Head of Foodservice Buying

About the role

We’re looking for a Head of Foodservice Buying to develop and deploy the trading and buying strategy across the food service business.

About Bestway

Bestway Group is a diversified multinational family owned business with annualised turnover in excess of £4.5 billion.  Starting off as a chain of retail convenience stores, the Group has grown to become a diversified multinational business with interests across the wholesale, pharmacy, real estate, cement and banking sectors.  The Group is also the largest overseas investor in Pakistan. 

Owned by the Pervez, Choudrey and Sheikh families, Bestway Group was founded in 1976 by Sir Anwar Pervez OBE H Pk, who remains Chairman.  Serving over 12 million customers and employing over 28,000 individuals, the Group supports and serves communities through its operations across the UK, Pakistan and the Middle East

Responsibilities:

• Develop the range architecture strategy across all categories and implement that strategy.
• Lead the category and trading managers across the catering, fast-food categories managing individual performance and development.
• Develop category strategies that align and compliment the foodservice strategy.
• Ensure effective KVI approach is in place across categories and business units.
• Support in the development of the foodservice culture within Bestway Wholesale.
• Develop JBP’s with suppliers that align to the category strategies and develop supplier relationships identifying the right partnerships that will support in the delivery of the foodservice strategy.
• Support tenders across the respective business units ensuring accurate and timely pricing is provided for the required range.
• Develop the route to market approach with the supply chain team ensuring that negotiated terms align accordingly to enable depots to manage stock accordingly
• Lead the competitor promotion and pricing analysis presenting a monthly summary of key competitor pricing strategies, new products and promotions.
• Present monthly/quarterly market(supplied) price movements and seasonality updates.
• Support marketing on new product development / market development activity.
• Align trading operations to the group trading approach in managing suppliers and any associated trading activity.
• Communicate strategy and identify synergies with group trading to ensure commercial terms are maximised across common suppliers.

The Ideal Candidate:

• Comprehensive understanding and experience of the foodservice wholesale buying/trading function
• Exceptional commercial acumen with a particular focus on profitability and effective buying
• Exceptional networking capability, both internally and externally with the ability to build robust working relationships
• Ability to develop and deploy a commercial strategy within the foodservice wholesale industry
• Focused and driven on the achievement of the strategy and financial results
• Experienced negotiator with the ability to approach it both strategically and tactically
• Clear and concise communicator
• Highly organised and exceptional planning skills
• Excellent listening skills
• Professional positive outlook with belief in working to high standards

Benefits:

• Competitive salary
• Pension
• 22 days annual leave plus the option to buy additional days
• Life Assurance
• Private Medical
• Onsite parking

We understand that no applicant ever ticks every box so please do consider applying should some or most of the above apply.  Bestway Group is an equal opportunity employer and we value diversity and inclusion. We welcome people of different nationalities, backgrounds, experiences, abilities, and perspectives. We want strong, and diverse teams built from talented individuals with different backgrounds identities and experiences.

If this is of interest to you and you would like to learn more, please do get in touch, we are looking forward to hearing from you.