Buyer - Food & Ingredients

A hands-on food buying role for someone who understands suppliers, ingredients, availability and the pressure of keeping a fast-moving food supply operation running properly.

Buyer - Food & Ingredients

Greater London
Permanent
On-site | Flexible start times
c.£40,000-£55,000

The Opportunity

We're supporting a specialist food supply business with the appointment of a Buyer to join its procurement team.

This is a practical, commercially focused role across food and ingredient categories, with an initial focus on dry goods. You'll be responsible for making sure the business has the right products, from the right suppliers, at the right cost, quality and availability.

It is a good opportunity for someone who enjoys supplier management, category ownership and operational problem-solving. You'll be close to the day-to-day realities of food supply, working with internal teams across Sales, Technical and depot operations to keep products moving and customers supported.

Key Responsibilities

Develop and manage category plans across assigned food and ingredient categories.
Source products to specification and negotiate with suppliers on cost, quality and service.
Build and manage a strong supplier base that supports current and future business needs.
Support stock availability, supplier contingency planning and day-to-day supply issue resolution.
Work with Technical, Sales and depot teams to ensure products meet customer, operational and legal requirements.
Track category performance, cost movement, waste and supplier service levels.

What We're Looking For

Minimum 5 years' experience in food or ingredient buying.
Strong supplier negotiation and relationship management skills.
Good commercial, analytical and numerical ability.
Experience working with fast-moving product categories where availability and service matter.
Comfortable communicating with suppliers and internal teams under pressure.
Ambitious, practical and keen to keep developing rather than simply maintain the status quo.Foodservice experience would be highly relevant, but food manufacturing, ingredient supply or other operational food buying backgrounds could also fit well.

Why Join?

This is a role with genuine ownership, supplier exposure and influence across the business.

You'll be joining a fast-moving food supply environment where procurement has a direct impact on cost, service, availability, customer satisfaction and future growth. The role would suit someone who wants to be close to the operation, not hidden away in a purely process-led buying function.

For the right person, there is scope to make a visible impact, strengthen supplier performance and become a trusted point of contact across the business.

If you're interested in learning more, we'd be happy to have a confidential conversation
Only candidates based in UK and eligible to work in UK are allowed