About the team:
Reporting into the Group Head of Procurement you will be based in and around the Leeds area. You’ll be part of an exceptional team that plays a pivotal part in Maria Mallabands day to day operations.
The procurement teams’ mission is to provide exceptional solutions while achieving commercial savings and maintaining the highest standards of quality. As we expand our operations across multiple sites, we’re seeking a talented Food Buyer to join our team.
What will you be focusing on?
- Manage suppliers and products for a food spend totalling £7.5M annually.
- Adopt appropriate negotiation strategies and secure best value during regular quarterly/seasonal price reviews, mitigating inflationary increases.
- Work closely with manufacturers to bring new and innovative products to stakeholders for sign off and implementation.
- Identify saving opportunities through consolidation of suppliers and products increasing quality and value for money.
- Produce robust category management plans ensuring the core product ranges are rationalised and fit for purpose.
- Proactively manage performance of suppliers through reviews and SLA’s.
- Take on escalations/issues and ensure these are resolved satisfactorily in a timely manner.
- Monitor and track supplier rebates vs budgeted figures.
- Ability to negotiate formal contracts and terms for strategic suppliers.
- Set up approved suppliers for non-food items such as equipment, cutlery, disposables etc.
- Monitor market conditions ensuring risk management strategies are in place.
- Develop effective and strong internal working relationships with hospitality, operations and reporting teams.
- Ensure you have an up-to-date knowledge of the catering industry and strong collaborative relationships with external suppliers.
- Ability to produce reports and presentations to leadership team.
- Lead tendering and benchmarking exercises.
Skills you will have:
- Knowledge of catering industry and suppliers
- Experience in a Procurement role within the foodservice or FMCG sector
- Very strong analytical and numerical skills
- Ability to influence and negotiate at all levels
- Commercially sound with ability to build strong supplier relationships
- Team player
- Ability to work to deadlines and under pressure
- MCIPS or working towards CIPS qualification
Alongside a salary of £50,000 p/a we also offer the following benefits:
- Simply Health – company funded, providing cashback for prescriptions, optical and dental costs 24/7 virtual GP access plus more for you and up to 4 children*
- Benefits platform – discounts across multiple retailers (supermarkets, High Street etc), leisure providers, hospitality etc. Online and instore discounts
- Vectis Card – instant discount card
- Pension Scheme with Royal London
- Personal car leases via salary sacrifice*/**
- 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
- Holiday Flex – purchase additional holiday**
- Enhanced Company Maternity, Paternity, Adoption pay, plus £200 new child payment
- Flexible working patterns
- Cycle to work scheme*/**
- Service recognition
- Training support and development opportunities
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Wellbeing support
- Discounted gym membership
- Eligible for a Blue Light Card
- Subsidised BHSF Sick Pay Cover
- BHSF, Life Cover, Cancer Cover, Personal Accident Cover
- Free The Company Shop membership
- Free Will Service
- Concerts for Carers
*Benefits require completion of a 12-week probationary period before they can be accessed.
**Benefit subject to deduction not taking colleague below National Living Wage