Buyer - Grocery

Brakes are currently recruiting for a Grocery Buyer to join the Grocery buying team - branded and own brand, on a full-time, permanent basis, reporting to the Head of Buying.

**We are offering a remote base contract with 1-2 days every 2 weeks in our Ashford, Kent office, so you will ideally be located in the South East/London, and travel expenses will be reimbursed. Flexibility will be required for team and supplier meetings.**

The Grocery Buyer’s role is integral to delivering a customer focussed range. The individual is responsible for ensuring we source products effectively, drive profitability and manage suppliers and partner relations within the merchandising function.

We are looking for someone who excels in delivering cost saving strategies through driving change and proactively looking to find solutions. This includes negotiating the lowest cost price for product vs. market, sourcing relevant products from the most appropriate suppliers, developing supplier partnerships, improving availability, contingency planning where relevant and helping to drive overall sales, profitability, and efficiencies. You will work at both a local country level, but also as part of the wider European Constellation buying alliance.

**Key Responsibilities**
- To help create, lead, and deliver on the category strategy for the team, including any specific projects supporting Sysco growth strategy.
- Accountability for developing supplier partnerships, selecting an appropriate supplier base, supported by merchandising, technical and supply chain colleagues.
- To agree cost prices for all products, with annual terms agreed on time showing year on year improvement.
- To monitor supplier performance in terms of overall gross margin, competitiveness, and availability. Agree corrective action where necessary.
- To agree joint business plans with key suppliers, including investment plans to activate digital and marketing product opportunities.
- To maintain accurate cost files, and savings pipelines & trackers.
- To support category management in range decisions (including brand tiering and the role of the Sysco brand) to drive sales.
- Work with the product development team to innovate and create value throughout the end-to-end supply chain, meeting Sysco sustainability strategy.
- To support sales team in tenders and with specific customer pitches.
- To give the business market insight to support pricing decisions and ensure benchmarking across the market to remain competitive.
- Work across Sysco GB Group & the Constellation procurement alliance.

**About you**:
**What you’ll receive**:

- A competitive salary
- Company car allowance of £5,500
- Pension scheme
- Single private medical healthcare cover
- Generous holiday allowance of 25 days, with option to purchase additional holidays + bank holidays
- Huge discounts on all sorts of lovely food and award-winning products through our staff shop
- Discounts on Cinema tickets, shopping and earn cashback on purchases through Sodexo.
- Recognition awards and Incentives
- Real career opportunities - being part of Sysco, the world’s leading foodservice business, opens up a world of possibility