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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Source new food products, negotiate prices, and build supplier relationships.
- Company: Join a family-run retailer with over 220 stores and a focus on affordable home products.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, pension, employee discounts, and a cycle to work scheme.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team driving food innovation in a growing company.
- Qualifications: Experience in food buying, strong negotiation skills, and a passion for the food industry.
- Other info: This is a permanent, full-time role based in Plymouth, Monday to Friday.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
CDS Superstores, trading as The Range, wilko & Homebase is a privately owned and family-run retailer. We continue to grow and have over 220 Stores and online sales, serving millions of customers each week. Our customers remain at the heart of everything we do. Our retail concept is simple - we offer 'mid-price' home, leisure and garden products, drawing together everything that could be needed for the stylish home at affordable prices.
We are now seeking an experienced buyer with a background in food related products to join our team, based at our Head office in Plymouth, Devon. Are you passionate about the food industry, with a talent for negotiating the best deals and fostering strong, lasting relationships with suppliers?
About the role:
As a Buyer, you will be expected to source new products and categories, develop relationships with suppliers, build successful ranges, negotiate competitive prices, and generally drive your category forward. This is a very exciting and unique opportunity for a Buyer to join the Food department of this expanding, dynamic retailer.
Responsibilities
- You will have primary accountability for maximizing sales, margin & profitability in this category.
- Evaluate product offering from suppliers, ensuring optimal cost and quality.
- You will lead a team building long term supplier relationships to deliver a successful product offer.
- Evaluate supplier performance and conduct regular assessments to ensure quality standards are met.
- Working closely with internal teams and suppliers to ensure efficient stock ordering is in place to forecast and maintain product availability.
- Drive efficiency and effectiveness within the department, while ensuring that we maintain quality standards and adherence to statutory requirements.
- Responsibility for the implementation of the product strategy and ensuring that the business meets with customer needs.
- You will manage and negotiate price changes and share updates with internal stakeholders.
- You will monitor & review competitor information to ensure your product offering stays relevant in a changing market.
Ideal Candidate
- Proven record of building relationships and influencing both internal and external stakeholders.
- Confident and ambitious personality is vital to the role.
- Exceptional organizational skills is essential to be successful in this role.
- Strong commercial and market awareness.
- Ability to meticulously analyse data with great attention to detail.
- Proactive, hardworking and reliable.
- A true team player underpinned with great interpersonal skills.
What we offer:
- Competitive salary
- Pension
- Long service awards
- Employee discount
- Cycle to work scheme
Position: Permanent, Full-time
Hours: Monday – Friday, 08:45am – 17:30pm.
Location: Plymouth, Devon
Food Buyer employer: The Range
Contact Detail:
The Range Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Food Buyer
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in the food industry. Understanding current consumer preferences and emerging products will help you stand out during discussions with our team.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the food buying sector. Attend industry events or join relevant online forums to connect with potential colleagues and suppliers, showcasing your passion for building relationships.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your negotiation strategies. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've successfully negotiated deals in the past, as this is a key aspect of the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Research our competitors and their product offerings. Being knowledgeable about what other retailers are doing will demonstrate your market awareness and help you contribute valuable insights during the interview.
We think you need these skills to ace Food Buyer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience in the food industry, particularly any roles where you've negotiated with suppliers or managed product ranges. Use specific examples to demonstrate your skills and achievements.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for the food industry and your understanding of the retail market. Mention how your background aligns with the responsibilities of the Food Buyer role and why you want to work for CDS Superstores.
Showcase Your Negotiation Skills: Provide examples in your application that showcase your negotiation skills and ability to build relationships with suppliers. This could be through specific projects or achievements in previous roles.
Highlight Analytical Abilities: Since the role requires meticulous data analysis, include instances where you've successfully analysed market trends or supplier performance. This will demonstrate your attention to detail and commercial awareness.
How to prepare for a job interview at The Range
✨Know Your Products
Familiarise yourself with the food products that CDS Superstores offers. Understand their current range and be prepared to discuss how you can enhance it. Showing your knowledge about their offerings will demonstrate your genuine interest in the role.
✨Showcase Your Negotiation Skills
Prepare examples of past negotiations where you've successfully secured better deals or improved supplier relationships. This is crucial for a Buyer role, so be ready to discuss your strategies and outcomes in detail.
✨Understand Market Trends
Research current trends in the food industry and be prepared to discuss how these could impact the company's product offerings. Being able to talk about competitors and market changes will show that you are proactive and commercially aware.
✨Demonstrate Team Collaboration
Highlight your experience working with cross-functional teams. Discuss how you've collaborated with internal stakeholders to achieve common goals, as this role requires strong interpersonal skills and teamwork.
