PURCHASING & IMPORTS MANAGER
£35,000 p.a. + performance bonus
Full -time | Permanent | Location: Wetherby, West Yorkshire
ABOUT BASCO
Basco is one of the UK’s leading importers and wholesalers of premium Spanish food and drink, supplying restaurants, delis, retailers, and hospitality venues nationwide.
Operating from our 8000 sq ft warehouse in West Yorkshire and processing around 1000 customer orders per week, we are passionate about authentic products, exceptional service, and long-term supplier partnerships.
THE ROLE
The Buyer will be responsible for managing the end-to-end purchasing and import process, ensuring strong product availability, accurate inventory management, and smooth inbound operations across the business.
You will work closely with suppliers across Spain and Europe, third-party transport companies, customs agents, warehouse operations, sales, accounts, and senior management to ensure products are sourced, imported, receipted, and managed in line with commercial targets, food safety standards, and operational procedures.
The role requires a highly organised, commercially aware, and proactive individual who can balance purchasing strategy, operational execution, supplier relationships, forecasting, and compliance responsibilities.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Purchasing, Imports & Supply Chain Management
* Manage the full purchasing lifecycle from supplier forecasting and ordering through to product availability and lifecycle management
* Coordinate weekly imports from Europe, including supplier forecasts, order management, customs documentation, IPAFFS requirements, health certificates, and import declarations
* Liaise with groupage transport providers, customs brokers, and border authorities to ensure smooth and compliant inbound deliveries
* Monitor inbound delivery schedules and communicate effectively with warehouse and operational teams
* Build and maintain strong supplier relationships across Spain, Europe, and the UK
* Negotiate supplier pricing, challenge cost increases, and protect business margins
* Manage supplier performance, service levels, availability, and lead times
Goods In, Inventory & Warehouse Coordination
* Manage and oversee the goods-in process alongside the warehouse team
* Ensure all purchase orders are accurately receipted with correct landed costs, batch tracking, and FIFO controls
* Ensure all products received meet labelling, traceability, technical, and food safety requirements before release for sale
* Work closely with warehouse operations regarding inventory management, bill of materials updates, stock adjustments, and batch traceability
* Support weekly line checks, stock investigations, and monthly stock takes
* Maintain accurate product and inventory records across internal systems
Forecasting, Reporting & Commercial Analysis
* Manage purchasing forecasts and stock planning based on sales trends, seasonal demand, promotions, and supplier lead times
* Produce weekly and monthly purchasing, stock, and availability reports for senior management
* Analyse stockholding, availability risks, wastage, and purchasing performance to support operational decision-making
* Support margin management through pricing reviews, landed cost analysis, and commercial reporting
Food Safety, Technical & Compliance
* Manage supplier technical documentation and compliance records in line with BRCGS Storage & Distribution standards
* Act as the main point of contact for all customer technical and food safety requests
* Ensure all product specifications, allergen information, labelling, and compliance documentation are accurate and maintained across systems
* Work closely with warehouse operations to ensure all inbound products meet required quality and compliance standards
* Lead and manage product non-conformance investigations and supplier corrective actions where required
Team & Cross-Department Communication
* Work closely with Sales, Warehouse, Accounts, and Senior Management to align purchasing activity with business requirements
* Support and develop the Assistant Buyer role
* Deliver clear communication across departments regarding stock availability, inbound deliveries, shortages, and supplier issues
* Contribute towards continuous improvement initiatives across purchasing and inventory operations
ABOUT YOU
We are looking for a commercially minded and operationally strong Buyer who can confidently manage purchasing, imports, inventory, and supplier relationships within a fast-moving food environment. You will have:
* Proven experience within a Buyer, Purchasing, or Supply Chain role
* Strong understanding of imports, customs procedures, and supplier management
* Experience working within food, FMCG, wholesale, or distribution sectors
* Excellent organisational skills with strong attention to detail
* Strong communication and negotiation skills
* Experience managing forecasting, stock control, and inventory processes
* A proactive and solutions-focused approach
* Strong commercial awareness and analytical capability
* Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office and inventory management system
* Experience with BRCGS standards, food compliance, customs processes, or technical documentation would be highly advantageous
WHY JOIN BASCO?
* Join a fast-growing and ambitious premium food business
* Work with exceptional Spanish products sourced directly from artisan producers
* Play a key role in shaping the future of our purchasing and supply chain operations
* Be part of a passionate and collaborative team environment
* Opportunity for long-term progression and development
WHAT WE OFFER
* £35,000 basic salary
* Up to 20% discretionary performance-related bonus
* 28 days holiday including bank holidays, increasing with service up to 33 days
* Monday to Friday working
* No weekends
* Company pension
* Employee discounts
* On-site parking
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