Assistant Buyer

Whittard of Chelsea; Abingdon; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking company as an Assistant Buyer in the Product and Buying team. This exciting role involves managing product categories, conducting analyses, and collaborating with suppliers to drive category growth. With a focus on luxury tea and coffee, you'll play a key role in enhancing product offerings while enjoying benefits like hybrid working, generous holidays, and fantastic product discounts. If you're detail-driven and passionate about products, this role offers a unique opportunity to make a significant impact in a dynamic environment.

Benefits

Generous holiday allowance

Up to 50% store discount

Monthly product allowance

Auto-enrolment pension scheme

Access to wellbeing resources

Flexible working options

Family-friendly benefits

Qualifications

• Proven experience in retail buying, preferably in food and beverage.
• Strong analytical skills with advanced Excel proficiency.

Responsibilities

• Manage category range plans and ensure effective deployment.
• Conduct reports and analyses including market trade reports.
• Collaborate effectively with suppliers and manage seasonal calendars.

Skills

Analytical Skills

Excel Proficiency

Project Management

Communication Skills

Time Management

Education

Experience as Assistant Buyer

Experience in Food and Beverage Sector

Job description

Department – Product and Buying

At Whittard, we’re passionate about bringing luxury tea and coffee to our communities. We’ve been achieving this goal since 1886, and have ambitious objectives to grow our business with each role being key in delivering these. The Assistant Buyer role is an exciting opportunity to be part of this journey with the Product and Buying team at our Milton Park offices. Reporting to the Senior Buyer, you will assist them in all aspects of the buying cycle, taking responsibility for product categories and supporting efforts to drive category growth. In return, you’ll benefit from hybrid working, a generous holiday allowance, fantastic product discounts, and investments in your professional training and development. If you’re a product-passionate, detail-driven individual with a commercial focus, this is the role for you! Apply below.

• Maintain and manage category range plans, ensuring accuracy and effective deployment across Retail, Online, Wholesale, and Franchise Stores.
• Seek feedback on product performance from all selling channels (Web & Retail), and participate in post-campaign range reviews for relevant categories.
• Handle queries from Suppliers, Retail teams, Customer Service, and escalate when appropriate.
• Create email briefs for relevant categories, and contribute to marketing with suggestions for future briefs.
• Develop Product Briefs, detailing all aspects of new products (barcode, cost, features, etc.) to facilitate copy and design processes.
• Conduct various reports and analyses including pre-buy analysis, market trade reports, and product performance evaluations.
• Collaborate with suppliers effectively.
• Manage seasonal product calendars.
• Develop and implement range extensions for a global business.
• Source new products efficiently, ensuring the best quality at the best price.

About You

• Proven experience as an Assistant Buyer within the retail industry, preferably in the food and beverage sector.
• Experience in Tea, Coffee, or ambient product buying is preferred.
• Strong analytical skills with advanced Excel proficiency.
• Excellent time management skills and the ability to manage your workload effectively.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to analyze commercial and customer data.
• Good verbal and written communication skills for working with colleagues and prospective employees at all levels.
• A team player with a supportive attitude across all levels.
• Benefits include a generous holiday allowance plus your birthday off, up to 50% store discount, monthly product allowance, auto-enrolment pension scheme, access to wellbeing resources, flexible working options, and family-friendly benefits.

… And much more!