Buying Manager Fresh Produce

Buying Manager – Fresh Produce (via Supportive Bridge Staffing Agency)

Salary: £77,000 - £88,000 per annum* (includes 10% London Weighting allowance)

Location: Head Office, Surbiton, London (KT5 9NU - Lidl House, 14 Kingston Road)

Contract: Full-Time, Permanent

Experience Level: Experienced Purchasing Professional

Reference Number: 691809

The Opportunity

At Supportive Bridge Staffing Agency, we specialize in representing elite corporate professionals and connecting them with high-impact, executive-level opportunities. We are currently recruiting an experienced Fresh Produce Buying Manager to join an award-winning, fast-growing commercial purchasing team at a state-of-the-art Head Office in Surbiton.

In this high-profile role, you won't just manage inventory—you will be the chief architect of a market-leading Fresh Produce section that feeds millions of families across a network of over 1,000 stores. Taking full ownership of a major retail category, you will navigate field-to-fork supply chains, global grower negotiations, and complex logistics where "freshness" is a critical, daily deadline.

The Hybrid Advantage

Enjoy the best of both worlds with a modern, flexible working structure:

• In-Office (3+ days): Collaborate at a state-of-the-art corporate headquarters complete with an on-site gym, premium restaurant, and excellent collaborative spaces.

• Remote (Up to 2 days): Work from home to maintain the ideal professional and personal work-life balance.

What You’ll Do

• Capital & Investment Management: Confidently command multi-million-pound investments across highly volatile global commodity and fresh produce markets.

• Supply Chain Ownership: Take total end-to-end accountability for items from the farm gate to the shelf edge, creating strategic solutions for harvest fluctuations, weather impacts, and logistical hurdles.

• Global Negotiations: Build a world-class supplier network, leading complex contract negotiations with international growers and suppliers to secure peak value.

• Quality & Innovation: Oversee the critical path from initial product concept (such as new seasonal varieties) to depot arrival, leading rigorous sensory assessments and quality benchmarks.

• Executive Presentation: Analyze market data to master the "science of fresh produce" and present high-level category strategies directly to Buying Directors and Board Executives.

What You’ll Need

• A strong, proven background as a Fresh Produce Buyer or a similar senior commercial purchasing role within food retail.

• Demonstrated success leading high-stakes negotiations alongside an intricate understanding of how seasonality, yields, and weather shift commodity pricing.

• Technical expertise in produce production, including varietal differences, post-harvest handling, and shelf-life optimization.

• Pragmatic, logical, and exceptionally quick-thinking leadership traits with the confidence to stand firmly behind commercial decisions.

• A full UK driving license.

• Willingness to live—or relocate—within a one-hour commute of the Head Office in Tolworth/Surbiton.

• German language skills are highly desirable but not mandatory.

What You’ll Receive

Our client values executive excellence and equal-opportunity pay structures, providing a premium rewards package:

• Executive Salary: £77,000 - £88,000 per annum (inclusive of London Weighting).

• Time Off: 35 days of annual holiday per year (pro rata).

• Corporate Perks: A 10% in-store discount, contributory pension scheme, and enhanced family leave.

• The "Supportive Bridge" Advantage: We provide executive-level representation, guiding you through advanced commercial panels, streamlining your background tracking, and ensuring your specific category expertise stands out.