Pret A Manger Hiring for Buyer at New York City Metropolitan Area Full Time

Pret works a little like a restaurant. We build kitchens in every shop. We don’t use ‘sell-by’ dates because at the end of every day we offer our unsold food to charity rather than keeping it to sell the next day. We love making fresh, delicious food, and our milk and coffee is 100% organic. Our people are the key to our success, so we are keen to give all of Team Pret the opportunity to develop which ensures the right training, development and support for our wonderful people.

Pret is looking for a Buyer to support the US Buying team (part of the wider Food & Coffee team), who will take responsibility for the strategic sourcing of specific ingredients and packaging for Pret’s menu. This person will report to the Senior Buying Manager.

 

Pret US is in a period of major transformation as we reposition ourselves for profit growth post pandemic with continued revenue growth of new digital channels but also geographical expansion across North America. Through taking the lead on fostering strong supplier relationships, this role will be essential to ensuring our suppliers are engaged and ready to support Pret as we transform and grow.

 

This position will involve specific responsibility for shaping and managing Pret’s buying strategy to meet quality standards, brand values, availability, and cost requirements through the effective and ongoing management of the supply base. The role will work closely with other members of Pret’s Food, Supply Chain and Launch teams (QA, Safety, Food Development, Supply Chain & Logistics) to deliver the Food Plan.

 

The role includes wider commercial responsibility to maximize the sales and profit from Pret’s assortment and optimize the menu to achieve Pret’s food innovation priorities and commercial budget requirements.

Cost Management:

• To negotiate costs with suppliers that will meet budget, deliver the best financial deal for Pret, while achieving a sustainable relationship with the supplier.
• To negotiate and sign terms of contract with suppliers to ensure stable supply of products for Pret.
• To constantly work with suppliers to search for efficiencies (e.g. in packaging, logistics, ingredients, volume growth, etc.) that will improve Pret’s cost of food.
• To proactively monitor cost prices that Pret pays and to regularly benchmark these to ensure Pret’s prices are competitive.
• Understanding of market changes that could impact costs and future strategic purchasing e.g. commodity and currency market movements.

To negotiate rebates with relevant suppliers and to ensure that records are updated and funds invoiced quarterly or annually (dependent on individual agreements).   

Supplier Management:

• To be Pret’s ‘account manager’ of the supplier and to provide overall management of the supplier relationship.
• To hold regular review meetings with key suppliers to ensure that all aspects of the supplier’s relationship with Pret meet the standards required (covering commercial/logistics/QA/development/sustainability).    
• To identify, select and develop suppliers, in conjunction with the QA team, who are able to meet Pret’s current and future needs.
• To manage the supply base and understand market trends/risks to ensure that any potential risks to the supply of products are identified and that contingencies are put into effect to mitigate these.
• In conjunction with the logistics and supply chain team, constantly seek out opportunities for improvement in efficiency within the supply base that will result in obtaining and delivering fresher food to the shops.
• To support logistics colleagues in ensuring suppliers meet availability requirements. This involves the management of existing suppliers and ensuring that new suppliers have effective logistic plans in place.

To support Food and QA teams in managing supplier quality issues as required.

Menu Management:

• Continually review sales, gross margin and waste of products on Pret’s menu. Identify opportunities for improvement or, where appropriate, recommend delists.
• Make range recommendations based on product performance against plans.
• Provide accurate sales forecasts and ingredient volumes for future food launches.
• Work with the relevant members of the Food & Coffee Team to carry out range reviews and effective execution of food innovation and seasonal launch plans.
• To keep abreast of developments within area of responsibility (specific products, suppliers, etc.) to achieve sustainable improvements for Pret, and/or incremental sales opportunities.

To support Marketing, Food Development and QA team in executing the new product development process specifically in reference to factory trials, specifications and sensory profiles.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Ad hoc projects
• Participate in our Buddy Day program
• Potential travel

What you bring:

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent
• 3+ years buying and/or category management experience in Food Service or Grocery
• Strong commercial awareness and analytical skills
• Passionate about food
• Background of managing complex relationships with suppliers
• Good understanding of purchasing processes and practices in a fast-moving retail/service organization
• Negotiation skills
• Strong Influencing skills
• Project management skills
• Good understanding of factory production processes and shop operations
• Strong computer skills – Excel / PowerPoint / Word

Comp: $90,000 – $100,000

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.