Buyer - Free From
Salary: Competitive Plus Benefits
Location: London Store Support Centre and Home, London, EC1M 6HA
Contract type: Fixed-Term Assignment
Business area: Sainsbury's Commercial & Sustainability
Requisition ID: 400076187
Our Food Commercial team sits at the heart of delivering great quality products for our customers, at the right price. You'll be based from our London Support Centre (33 Charterhouse Street) with the flexibility to work remotely as part of our hybrid working approach, for this 12 month Fixed Term Contract. Working closely with Supply Chain, Technical, Own Brand and Retail teams, you'll help shape category strategy and deliver strong commercial results. You’ll be part of a collaborative, fast-paced environment where market insight, innovation and strong supplier partnerships are key to maintaining a competitive edge.
More about the role
As a Senior Buyer, you will take ownership of the Free from ambient, fresh, chilled and frozen buying area worth £150m in annual sales, executing sourcing and selection strategies aligned to wider business objectives. You’ll lead the team on strategic planning and supplier negotiations to secure optimal cost prices, identify the most effective sourcing routes, and implement pricing, promotional, and ranging strategies that drive performance across sales, profit, and market share.
Day-to-day, you’ll collaborate with the Category Director, Head of Buying, Category Planning and your cross-functional team, to shape the product range, support new product development (NPD), and ensure a strong balance of quality and cost. You’ll also monitor supplier performance, benchmark against competitors, and identify future commercial opportunities to keep your category ahead in a dynamic retail market.
More about you
You bring a strong understanding of buying and category management within a retail environment, with the ability to analyse market trends and translate insights into action. You are confident negotiating with suppliers and can demonstrate accountability for delivering commercial outcomes across sales, profit, and cost optimisation.
You are a collaborative team player who builds effective relationships across functions, communicates clearly, and uses data to inform decisions. Comfortable in a fast-paced environment, you are proactive in identifying opportunities, driving improvements, and supporting innovation within your category.
Essential criteria
• Proven experience of buying and managing a complex product range within a retail buying environment
• Demonstrable experience of working collaboratively with both small own brand and large branded suppliers, flexing your style appropriately
Demonstrable experience of developing and implementing an ambitious long-term category strategy
Comfort in presenting to and communicating with senior leadership, given the high-profile nature of the category
Keen interest in leading a team focused on delivering market-leading outcomes for customers with specific dietary needs
• Proven ability to work cross-functionally collaboratively, with Supply Chain, Technical, Own Brand and/ or Retail teams
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We are committed to being a truly inclusive retailer, so you’ll be welcomed whoever you are and wherever you work. Around here, there’s always the chance to try something new - whether that’s as part of an evolving team or somewhere else across the business - and we take development seriously and promise to support you. We also recognise and celebrate colleagues when they go the extra mile and, where possible, offer flexible working. When you join our team, we’ll also offer you an amazing range of benefits. Here are some of them: Moments that matter are as important to us as they are to you which is why we give up to 26 weeks’ pay for maternity or adoption leave and up to 4 weeks’ pay for paternity leave.
Starting off with colleague discount, you'll be able to get 10% off at Sainsbury's, Argos, TU and Habitat after 4 weeks. This increases to 15% off at Sainsbury’s every Friday and Saturday and 15% off at Argos every pay day. We've also got you covered for your future with our pensions scheme and life cover. You'll also be able to share in our success as you may be eligible for a performance-related bonus of up to 20% of salary, depending on how we perform.
Your wellbeing is important to us too. You'll receive an annual holiday allowance, and you can buy additional holiday. We also offer other benefits that will help your money go further such as season ticket loans, interest free car loan of up to £10k, cycle to work scheme, health cash plans, pay advance (where you can access some of your pay before pay day) as well access to a great range of discounts from hundreds of other retailers. And if you ever need it there is also an Employee Assistance Programme, you will also be eligible for private healthcare too.
Please see www.sainsburys.jobs for a range of our benefits (note, length of service and eligibility criteria may apply).
