Category Buyer

Indigo Food Group Limited; Llantrisant; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Indigo Food Group is seeking a proactive Category Buyer to lead packaging procurement and support ingredient sourcing across the Group. You will shape the packaging category and become the go-to expert driving sustainability, innovation, and commercial success.

The role offers opportunities to collaborate across multiple sites, manage supplier relationships, and deliver cost-saving initiatives while supporting NPD and technical projects.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years' experience in packaging procurement.
• FMCG experience is essential; food ingredient sourcing desirable.
• Strong commercial awareness and negotiation skills.
• Experience delivering cost-reduction programmes and value engineering initiatives.
• Sound understanding of procurement and supply chain principles.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement Group-wide procurement strategies for packaging and selected ingredient categories.
• Lead supplier sourcing, benchmarking, tendering, contract negotiations, and supplier performance management.
• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships to secure competitive terms, service levels, quality, and innovation.
• Manage day-to-day purchasing activities, including price file maintenance, budget reporting, and cost reviews.
• Deliver cost-saving initiatives and continuous improvement programmes.
• Monitor market trends, commodity prices, and supply chain risks; advise stakeholders.
• Support NPD, innovation, and technical projects through supplier collaboration.
• Identify and implement sourcing opportunities to improve cost efficiency and sustainability.

Skills

Packaging procurement

FMCG experience

Negotiation skills

Cost reduction

Value engineering

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Driving licence

Tools

Excel

Job description

At Indigo Food Group, we're looking for a proactive and dynamic Category Buyer to lead our packaging procurement activities while supporting ingredient sourcing across the Group.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who wants to make a real impact, develop into a recognised packaging expert, and help drive innovation, sustainability, and commercial success.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to shape and develop the packaging category, becoming the go-to expert within the business while contributing to the Group's long‑term growth strategy.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement Group‑wide procurement strategies for packaging and selected ingredient categories.
• Lead supplier sourcing, benchmarking, tendering, contract negotiations, and supplier performance management.
• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships to secure competitive commercial terms, high service levels, quality standards, and innovation opportunities.
• Manage day‑to‑day purchasing activities, including price file maintenance, budget reporting, standard cost reviews, and new SKU pricing.
• Deliver cost‑saving initiatives, value engineering projects, and continuous improvement programmes.
• Monitor market trends, commodity prices, supply chain risks, and legislative developments, providing insight and recommendations to key stakeholders.
• Support NPD, innovation, operational, and technical projects through effective supplier collaboration.
• Identify and implement sourcing opportunities that improve cost efficiency, supply resilience, and sustainability performance.
• Work collaboratively across multiple sites and business functions to achieve shared objectives.
• Support the Group Procurement Director in strengthening procurement capability across Indigo Food Group.

About You

Essential Experience & Skills

• Minimum of 2 years' experience in packaging procurement.
• FMCG experience is essential, with food ingredient sourcing experience highly desirable.
• Strong commercial awareness and proven negotiation skills.
• Experience delivering cost‑reduction programmes and value engineering initiatives.
• Sound understanding of procurement and supply chain management principles.
• Ability to assess commercial, food safety, sustainability, and supply chain factors to support effective decision‑making.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly.
• Ability to work effectively across multiple sites and functions.
• Strong organisational skills and ability to manage competing priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel regularly to Group sites, suppliers, and customers.

What We're Looking For

We're looking for someone who is:

• Ambitious, motivated, and eager to develop their career within a growing business.
• Commercially minded and results‑driven.
• Proactive, positive, and solutions‑focused.
• Passionate about continuous improvement and delivering value.
• Comfortable taking ownership and working independently.
• A strong relationship‑builder with excellent influencing skills.
• Collaborative and team‑oriented, with the ability to work effectively across functions.
• Excited by the opportunity to drive change and raise the profile of procurement within the organisation.

This is more than a buying role. It's an opportunity to become a key contributor within a growing food business, take ownership of a strategically important category, and build a long‑term career with real development opportunities.

If you're ready to make your mark, drive innovation, and become the packaging expert within Indigo Food Group, we'd love to hear from you.