Job Introduction
Fruit and Veg Category Buyer
Location: London/Chertsey/Hybrid
Salary: Competitive + excellent benefits
Business Area: Core Food
About Foodbuy Group
Foodbuy Group is a leading food procurement organisation in the UK, managing over £2.5bn of spend across foodservice and hospitality. As part of Compass Group UK & Ireland, we work directly with growers, manufacturers and suppliers — from major brands to regional specialists — to deliver value, quality and sustainability for our clients.
We’re now looking for a Fruit & Veg Category Buyer to join our Core Food procurement team, supporting the Category Manager in shaping and delivering category strategy across fresh and frozen fruit & vegetables.
The Role
This is an exciting opportunity for a developing buyer to take the next step in their procurement career. You’ll support the end‑to‑end category process — from supplier engagement and pricing to insight, sustainability and tender activity — while gaining exposure to strategic category management in a fast‑paced, commercial environment.
You’ll work closely with suppliers, internal stakeholders, culinary teams and supply chain partners, playing a key role in delivering value, quality, service and innovation for Foodbuy clients.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the Category Manager in delivering short, medium and long‑term category strategy
- Build strong relationships with growers and suppliers, including supplier meetings and farm visits
- Support sourcing, tender preparation, benchmarking and contract renewals
- Track industry trends and provide regular category insight
- Upload and manage monthly price files for external clients
- Liaise with supply chain teams on service levels, risks and contingency planning
- Support CSR compliance, sourcing standards and regulatory requirements
- Review supplier performance and support continuous improvement
- Provide category input for sales, bids and wider stakeholder queries
- Present insights on price movements, category plans and tender outcomes
About You
- Currently operating as a Buyer’s Assistant or Category Buyer, ready to progress
- Commercially minded and comfortable working to targets
- Strong analytical skills with confidence using Excel and procurement systems
- Some experience of supplier negotiation and relationship management
- Passionate about sustainability and responsible sourcing
- Organised, detail‑focused and resilient in a fast‑paced environment
- Confident working with cross‑functional teams and adapting to change
What’s in it for you
- Competitive salary
- Contributory pension scheme
- Career Pathways and MyLearning development programmes
- Digital GP and wider healthcare benefits
- Discounts across travel, retail, groceries and entertainment
- Reward and recognition schemes, including Wow Points
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