Buyer-Frozen
Company Shop Group · Lower Pilley, Tankersley
Our estimate of how close this job is to decisions about what protein a business sources, specifies, buys and serves. How we score
Why this role matters
How close this job is to real sourcing and menu decisions.
Frozen is one of the categories most likely to include meat, dairy, seafood and ready meals, and whoever buys this category decides what gets ranged, at what price, and from which suppliers. A buyer in this seat builds real trading and category-strategy experience across a food category that touches sustainability, health and supply-chain questions, though the role as described is about maximising sales, margin and reducing waste rather than setting supplier standards or shifting the protein mix. The bigger value here may be what it builds: full P&L ownership of a category, supplier negotiation experience and surplus-stock sourcing relationships are exactly the commercial credibility that opens doors into category and sourcing roles with more explicit scope over supplier standards or protein transition targets later on. If you want standing over what food businesses buy and to what standard, this is a step that builds the buying fluency for it rather than a seat that holds that lever today.
Where this role can take you
What this job teaches you, and the jobs it can lead to.
What you'd build
- Category P&L ownership
- Commercial negotiation with suppliers
- Category strategy development
- Cross-functional stakeholder management
- Surplus/frozen stock trading experience
Where it can lead
- Category Manager
- Head of Buying
- Senior Category Manager
Senior category and buying roles typically set sourcing criteria and supplier requirements across a wider range of food categories, giving more direct standing over supplier standards and protein-mix decisions.
About the role
Company Shop Group (CSG), part of Biffa and the UK's largest commercial redistributor of surplus food and household products, is hiring a Buyer for its Frozen category. Based at the Tankersley head office on a hybrid basis (3 days in office, 2 from home, 40 hours/week), the role reports into the Head of Buying and works closely with the Category Lead and Partnership Managers. The postholder takes ownership of the end-to-end commercial performance of the Frozen category, from sourcing surplus stock opportunities through to trading, ranging and retail execution, with accountability for sales, margin, markdown, waste and stock performance. Responsibilities include developing and delivering the Frozen category strategy, sourcing new surplus stock opportunities with partners, using market insight and data to make buying and trading decisions on pricing, ranging and stock management, building and negotiating partner relationships, working cross-functionally with Merchandising, Supply Chain, Operations and Retail, spending time in stores to understand category performance and member experience, and supporting category innovation with the Head of Buying and Category Lead. Essential requirements include 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, excellent negotiation skills, strong analytical skills, cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder influencing experience, and strong planning and communication skills. Desirable experience includes grocery retail, FMCG, food manufacturing or surplus stock management background, experience managing or influencing category P&L, understanding of supply chain, merchandising and retail operations, and knowledge of frozen food products, suppliers and market trends. Salary is described as competitive, dependent on experience, plus a company car or car allowance and eligibility for an annual bonus scheme. Benefits include Company Shop membership, colleague discount, healthcare perks (Doctor Care Anywhere, Medicash, Simply Health Dental Plan, eye tests), flu injections, vouchers, on-site parking, subsidised staff canteen, Employee Assistance Programme, Costco membership eligibility, Cycle to Work, contributory pension with life assurance, Octopus EV scheme, holiday purchase scheme and charitable giving.
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 is asking for, in their words. Applications are often screened by software looking for exact phrases, so if these describe your experience, use their wording.
- category management
- commercial trading
- sales and margin growth
- category P&L management
- supplier relationship management
- commercial negotiation
- category strategy development
- stock and markdown management
- data-driven decision making
- cross-functional collaboration
- stakeholder influencing
- retail ranging and pricing
- surplus stock sourcing
- frozen food market knowledge
- supply chain and merchandising awareness
How to position yourself
The language that works with hiring managers for this kind of job.
Position your interest around commercial impact and waste reduction — Company Shop Group's business model rewards buyers who can turn surplus into margin while protecting member value, so lead with examples of negotiation, category P&L management or supply-chain problem-solving. Build and cite commodity knowledge of frozen food categories and supplier relationship management; CIPS-style procurement vocabulary and any experience with category performance analysis will strengthen your case.
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