Category Buyer
CV-LibraryWest MidlandspermanentPosted: 24 March 2026
Apply NowOn-site Role | Fresh Produce
We are partnering with a well-established and growing business within the fresh produce sector to recruit a Category Buyer responsible for a key vegetable category. This is a high-visibility role offering real ownership, commercial influence, and the opportunity to shape supplier strategy within a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
The Role
As Category Buyer, you will take end-to-end ownership of your product portfolio, driving commercial performance while ensuring a consistent and efficient supply chain. Reporting to the Head of Procurement and Commercial Director, you will build and manage strategic supplier relationships, provide market and supply insights to internal stakeholders, and execute procurement strategies that support both profitability and growth.
Working closely with commercial, technical, and operational teams, you will play a critical role in aligning supply with customer demand and business objectives.
Key Responsibilities:
-Own the commercial performance of your category, delivering against margin and volume targets
-Develop and execute procurement strategies aligned with business objectives
-Negotiate pricing and commercial terms to protect and enhance profitability
-Build strong, long-term supplier partnerships, driving performance and continuous improvement
-Monitor market trends and provide timely supply intelligence to support sales and planning
-Manage supply chain challenges including shortages, surplus, and fluctuations
-Ensure accurate forecasting, reporting, and ERP system management
-Lead supplier performance reviews, visits, and development initiatives
-Collaborate with technical teams to ensure compliance with quality and regulatory standards
-Drive operational efficiencies and identify opportunities for cost reduction
-Support innovation across product and process, working with suppliers and internal teams
-Provide clear, proactive communication across all internal stakeholders
We are looking for a commercially driven procurement professional with strong analytical and negotiation skills, ideally gained within fresh produce or a similarly fast-moving environment.
You will bring:
-Ideally fresh produce, or food/drink industry experience.
-Strong numerical and analytical capability with a data-led mindset
-Proven ability to negotiate and influence at all levels
-Excellent organisation, planning, and communication skills
-A proactive, solutions-focused approach with high attention to detail
-The ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced, evolving environment
-A collaborative mindset with a strong sense of ownership and accountability
-Flexibility to travel, including occasional international supplier visits
This is an excellent opportunity to join a forward-thinking business where you can make a tangible impact, take real ownership of a key category, and contribute to ongoing growth and innovation.
As you know over here at Zest we like to do things properly and always want to keep you, the candidate in the loop. Applying to this 'one of a kind' role you give Zest permission to hold your information. If you want to know more about how Zest look after your personal information please visit our privacy policy on the website (url removed)
We are partnering with a well-established and growing business within the fresh produce sector to recruit a Category Buyer responsible for a key vegetable category. This is a high-visibility role offering real ownership, commercial influence, and the opportunity to shape supplier strategy within a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
The Role
As Category Buyer, you will take end-to-end ownership of your product portfolio, driving commercial performance while ensuring a consistent and efficient supply chain. Reporting to the Head of Procurement and Commercial Director, you will build and manage strategic supplier relationships, provide market and supply insights to internal stakeholders, and execute procurement strategies that support both profitability and growth.
Working closely with commercial, technical, and operational teams, you will play a critical role in aligning supply with customer demand and business objectives.
Key Responsibilities:
-Own the commercial performance of your category, delivering against margin and volume targets
-Develop and execute procurement strategies aligned with business objectives
-Negotiate pricing and commercial terms to protect and enhance profitability
-Build strong, long-term supplier partnerships, driving performance and continuous improvement
-Monitor market trends and provide timely supply intelligence to support sales and planning
-Manage supply chain challenges including shortages, surplus, and fluctuations
-Ensure accurate forecasting, reporting, and ERP system management
-Lead supplier performance reviews, visits, and development initiatives
-Collaborate with technical teams to ensure compliance with quality and regulatory standards
-Drive operational efficiencies and identify opportunities for cost reduction
-Support innovation across product and process, working with suppliers and internal teams
-Provide clear, proactive communication across all internal stakeholders
We are looking for a commercially driven procurement professional with strong analytical and negotiation skills, ideally gained within fresh produce or a similarly fast-moving environment.
You will bring:
-Ideally fresh produce, or food/drink industry experience.
-Strong numerical and analytical capability with a data-led mindset
-Proven ability to negotiate and influence at all levels
-Excellent organisation, planning, and communication skills
-A proactive, solutions-focused approach with high attention to detail
-The ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced, evolving environment
-A collaborative mindset with a strong sense of ownership and accountability
-Flexibility to travel, including occasional international supplier visits
This is an excellent opportunity to join a forward-thinking business where you can make a tangible impact, take real ownership of a key category, and contribute to ongoing growth and innovation.
As you know over here at Zest we like to do things properly and always want to keep you, the candidate in the loop. Applying to this 'one of a kind' role you give Zest permission to hold your information. If you want to know more about how Zest look after your personal information please visit our privacy policy on the website (url removed)