Category Buying Manager (Beverages & Snacking)

Category Buying Manager (Beverages & Snacking): Caffè Nero

We are looking for a Category Buying Manager to join us at Caffè Nero. The role is based at our offices in Covent Garden, with a typical weekly working pattern of 3 office days & 2 days from home (or supplier/store visits).

This is a highly commercial role, with responsibility for our Beverages & Snacking categories. The successful candidate will centrally drive profitability across Speciality Coffee, Hot Chocolate, Tea, Matcha, Alternative Milk, Packaged Drinks and Snacking (Sweet & Savoury).

They will also be accountable for the category gross margin, delivered through supplier negotiation and category management. They will negotiate complex contracts and mitigate inflation - representing the values of Caffè Nero in every action and decision. They will be the champion for these categories across our key functions (Marketing, Food Development, Operations & Finance) to ensure a strong commercial focus on Sales and Margin, and the progression of innovative and commercially balanced range. There is a big opportunity to drive improved performance in the Snacking category in particular by driving improved compliance across our stores.

The role will cover the Beverages & Snacking, but there may be times when the successful candidate will be required to work on additional categories to support the broader team and aid professional development/progression within the business.

Key responsibilities for this role include:

• Developing clear category plans including tender dates and supplier strategies.
• Negotiating optimum prices with suppliers and mitigating any annual inflation.
• Demonstrating great communication skills to all levels of the business, from our stores to the CEO.
• Engaging positively with stakeholders across the business that have previously not worked with procurement at Caffe Nero to unlock commercial value.
• Knowing and understanding the relevant market and category performance, delivering meaningful updates by category to the business.
• Owning end to end supplier performance to ensure uninterrupted supply and service.
• Liaising with Supply Chain, Food Development, Marketing, Finance and Operations Teams to ensure that products and services purchased are fit for purpose.
• Liaising with suppliers to ensure that Caffe Nero is responding / adhering to relevant legislative changes across the packaging category.
• Exploring global supplier agreements across our international territories.
• Providing procurement support to the additional brands within the Caffè Nero Group (Coffee#1, FCB Coffee and Harris + Hoole) where required.

The right person:

Caffè Nero is a company with a very special culture and an open and friendly style of working. It operates at pace and is a high-energy, invigorating environment. It attracts people with warmth and a positive outlook who genuinely enjoy working with others. 

Whichever country you’re in, Caffè Nero has a culture in which close-knit relationships and trust are at its heart. At Caffè Nero, you truly feel part of a kind and caring family.   

The Category Buying Manager will embrace and champion the Company culture.  They will be curious and inquisitive, with an engaging personality, and an ability to connect with people across the business, whatever their job.  On top of this they will have solid experience within Buying/Procurement, quickly establishing themselves within the team.

The successful candidate will have:

• Strong and relevant experience gained from working in a procurement/buying role within the retail, hospitality, or food & beverage sectors.
• Solid evidence of being an excellent negotiator, influencer, and deal maker, who can obtain value for the business, making the best use of budgets.
• An analytical and methodical approach to problem solving, with great attention to detail.
• Great communication skills, whether that's presenting, or taking a flexible and adaptable approach with our stores, suppliers and colleagues.
• Experience working with field/operations/store teams to deliver in-store activity.
• Ability to run reports, analyse complex data and make category decisions to drive forward sales and margin.
• A collaborative and supportive coaching style.
• Ability to manage time and priorities.
• Be proactive, take the initiative and have a growth mindset.

We’ve got some great benefits too:

• A wonderful place to work! With 3 out of 5 days based in our Head Office, right in the middle of bustling Covent Garden.
• Access to our benefits platform, giving discounts at the touch of a button.
• Bonus scheme.
• 25 days holiday per annum (plus bank holidays), rising with service.
• 50% employee discount on handcrafted drinks and 40% employee discount on food.
• Private medical care through Vitality.
• Medicash (cashplan healthcare scheme).
• Supporting our team members to achieve their professional goals is important to us, so alongside your day to day work you may have an opportunity to complete a professional qualification with our learning partners.
• Free hand-crafted drinks whilst you’re in the office - in your first week you’ll have Barista training, so you’ll know how to make the very best Caffè Nero coffee!

If this sounds like the right next role for you we would love to hear from you!