Trading Manager - Fruit / Fresh Produce

A rare opportunity to take full commercial ownership of a fresh fruit category within a major UK grocery retail environment.

Trading Manager - Fruit / Fresh Produce

Yorkshire area
Permanent
Hybrid/onsite pattern: on-site four days per week
Package: c.£55,000-£65,000 depending on experience + £5.7k car allowance + bonus + benefits

The Opportunity

We're supporting a major UK grocery retailer with multiple Trading Manager vacancies across fresh fruit categories.

These are genuinely end-to-end category roles, covering the retail proposition, procurement strategy, supplier base, commercial performance and seasonal trading.

You will be responsible for how your category performs commercially, how it is positioned for customers, how suppliers are selected and managed, and how seasonal movement, availability, quality, margin and price competitiveness are balanced.

This is a fast-paced, commercial role where decisions matter quickly. You will work closely with retail, procurement, supplier and grower-facing teams to keep the customer proposition and supply strategy joined up.

Key Responsibilities

Own the commercial performance of a fresh fruit category, balancing sales, margin, availability, value and customer quality.
Build and deliver category plans across range, pricing, promotions, supplier base and seasonal trading.
Shape the procurement approach and supplier strategy for the category.
Manage seasonal plans, crop transitions, commodity movement and supply risk.
Work closely with internal teams, suppliers and growers to make joined-up trading decisions.
Use sales, margin, SKU and supplier data to identify opportunities and improve category performance.

What We're Looking For

You'll need a strong commercial background in fresh produce, fresh food, grocery trading, buying, procurement or fast-moving short-shelf-life categories.

Fresh produce experience would be ideal, but the client is open to people coming from either the supplier side or retail side. You do not need to have done both from day one if you have the commercial judgement, pace and curiosity to learn the missing side.

This could suit someone with experience as a Trading Manager, Buying Manager, Category Buyer, Commercial Manager, Procurement Manager, Senior Buyer, Produce Buyer or supplier-side Commercial Manager.

You're likely to do well here if you enjoy pace, numbers, supplier conversations, seasonal complexity and taking ownership of commercial decisions.

Why Join?

This is a strong opportunity for someone who wants more than a narrow buying or procurement role.

You'll have real ownership of a visible fresh produce category, with direct influence over retail performance, supplier strategy, customer value and seasonal execution.

The role also offers meaningful exposure to growers, suppliers and international sourcing markets, with overseas travel expected around four to six times per year depending on category.

The package includes salary, bonus, cash allowance and a strong wider benefits offering.

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