Senior Buyer
Fortnum & Mason · London, UK
Our estimate of how close this role sits to decisions about what gets sourced, specified, bought and served. How we score
Why this role matters
Where the work sits relative to real sourcing and menu decisions.
Purchasing policy is named directly in this role's remit, with sustainability and animal welfare as explicit strategic priorities, not afterthoughts. Managing the supply base for Fresh, Deli and Bakery means deciding which suppliers meet the bar and which don't; the advert says plainly that where a supplier isn't fit for growth, "you will re-source supply" - that is the lever, and it applies to every farm behind a deli or bakery line that touches meat, dairy or eggs. This isn't a junior seat: it sits one level below the Director of Food Buying, with three buyers and a buying assistant reporting in, so a mission-aligned person here shapes category strategy rather than just executing someone else's. The skills built - critical path management, supplier re-sourcing, range strategy at a recognised premium retailer - are exactly what opens doors to bigger buying seats where welfare and sourcing decisions carry even more weight.
About the role
This Senior Buyer role at Fortnum & Mason covers the Fresh, Deli and Bakery categories, reporting to the Director of Food Buying and managing three Fresh Food Buyers plus a Buying Assistant. The postholder will develop and implement the fresh food strategy, with customer experience and sustainability central to the offer, and is accountable for fresh food buying activities across all sales channels, driving sales and profitability. Key accountabilities include leading development of the food offer for the category with clear commercial plans to drive sales growth, profit and quality standards; creating and implementing purchasing vision, strategy, policies, processes and procedures with a focus on sustainability and animal welfare; maintaining up-to-date knowledge of market trends and competitor intelligence; developing seasonal ranges reflecting customer expectations; managing the supply base, including re-sourcing suppliers where they are not fit for growth or aligned with the company's vision; maintaining awareness of food seasonality; delivering range reviews, plans and presentations in line with the annual planning cycle; supporting colleagues with product knowledge; meeting buying calendar deadlines; and managing, coaching and developing the team. The role interfaces regularly with Fortnum's Management Group, other business leaders, Commercial Finance, Marketing, Hospitality and Retail, and the Online Trading Team. Essential skills and experience include strong commercial awareness, understanding of current sustainability challenges and opportunities, critical path management, strong negotiation skills, relationship management ability, high-level product-specific knowledge, attention to detail, and a passion for food. Benefits include a competitive salary, store and restaurant discount of up to 40%, 25 days holiday plus bank holidays and a birthday day off, a subsidised staff restaurant, career development opportunities, and a pension scheme. The role is based at the company's Piccadilly head office.
This is an extract. Read the full advert on the employer's site.
Key terms to include in your CV and cover letter
What this employer asks for, in their own words. Applications are often screened by software matching exact phrases, so where these genuinely describe your experience, use their wording rather than your own.
- category strategy
- supplier relationship management
- supplier re-sourcing
- commercial negotiation
- range planning
- range reviews
- critical path management
- team management
- market trend analysis
- competitor benchmarking
- sustainability strategy
- animal welfare purchasing
- seasonal range development
- commercial finance liaison
- product knowledge
How to position yourself
The language that lands with hiring managers in this kind of role.
Position sustainability and animal welfare as core to commercial resilience and brand reputation for a premium retailer - supplier risk, quality consistency and customer trust in provenance all hang on this. Build and highlight supplier engagement and re-sourcing experience, and be ready to speak the language of range reviews, critical path management and category strategy, since this role sits close to real purchasing decisions.
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