Category Buyer

Foodbuy is a leading food procurement organisation based in the UK. With over £1bn of managed spend, we bring together the widest range of foodservice and hospitality clients on the planet to buy food, and everything associated with it. We work closely with our clients to deliver expert procurement services saving them both time and money and enabling them to focus on what really matters to their businesses.

We are looking to hire a buyer to support the Category Manager on our Grocery Category. You will support with the development of the end-to-end procurement process assisting the category manager with planning, preparing for negotiation and writing contract renewals as well as supporting and scheduling supplier relationships.

This is an exciting role within our procurement team giving you the opportunity to support the category manager in delivering short, medium and long-term category strategy. Commercially you will be expected to support our overarching Foodbuy strategy to drive volume growth, negotiate sustainable terms & provide value and benefit to our Compass and External clients. You will be key to supporting our CSR commitments. 

You will engage with our culinary teams and development chefs and support their client food strategies by providing products meeting their requirements.You will also work closely with your suppliers, engaging them on your category strategy and ensuring they are aligned. 

Responsibilities:

• You will support the Category team to execute a long-term vision to deliver sustainable improvements in terms of cost, quality, service, and innovation, in collaboration with the Foodbuy procurement team & other relevant business stakeholders.
• Identifying potential new suppliers, visiting, and meeting existing suppliers, build supplier relationships.
• You will support the category teams by submitting monthly insight on industry trends.
• Support upload of monthly price files for our external clients onto our procurement systems
• You will liaise with our supply chain team and report to category any concerns, SLA issues, distributor, and supplier challenges.
• Support contingency planning.
• Benchmark pricing and prepare for sourcing and tender activity.
• Work with cross functional teams to support the compliance tracking of CSR requirements, sourcing standards, Compass global CSR commitments, government buying standards, Natasha’s law.
• Regularly review supplier performance to support category growth.
• Manage category related queries from internal and external stakeholders.
• Support our sales and bid teams with content.

Key skills, knowledge and experience required: 

• Already operating as a buyer’s assistant or category buyer, looking to develop and progress your career at a more strategic level 

• Results Oriented – comfortable delivering against bold and stretching targets.

• Keen to develop your category knowledge and become a subject matter expert.
• Competent with procurement systems, ideally having used these in current/previous employment ability to develop credible business relationships. 
• Competent with Excel and analysing data, with an ability to interpret data to support decision making.
• Passion for sustainability and responsible procurement.
• Some experience of influencing and negotiating with suppliers.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment.
• Responds positively to changing business priorities.
• Listens to others & values their contributions, receptive to new ideas, acts in an ethical & socially responsible manner.
• Keen attention to detail, energy and resilience.

We ensure you're rewarded for all your hard work, which is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes but is not limited to:

• Contributory pension scheme
• Grow your career with our Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes
• Quick access for you and your immediate family to a Digital GP, and wider healthcare benefits
• Exclusive travel discounts with TUI, Expedia, Booking.com and many more
• Save money on your food shop with discounts on Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and many more
• Up to 44% off cinema tickets to enjoy your favourite blockbuster
• Receive cash rewards every time you spend and use them on a wide range of brands
• Un-wind with us with free wellness, mindfulness and exercise classes
• You can share all discounts and offers with your friends and families