Assistant Buyer - Food (Beer, Wine and Spirits)

About the Role

We are seeking an Assistant Buyer to join our Beer, Wine, and Spirits Buying department. In this position, you will assist the Buyer in identifying and sourcing the best brands and products, negotiating favorable terms with suppliers, and ensuring all ordering processes comply with company policies. Your role is pivotal in supporting buying administration and contributing to the overall commercial success of the department.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist the Buyer with comprehensive knowledge of product lines and market trends within beer, wine, and spirits.
• Negotiate advantageous terms such as margins, trade discounts, and markdown support alongside the Buyer.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with brand partners and collaborate with the brand partnerships team.
• Coordinate with the Buyer and Merchandiser to base decisions on sound commercial analysis aimed at driving sales and profitability.
• Regularly monitor trade performance during the season and provide informed recommendations to the Buyer.
• Support the Buying Admin team by preparing weekly trade and new product development packs, and communicate key insights to senior leadership.
• Manage space takeovers in London and flagship city stores, ensuring approvals, agreements, and installation schedules are properly handled.
• Assist in range planning activities in conjunction with the Merchandiser and Buyer.
• Collaborate with the Merchandiser to analyze product performance and advise on product continuity or discontinuation.
• Maintain effective communication with retail operations about product launches and training.
• Engage with Marketing and PR teams to leverage promotional opportunities during supplier negotiations.
• Conduct research on industry trends and participate in tastings and events.
• Oversee workload management within the team to optimize efficiency and implement improved working methods.
• Coordinate with Visual Merchandising to optimize product placement for visual appeal and sales performance.
• Support concession partners to help them achieve or exceed sales plans.
• Assist Buying Admin with product development and general tasks as needed.

Candidate Profile

• Possess extensive knowledge of beer, wine, and spirits products and market dynamics.
• Experience in buying roles is essential; WSET certification or equivalent is preferred.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to develop and implement strategic commercial plans and complete projects successfully.
• Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills to engage stakeholders including retail teams and brand partners.
• Customer-focused mindset paired with a keen palate and sense for innovative product offerings.
• Highly numerate with commercial acumen and proficiency in Excel.
• Collaborative team player, able to participate in cross-functional projects and meetings effectively.
• Organized and detail-oriented with the ability to manage multiple tasks efficiently.