Buyer – Frozen

Company Shop Group | Commercial

Location: Tankersley, Barnsley (Hybrid) 3 days in the office 2 days from home

Hours: 40 hours per week 08:30-5:00pm Mon-Friday

Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience, plus a company car or car allowance and eligibility for our annual bonus scheme.

About Us

Company Shop Group (CSG), part of Biffa are the largest commercial redistributor of surplus food and household products in the UK. We enable some of the biggest retailers, manufacturers, food service and logistics providers to unlock value from surplus stock, which may have otherwise gone to waste. The surplus we handle is redistributed through our Company Shop stores and our award-winning social enterprise Community Shop where we build stronger individuals and more confident communities. Working with our partners, we deliver an incredible impact and we're proud to be a good business doing good.

We believe different ideas, perspective and backgrounds are key to developing a creative and effective working environment which is why you’ll find us championing diversity and equality at every turn. 

The Role

As our Buyer (Frozen), you’ll take ownership of the end-to-end commercial performance of the Frozen category, from sourcing exciting surplus stock opportunities through to trading, ranging and retail execution.

Working closely with the Head of Buying, Category Lead and Partnership Managers, you’ll develop and deliver the category strategy, identify new opportunities and maximise sales, margin and profitability, all while ensuring we continue to offer our members an excellent choice of products at exceptional value.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced Buyer or Category Manager who thrives in a fast-paced, commercially focused environment and enjoys combining strategic thinking with hands-on trading and relationship management.

You’ll work collaboratively across Commercial, Partnerships, Merchandising, Supply Chain, Operations and Retail, ensuring every opportunity is commercially sound, operationally achievable and delivers maximum value for both the business and our members.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Own the Frozen category strategy – developing and delivering plans that drive sustainable growth, improve performance and support our wider commercial objectives.
• Drive commercial performance – take accountability for category sales, margin, markdown, waste and stock performance, identifying opportunities to maximise profitability and stock productivity.
• Unlock new opportunities – work with our partners and internal teams to source surplus stock, broaden existing relationships and build a strong pipeline of new opportunities.
• Lead buying and trading decisions – use market insight, data and member demand to make informed decisions around pricing, ranging, stock management and product selection.
• Build strong partnerships – develop trusted relationships with existing and prospective partners, negotiating effectively to deliver the best commercial outcomes.
• Work collaboratively across the business – partner with Merchandising, Supply Chain, Operations and Retail to ensure products flow effectively through the business and are available for our members.
• Champion retail excellence – spend time in our stores understanding category performance, gathering feedback and identifying opportunities to improve availability, product choice and the member experience.
• Drive continuous improvement – monitor performance against budgets, identify risks and opportunities, and challenge existing ways of working to deliver better results.
• Support category innovation – work with the Head of Buying and Category Lead to identify new products, develop opportunities and broaden our Frozen offering.

Requirements

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for someone with strong commercial instincts, a passion for buying and the confidence to take ownership of a category and make decisions that deliver results.

You’ll ideally bring:

• Significant experience in Buying, Category Management or Commercial Trading.
• A proven track record of delivering sales, margin and profit growth.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, with experience analysing category performance and identifying opportunities for improvement.
• Excellent negotiation skills and the ability to build and maintain successful supplier relationships.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to turn data and insight into practical commercial actions.
• Experience working collaboratively across different functions and influencing stakeholders at all levels.
• Excellent planning, organisation and prioritisation skills, with the ability to manage competing demands in a fast-paced environment.
• The confidence to balance commercial opportunities with operational requirements and business priorities.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to build effective relationships both internally and externally.

It would be great if you also have:

• Experience within grocery retail, FMCG, food manufacturing or surplus stock management.
• Experience managing or influencing category profit and loss (P&L) performance.
• An understanding of supply chain, merchandising and retail operations.
• Knowledge of frozen food products, suppliers and market trends.

Benefits

What's in it for you:

• Free membership to Company Shop for you and 10 x nominees.
• 10% CSG colleague discount
• Doctor care Anywhere
• Annual Flu Injections, high street & leisure vouchers, and on-site Parking.
• Subsidised staff Canteen, Free Tea & Coffee, and Free Fruit Friday!
• Employee Assistance Programme – Grocery Aid.
• Eligible for Costco membership, Cycle 2 Work, Skoup skip hire, too good to go bags
• Medicash
• Simply Health Dental Plan
• Eye tests
• Contributory pension scheme with Life Assurance.
• Octopus EV Scheme
• Holiday purchase scheme
• Charitable giving
• PLUS Family friendly benefits.

Why Join Company Shop Group?

At Company Shop Group, you’ll be part of a business that combines commercial success with a genuine social and environmental purpose. Every day, we help prevent good food and household products from going to waste, deliver fantastic value to our members and support stronger communities through our Community Shop social enterprise.

You’ll have the opportunity to make a real impact, influence category strategy, develop valuable partnerships and play an important role in the continued growth of our business.

Ready to Make an Impact?

If you’re a commercially minded Buyer who loves identifying opportunities, building relationships and delivering results, we’d love to hear from you.

Join us and help turn surplus into success!