Food Buyer

Rise Resourcing; Greater Lincolnshire; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life assurance 2x annual salary

GroceryAid/Wellbeing support

Cycle2Work scheme

Staff discounts

Christmas loyalty cashback

Job summary

Rise Resourcing is assisting a leading independent UK foodservice wholesaler to recruit a commercially driven Food Buyer. You will own a key product category, drive profitability, and negotiate with suppliers to secure best terms.

You will work cross-functionally to optimise availability and reduce waste while supporting growth. The role requires strong buying experience, excellent negotiation and stakeholder management, and solid Excel skills in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in buying, procurement, or category management.
• Strong negotiation, influencing, and stakeholder management skills.
• Commercial mindset with solid analytical abilities, high attention to detail, and proficiency in Excel.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities effectively within a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Take full accountability for a designated product category, driving sales, margin, and overall profitability.
• Negotiate pricing, contracts, and terms; lead supplier performance reviews; onboard new suppliers.
• Track market trends, inflation risks, cost-saving opportunities, and new product lines via data analysis.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain, Sales, Technical, and Operations to maximise availability and minimise waste.
• Represent the company at supplier meetings and industry events to stay ahead of market developments.

Skills

Buying & procurement

Category management

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Excel

Tools

Excel

Job description

A leading independent UK foodservice wholesaler with over 40 years of industry experience, the company is dedicated to helping the hospitality sector thrive. As a successful, family-owned business, it has established trusted, long-term partnerships with customers, suppliers, and producers by consistently delivering exceptional quality and service.

Due to continued growth, the business is seeking a commercially driven Food Buyer to join its Procurement team and take ownership of a key product category.

Key Responsibilities

• Take full accountability for a designated product category, driving sales, margin, and overall profitability.
• Negotiate pricing, contracts, and commercial terms; lead regular supplier performance reviews; and onboard new suppliers to strengthen the category.
• Track market trends, inflation risks, cost-saving opportunities, and new product lines through commercial data analysis.
• Work closely with the Supply Chain team to maximise product availability and minimise waste, while partnering with Sales, Technical, and Operations teams to support growth.
• Represent the company at supplier meetings and industry events to stay at the forefront of market developments.

What they are looking for:

• Proven experience in buying, procurement, or category management (background within food, FMCG, wholesale, or distribution is highly advantageous).
• Strong negotiation, influencing, and stakeholder management skills.
• A commercial mindset paired with solid analytical abilities, high attention to detail, and proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Office.
• The ability to manage multiple priorities effectively within a fast-paced environment.
• Competitive salary and above-statutory holiday entitlement
• Life assurance (Death in Service benefit at 2x annual salary)
• Employee wellbeing support via GroceryAid and the Cycle2Work scheme
• Exclusive staff discounts and a Christmas loyalty cashback reward
• Generous Refer-a-Friend bonus scheme and structured career development opportunities