About the role
We are looking for a commercially focused Fresh Produce Sales Trader to join an established fresh produce business.
The successful candidate will be responsible for buying and selling fresh produce, with a particular focus on fresh salads, while maintaining strong commercial relationships with customers and suppliers.
This is a fast-paced role requiring strong commercial awareness, excellent communication and negotiation skills, and the ability to react quickly to changes in product availability, market pricing and customer demand.
The role involves regular communication with customers, suppliers, warehouse teams, logistics and other departments to ensure products are traded efficiently while maintaining quality, service levels and commercial margins.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Sales & Trading
• Buy and sell fresh produce according to customer demand, product availability and current market conditions
• Negotiate purchase and selling prices, quantities, delivery schedules and commercial terms
• Monitor market prices and respond appropriately to changes in supply and demand
• Manage commercial margins and ensure transactions remain commercially viable
• Identify opportunities to maximise sales and profitability
• Support the development of new business and trading opportunities
• Work towards agreed sales, margin and commercial targets
Customer Management
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with new and existing wholesale customers
• Understand individual customer requirements and provide appropriate product solutions
• Take and process customer orders accurately and efficiently
• Provide customers with information regarding availability, pricing and delivery
• Handle customer queries, complaints and product issues professionally and efficiently
• Maintain high standards of customer service
• Support customer tenders and prepare relevant commercial information when required
Stock & Product Management
• Monitor stock levels and product availability
• Monitor shelf life, product quality and stock rotation
• Work closely with operational teams to manage short shelf-life products
• Identify opportunities to move surplus or short-dated stock commercially
• Help minimise product waste and associated financial losses
• Ensure customer requirements are matched appropriately with available stock
Operations & Logistics
• Liaise closely with warehouse, logistics and delivery teams
• Ensure customer orders are prepared and delivered accurately and on time
• Communicate changes in orders, availability or delivery requirements to relevant departments
• Help resolve operational or delivery issues affecting customers
• Maintain effective communication between commercial and operational teams
Commercial & Administrative Responsibilities
• Maintain accurate customer and order information
• Complete and support customer tenders
• Monitor sales performance, margins and commercial activity
• Maintain appropriate records and documentation
• Use Microsoft 365 and relevant internal systems effectively
• Support commercial reporting where required
• Ensure relevant food safety, quality and trading requirements are followed
Qualifications & experience
- Previous experience within fresh produce, wholesale trading, food distribution, FMCG, sales or a similar commercial environment is preferred
- Experience within fresh salads, vegetables or other short shelf-life products would be advantageous
- Strong sales and negotiation skills
- Good commercial awareness with an understanding of pricing, margins and profitability
- Ability to monitor market conditions and react quickly to changes in supply, demand and pricing
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Strong customer and supplier relationship-building skills
- Ability to make quick and commercially sound decisions
- Strong organisational and time-management skills
- Ability to prioritise effectively within a fast-paced environment
- Confidence communicating with customers, suppliers and internal operational teams
- Good numerical skills and attention to detail
- Strong problem-solving ability
- Proficient in Microsoft 365
- Ability to work independently and as part of a wider team
Candidate requirements
All applicants must hold a minimum of an NVQ Level 2, Scottish NVQ Level 2, or an equivalent qualification relevant to the role applied for. Candidates must also have the legal right to work in the UK or hold a valid visa permitting employment.
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