Booker Group is recruiting for a Head of Trade for Produce. In this role, you will manage a strategic, high-profile category with full end-to-end accountability for delivering sales, customer satisfaction, and profit targets. You will be part of the senior team with day-to-day responsibility for direct reports and a broader team of category managers, assistant buyers, and category assistants.
This role covers a complex supply base with multiple need states and involves strategic projects related to retail and catering, such as supply chain transformation, requiring cross-functional stakeholder engagement and leadership. You will be responsible for annual negotiations with suppliers to ensure competitive terms and coaching your team accordingly.
Key Responsibilities:
* Develop and implement category plans to ensure delivery of key metrics for catering and retail.
* Achieve cash profit and customer satisfaction targets.
* Ensure best-in-class inbound supplier service levels for distribution centers and branches.
* Create strategic plans and work cross-functionally to deliver them.
* Lead the category team, manage performance, and support team development through PDPs and JDIs.
* Grow own brand business through sourcing and innovation.
* Optimize product range distribution across estates to maximize mix and principles of good, better, best.
* Identify opportunities and improve ways of working within the senior team.
* Collaborate with finance to produce reliable forecasts.
* Seek opportunities to reduce environmental impact.
* Follow the business code of conduct, act with integrity, and promote diversity and inclusion.
* Ensure negotiations comply with GSCOP guidelines.
* Deputize for the Director of Trading as needed and communicate effectively.
Experience & Skills:
* Experience of category management in produce.
* Knowledge of supply chain processes and legal, regulatory, and ethical requirements.
* Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills.
* Understanding of branch and network processes, multi-site customers, and market development.
* Strategic, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
* Strong leadership to develop talent and drive innovation.
* Degree educated and skilled in negotiation and supplier management.
* Experience managing end-to-end supply base reviews and group buying.
Company Overview & Benefits:
Booker is the UK's leading food & drink wholesaler, serving independent retailers, caterers, and small businesses with over 190 branches and multiple distribution centers nationwide.
We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, offering a comprehensive benefits package including staff discounts, insurance, health support, share schemes, pension, life assurance, and wellbeing resources.
#J-18808-Ljbffr