Food Category Development Director – Leading Procurement Business – Hybrid - £130K + Benefits

My client is a leading procurement business who supply some of the most well-known businesses in UK hospitality and Foodservice.

They are currently looking for a Food Category Development Director to join their team.

The successful Food Category Development Director will lead the strategic development and commercial performance of all their food categories, owning end-to-end category strategy across core & specialist food categories, driving value for their clients through supplier partnerships, market intelligence, and innovative procurement strategies.

This is the perfect opportunity for a high performing Category Development Director or Procurement Director to join a leading business who can match their ambition and offer great exposure and genuine opportunities.

Responsibilities include:

• Develop and execute the category strategy across all food categories.
• Lead supplier sourcing, negotiation, and contract management to deliver best value and quality
• Manage and develop a team of category managers and buyers
• Build strategic supplier relationships and lead joint business planning
• Use market insights and commodity analysis to inform pricing and procurement strategies
• Collaborate with commercial and client teams to support client retention and growth
• Identify cost-saving opportunities, product innovation, and supply chain efficiencies
• Ensure compliance with food safety, sustainability, and ethical sourcing standards
• Monitor category performance, margins, and KPIs

The Ideal Food Category Development Director Candidate:

• Senior level procurement experience within foodservice, hospitality, retail, or F&B distribution.
• Strong supplier negotiation and contract management skills
• Proven experience managing multiple food categories
• Leadership experience managing procurement/category teams
• Commercially driven with strong financial acumen
• Strong stakeholder management and client-facing experience

If you are keen to discuss the details further, please apply today or send your cv to Mikey at COREcruitment dot com / mikey@corecruitment.com