Sourcing Manager
Harrow, London | Up to £53,500 + benefits
35 hours per week | Occasional UK travel to supplier meetings

Are you an experienced food retail buyer or sourcing specialist, confident operating in fast-moving fresh categories? This role gives you the chance to shape strategy, optimise costs, and strengthen supplier performance across a national own-label range.
You’ll take ownership of key food categories — with a particular focus on fresh and short-shelf-life products — ensuring great value, strong availability, and continued product innovation.

What you’ll bring Experience & knowledge

• At least 2 years’ buying or sourcing experience within food retail or wholesale — ideally within fresh categories (produce, chilled, meat, dairy, bakery, or similar).
• Strong understanding of production processes, supply chains, MLOR, date coding and retail waste, especially for perishable ranges.
• Proven experience managing cost of goods for own-label products.
• Confident running tenders that deliver measurable commercial outcomes.
• Comfortable operating within a matrix structure.

Skills

• Excellent negotiation skills using varied tactics and approaches.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration with internal teams and suppliers.
• Ability to interpret commercial and operational data and turn insight into practical action.
• Skilled at influencing at all levels.
• Able to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Competent with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and PowerPoint.

What you’ll be doing

• Develop and deliver the sourcing strategy for your food categories, aligned to the wider brand blueprint.
• Review market trends, cost drivers and supply chain performance to highlight risks and opportunities.
• Lead negotiations on cost price increases, ensuring clear communication and strong commercial outcomes.
• Build and implement plans to reduce COGS while supporting retail pricing and margin targets.
• Work closely with suppliers to unlock cost efficiencies and drive product enhancement or range development.
• Maintain and review a sustainable supply base with clear SWOT insights and development plans.
• Identify and onboard new suppliers to support innovation, quality, and commercial performance.

Benefits

• 25 days holiday
• Pension
• Life assurance
• Gym membership

If you have strong food retail experience — especially in fresh — and want to make a real impact on category performance, we’d love to hear from you.