Group Retail Procurement & Merchandising Manager

Department: Procurement & Retail Operations

Reporting to: Operations Director (with strategic reporting to the CEO)

Location: Head Office – Daventry (with travel to group sites)

Package: Competitive Salary + Car Allowance + Performance Bonus

We are looking for a sharp, commercially driven Group Retail Procurement & Merchandising Manager to join us at a defining moment in our business journey. With major expansion plans underway, including the rapid scale of our Mapleleaf Express convenience brands, we need a negotiation heavyweight who can take full ownership of our buying and inventory strategy.

This isn't a role for a spectator. You will hold the commercial keys to our entire retail portfolio, negotiating directly with major suppliers and wholesalers to drive group profitability. If you are an ambitious buyer who loves high-stakes negotiation, thrives on data-driven strategy, and wants a direct route to executive-level progression, this is the role you've been waiting for.

As the Group Retail Procurement & Merchandising Manager, you will hold commercial ownership of all retail products across the Mapleleaf Group portfolio, including our growing Mapleleaf Express convenience brands. You will design and execute our buying strategies, negotiate market-leading commercial terms with major suppliers and wholesalers, and directly impact group profitability.

This is a pivotal role combining high-level commercial negotiation with group-wide inventory strategy.

• Commercial Buying & Strategy: Develop and implement profitable procurement strategies across grocery, chilled, frozen, confectionery, tobacco, and seasonal retail lines. Standardise product ranges across all group sites while keeping the flexibility to meet local customer demands. Monitor market pricing and competitor activity to keep our retail pricing highly competitive.
• Supplier & Wholesaler Negotiation: Source new suppliers and negotiate optimal pricing, payment terms, and retrospective volume rebates. Secure lucrative annual trading agreements and dedicated promotional funding from key suppliers and Cash & Carry networks. Conduct regular supplier performance reviews.
• Stock Strategy & Commercial Planning: Oversee group-wide inventory health by analysing sales trends and forecasting demand accurately. Build and execute seasonal buying plans to maximise trading during peak calendar periods, ensuring 100% stock availability ahead of promotional campaign launches.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration & Reporting: Work closely with the Finance team to reconcile supplier invoices and track rebate collections. Support and develop Store Managers with high-level stock planning and commercial awareness training. Deliver clear procurement and margin performance reports directly to senior leadership.

• Margin Improvement:
  Increase overall retail gross profit (GP) percentages across all categories.
• Commercial Income:
  Achieve and exceed supplier rebate and promotional funding targets.
• Stock Optimisation:
  Maintain high stock availability while reducing group waste and shrinkage.
• Supply Chain Efficiency:
  Reduce emergency or ad-hoc purchasing across retail locations.

• Experience:
  
  5+ years of proven success in retail procurement, buying, or category management (ideally within convenience retail, supermarkets, or forecourts).
• Negotiation: A track record of negotiating high-value supplier agreements and rebate structures.
• Analytical Mindset:
  Highly proficient in Microsoft Excel with strong demand forecasting and data analysis abilities.
• Mobility:
  Full UK driving license and a willingness to travel between group locations to audit inventory standards.

• Competitive Base Salary tailored to your experience.
• Performance-Related Bonus structure tied directly to your negotiated savings and margins.
• A dynamic, rapidly expanding business environment with clear routes to executive-level progression.