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.
