Food Buyer

Elevate Your Career with Kendrick Recruitment

Are you a seasoned Food Buyer ready for a new challenge? Kendrick Recruitment has an exciting opportunity on behalf of our client, and we're looking for an exceptional Food Buyer to join their dynamic team at the forefront of the industry.

About Us:
At Kendrick Recruitment, we specialize in connecting exceptional talent with extraordinary opportunities. Our client, a leader in the field, is seeking a Food Buyer to help expand their food product offerings and drive innovation.

Key Requirements:

- Educational Background: You hold a relevant commercial degree or diploma, setting the stage for your future success.
- Fresh Food Expertise: With a minimum of 5-8 years' experience in fresh food retail buying, you're well-equipped to navigate this dynamic industry.
- Procurement Prowess: Previous experience in a procurement management role, coupled with a track record of success in complex buying within a fresh food manufacturing environment, is essential.
- Language Skills: You're fluent in both Afrikaans and English, boasting excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Analytical Acumen: Exceptional problem-solving and analytical skills are your secret weapons.
- Planning Power: Good planning and project management skills enable you to stay ahead of the curve.
- Financial Fluency: Strong financial buying and financial management skills, particularly in cost analysis, controlling, profit management, and financial reporting, are part of your skill set.
- Supply Chain Savvy: You possess knowledge of logistics, warehousing, delivery systems, end-to-end supply chain processes, and key influencing factors.
- Innovation Instinct: Your entrepreneurial approach drives you to initiate and coordinate innovative, viable product ranges for your target audience.
- Customer Focus: You have a strong customer and retail orientation, always striving to exceed expectations.

Your Responsibilities:

- Category Strategy: Establish and implement a category strategy aligned with the food strategy to achieve targets and expand the customer base.
- Trend Insight: Identify, analyze, and interpret lifestyle, industry, retail, and food trends to shape the category strategy and annual operating plan.
- Collaborative Leadership: Play a leading and coordinating role within the product development and food technology teams, ensuring the sourcing, production, and procurement of food products align with the food strategy.
- Procurement Proficiency: Perform end-to-end commercial activities relevant to food product procurement, managing the entire process.
- Supplier Management: Identify, evaluate, and manage suppliers, fostering strong, sustainable relationships to optimize supply and profitability.
- Supplier Strategy: Develop a long-term, mutually beneficial supplier strategy that supports the category and food strategies.
- Contract Expertise: Prepare and review proposals, contracts, and supplier agreements, ensuring compliance with trading terms, price competitiveness, and adherence to specifications.
- Profit Drive: Work diligently to achieve category profit targets while upholding the Babylonstoren brand values.
- Inventory Oversight: Manage buying stock and losses in alignment with targets and category strategy.
- Market Insight: Actively monitor factors influencing trade, such as economic climate, competitor activity, climatic changes, shopping habits, and customer trends. Implement tactical plans to meet demands and targets, all while staying true to the category strategy and brand values.