development role in a food and gifting business, and we're looking for someone who knows the difference.
What You'll Be Doing
- Sourcing & Supplier Management
- Identify and onboard new food and gifting suppliers across the UK (and beyond where appropriate)
- Negotiate white-label arrangements, pricing, lead times, and minimum order quantities
- Build strong ongoing supplier relationships to ensure quality, reliability, and preferential terms
- Evaluate supplier samples and quality-check new products before launch
- Build and own seasonal product ranges for key occasions, Mother's Day, Christmas, Valentine's Day, and more
- Develop new product lines such as brownies by post, pasties by post, and other gifting formats
- Work closely with the marketing team to ensure ranges are commercially viable and tell a compelling story
- Monitor product performance and make range decisions based on sales data and customer feedback
- Own the product development calendar, ensuring ranges are ready well ahead of seasonal windows
- Manage landed cost calculations and margin analysis for new products
- Coordinate with the warehouse team on packaging, presentation, and fulfilment requirements
- Maintain an up-to-date supplier database and product pipeline
What We're Looking For
- Essential
- 3–6 years of experience in a buying, sourcing, or NPD role, ideally in food, grocery, or gifting
- Proven track record of negotiating with suppliers and managing supplier relationships
- Commercial acumen: you understand margins, MOQs, and what makes a product viable
- Strong organisational skills, you can manage multiple product launches simultaneously
- Self-starter who can operate with a high degree of autonomy
- Background in food retail buying (supermarket, farm shop, deli, or food gifting)
- Experience with white-labelling or own-brand product development
- An instinct for what sells, you understand the gifting customer
- Familiarity with Shopify or e-commerce operations
What We Offer
- A genuinely autonomous role with real influence over the direction of the business
- A small, fast-moving team where your work has visible impact
- Competitive salary of £45,000 – £55,000 depending on experience
- Cornwall-based role with supplier travel covered
- The chance to help shape a brand with serious growth ambitions
We're more interested in relevant experience and commercial instinct than a polished application, tell us what ranges or suppliers you've worked with and why this role appeals.
Pay: £45,000.00-£55,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
- Free or subsidised travel
- Free parking
- On-site parking
- Private dental insurance
- Private medical insurance
Ability to commute/relocate: Bodmin PL31 1EX: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Bodmin PL31 1EX
Locations
Sourcing & Product Development Manager in Bodmin, Cornwall employer: The Cornish Company
Contact Detail:
The Cornish Company Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Sourcing & Product Development Manager in Bodmin, Cornwall
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Research The Cornish Company, their products, and their mission. This way, when you chat with them, you can show off your passion for their brand and how you can contribute to their growth.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with people in the food and gifting industry on LinkedIn or at local events. You never know who might have a lead or insight that could help you land that sourcing and product development role.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by thinking about specific examples from your past experience. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully negotiated with suppliers or developed new product lines. This will show them you’ve got the chops for the job!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love hearing about your relevant experience and what excites you about this role, so let your personality shine through!
We think you need these skills to ace Sourcing & Product Development Manager in Bodmin, Cornwall
Some tips for your application 🫡
Be Yourself: We want to see the real you! Don’t stress about making your application sound overly formal. Share your passion for food and gifting, and let us know what makes you tick in this industry.
Show Your Experience: Highlight your relevant experience in sourcing and product development. Tell us about specific suppliers you've worked with or products you've launched. We love a good story!
Keep It Relevant: Make sure to tailor your application to the role. Focus on your commercial acumen and organisational skills, and how they relate to the responsibilities we’ve outlined. We’re looking for someone who gets it!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to see your application and get to know you better. Plus, it shows you’re keen to join our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at The Cornish Company
✨Know Your Products
Before the interview, dive deep into The Cornish Company's product range. Familiarise yourself with their offerings, especially seasonal items and any unique products. This will not only show your genuine interest but also help you discuss how you can contribute to their product development.
✨Supplier Savvy
Brush up on your supplier management skills. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've successfully negotiated with suppliers in the past. Highlight your experience with white-label arrangements and how you’ve built strong relationships that ensure quality and reliability.
✨Commercial Acumen is Key
Understand the financial side of product development. Be prepared to discuss margins, minimum order quantities, and what makes a product viable. Showing that you can balance creativity with commercial insight will set you apart from other candidates.
✨Showcase Your Organisational Skills
This role requires juggling multiple product launches. Come equipped with examples of how you've managed similar projects in the past. Discuss your methods for keeping everything on track, from timelines to supplier communications, to demonstrate your ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.