F&B Category Buyer — Travel Retail (Dubai)

Kreol Group; Dubai; On-site; AED 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Kreol Group is seeking a hands-on Category Buyer for our food and beverage portfolio in travel retail distribution. You will manage supplier-facing processes from agreements to assortment planning, purchasing, and promotional claims, working closely with sales and finance.

The role requires hands-on procurement experience in F&B, strong negotiation, and the ability to coordinate across suppliers and internal teams to optimize listings, launches, and pricing.

Qualifications

• Experience in a purchase role handling the food or beverages category for a retailer or distributor.
• Comfortable working half-days on Saturday.
• Willing to commute to Dubai Investments Park 2 for 6 days a week.

Responsibilities

• Manage supplier agreements and terms, pricing, MOQs, lead times, shelf-life requirements, and renewal deadlines.
• Build the assortment by evaluating brands, reviewing performance, and coordinating launches and discontinuations.
• Develop pricing and value chains including landed costs, margins, rebates, and promotional costs.
• Plan demand and purchases by analyzing sell-through, stock availability, and forecasts; issue timely orders to avoid stock-outs.
• Coordinate supply by raising POs, checking confirmations, and aligning with logistics on schedules and shelf-life compliance.
• Support customer listings by providing product information, samples, pricing, and launch plans.
• Secure brand investment through negotiating advertising and promotion budgets and brand ambassador contributions.
• Coordinate marketing execution with suppliers to deliver promotions and launches.
• Close promotional claims by ensuring timely, evidenced claims and supplier/payments.
• Review category performance by tracking sales, margins, stock cover, ageing, and marketing returns, and lead supplier reviews.

Skills

Food & Beverage purchasing experience

Negotiation skills

Job description

Kreol Group is seeking a hands-on Category Buyer for our food and beverage portfolio in travel retail distribution. You will manage supplier-facing processes from agreements to assortment planning, purchasing, and promotional claims, working closely with sales and finance.

The role requires hands-on procurement experience in F&B, strong negotiation, and the ability to coordinate across suppliers and internal teams to optimize listings, launches, and pricing.