Category Buying Manager – Food Retail

Focus Management Consultants Ltd; England; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food retail company in Cheshire seeks a Buying Manager to lead category strategy and contribute to business growth. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in food buying, excellent negotiation skills, and a deep understanding of food trends. This site-based role offers an excellent benefits package and a collaborative work culture.

Benefits

Excellent benefits package

Career progression opportunities

Friendly and collaborative culture

Qualifications

• Experience managing complex, fast-paced food categories from concept to execution.
• Confident negotiator with strong supplier relationships.
• Agile and resilient, thriving in a dynamic environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead category strategy for growth and innovation.
• Build supplier partnerships and negotiate terms.
• Ensure continuity and quality of supply.
• Identify and act on emerging food trends.

Skills

Proven track record in food buying

Strong supplier relationship management

Commercial acumen

Knowledgeable about food trends

Project management experience

Job description

Overview

Category Buying Manager – Food Retail — Cheshire. Salary DOE with excellent benefits package.

Some buying roles are about managing what’s already there. This one is about creating a point of difference, shaping categories, and making your mark in a business that’s growing fast and doesn’t stand still.

Responsibilities

• Leading your category strategy to deliver growth, profitability, and innovation.
• Building and challenging supplier partnerships, finding new sources, and negotiating great terms.
• Making sure supply is watertight – continuity, availability, and quality at all times.
• Spotting opportunities others miss – from emerging food trends to competitor moves – and turning insight into action.
• Being a role model in the team, bringing energy, ideas, and credibility at every level.

What we’re looking for

• You’ll have a proven track record in food buying, with the knowledge and experience to manage a complex, fast-paced category from concept to execution. You’ll understand how to balance commercial rigour with creativity and consumer focus, and you’ll thrive in a business that moves quickly and expects results.
• A confident negotiator who thrives on building strong supplier relationships.
• Commercially sharp, able to spot the opportunities that drive sales and margin.
• Agile and resilient, comfortable with pace and change.
• Knowledgeable about food trends, and able to excite and engage customers in presentations.
• Experienced in managing projects from end-to-end, delivering results on time and in full.

Why this role?

Because here, you won’t just be a cog in a buying machine. You’ll be part of a fast-growing, ambitious business where buying has real influence and visibility. You’ll be trusted to deliver, supported to grow, and encouraged to bring fresh ideas to the table. In short, this is a chance to make a tangible impact – on your category, your career, and the business.

This is a site-based role, working Monday-Friday, days, in fantastic offices with superb facilities. You’ll be joining a highly regarded food business that’s recognised for looking after its team and for doing excellent work in the local community. People tend to stay here because they’re well-rewarded with great benefits and career progression opportunities, and they genuinely enjoy the culture – it’s friendly, collaborative, and full of people who love what they do.

If you’re ready for a role that rewards initiative, energy, and vision, we’d love to hear from you. Click apply to send over your CV or get in touch for further details

Ref RLS56075a