Category Buyer - Restaurant Indirects

RSC; Woking; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the food service sector is seeking a Category Buyer to support supply chain management and drive profitable growth. The role involves managing key supplier relationships, project leadership, and aligning with strategic goals. The successful candidate will contribute to a dynamic environment focused on continuous improvement and collaboration across functions, enjoying benefits such as hybrid working and a strong team culture.

Benefits

Hybrid working options

Up to 11% company pension contributions

Fri-Yay early finishes

5 Live Well Days per year

Bonus scheme linked to performance

Private healthcare and digital GP access

Enhanced parental leave

Study support

25% off food purchases

Qualifications

• 2+ years in Analyst, Buyer, Supply Chain, or equivalent role.
• Experience in food service/FMCG or retail environment.
• Proven experience understanding contract KPIs.

Responsibilities

• Support business functions with forecasting and supply chain management.
• Manage multiple projects across the indirect sourcing space.
• Lead analysis of supplier performance to identify cost-reduction opportunities.

Skills

Analytical Skills

Supply Chain Management

Stakeholder Management

Problem Solving

Education

Degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, or related field

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Outlook

Job description

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Category Buyer - Restaurant Indirects, Woking

Client: RSC

Location: Woking, United Kingdom

Job Category: Other

EU work permit required: Yes

Job Reference: df4108d24986

Job Views: 13

Posted: 22.06.2025

Expiry Date: 06.08.2025

Job Description:

Welcome to KFC. Home of the real ones.

We sell the world’s best chicken. Seriously. And we’ve done it since 1939, when the idea of crispy, original recipe chicken took Kentucky by storm. Now, we’re proud to serve 1000+ communities across the UK and Ireland, bringing the grit, pride and iconic reputation that we started with, all those years ago.

Across the Restaurant Support Centre (RSC), we come to work to be ourselves, and to make something of ourselves. We want to see our potential go that little bit further, as part of one of the world’s most iconic brands.

What’s the gig? Well, you support our restaurants — and we’ll support you every step of the way. Simple. Our doors are open — and they can take you anywhere.

All we ask is that you be you. Because that makes us, us. Sound good? Great. Let’s find out about that job.

The Team

We’re the engine behind the bucket - making sure every restaurant has what it needs, when it needs it. From sourcing ingredients to delivering packaging, furniture, and even marketing, our Supply Chain & Procurement team owns the journey from farm to fingers. We think big, challenge the status quo, and collaborate across the business to keep KFC running smoothly and growing strong.

About the role.

KFC Europe is one of YUM’s largest Regions and significant profit contributor. It has over 4,000 stores across 3 BMUs: UK; Western European Business Unit and Central and Eastern Europe. The region has seen high new restaurant growth and is expected to grow at over 150 stores per annum. This role is primarily focused on the U.K. market, however there is plenty of scope to develop the role to a regional position for the right candidate.

What you’ll do:

• Support business functions with forecasting and general supply chain management for key strategic suppliers within restaurant indirect, to ensure we have the right stock at the right price and the right time.
• Build strong partnerships with Operations teams in order to manage supplier performance.
• Manage multiple projects across the whole indirect space.
• Focus on improving restaurant profitability through analysis, action planning and execution.
• Key areas of focus include restaurant operations contracts (such as waste, uniforms and smallwares), repairs and maintenance and development.
• Lead the analysis of supplier and contract performance to identify opportunities to reduce spend and improve execution.
• Work cross-functionally to implement and track projects to deliver benefit.
• Support the definition of the category and sourcing strategy that delivers on short- and long-term goals.
• Own the local ‘Spend Smarter’ for multiple categories.
• Support the Category Manager in the definition and implementation of long-term category strategy that delivers against the needs of KFC by:
• Aligning closely with relevant stakeholders to consider KFC U.K. (& Europe BMUs’) priorities.
• Supporting the creation of the Category Strategy integrating internal factors (e.g., technical requirements) and external factors (e.g., supply market dynamics).
• Researching and selecting the right levers for each sub-category to extract maximum value from the procurement spend, ensuring the inclusion of non-commercial levers (e.g., specification improvement, partnerships).
• Conducting category risk management, identifying potential risks and developing mitigation plans.
• Supporting the supplier management strategy by:
• Researching and defining the supply base requirements and supplier qualification criteria.
• Monitoring supplier performance including uninterrupted supply, right first-time quality and other financial and operational KPIs.

Experience

• Strong analytical skills, ability to extract meaningful conclusions from data.
• Experience in a food service/FMCG or retail environment.
• Proven experience of working collaboratively in complex stakeholder environments.
• Proven experience of outside-the-box thinking and comfort in challenging the status quo.
• Proven experience in understanding contract KPIs and successfully driving supplier performance.
• Supply Chain or procurement experience.
• 2+ years in an Analyst, Buyer, Supply chain, Store management or equivalent role preferably in retail, food service, FMCG.

About you

• Strong skills in Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
• Quick to learn and apply new knowledge.
• Values action over activity.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Effective team worker.
• Strong drive for results and ambitious to grow and develop within the organization.

What’s in it for you:

We offer benefits that make your life that little bit easier — because we know the juggle is real.

From flexible, hybrid working to Fri-Yay early finishes and Live Well Days, we’ve created a package that supports the real you, in and out of work.

You’ll get:

• Hybrid working from our Woking RSC (just 24 mins from London).
• Up to 11% company pension contributions.
• Fri-Yay finishes at 1pm every Friday.
• 5 Live Well Days a year, just for you.
• Bonus scheme linked to company & personal performance.
• Private healthcare, Digital GP access & mental health coaching.
• Enhanced parental leave and flexible return options.
• Study support, income protection, life cover & more.
• And yes — 25% off the chicken.

The Road to becoming a real one...

• Apply (Go on... do it) – send us your CV and answer a couple of app questions.
• Intro call with our Talent Team.
• Virtual call with Hiring Manager.
• Virtual call with the Leadership Team member.

Ready?

We hope so, if you’re ready to be part of our community, now’s the time to apply.

Beware of fake job postings using Yum! and/or our brand logos -- KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and Habit Burger & Grill -- on fraudulent sites. Yum! Brands only posts jobs on official careers pages and never asks for money during onboarding. Avoid unsolicited contacts via Telegram, WhatsApp or similar social apps.