Food Buyer

About Us

WHSmith is an iconic British retailer with proud Australian operations, at the heart of travel, offering books, news, and essentials, designed for life on the move. Our diverse retail brands include WHSmith Retail, Long Shot, The Market Kitchen and The Book Cellar, each dedicated to delivering exceptional customer experiences.

Our stores are located in some of Australia’s busiest airports and hospitals, providing a dynamic and fast paced work environment that is perfect for a driven individual who thrives on a challenge and is ready to kick start their career.

How You’ll Make an Impact

You’ll play an integral part of our buying team, managing supplier relationships, negotiating agreements all to ensure the effective procurement of food products needed to meet operational demands nationwide. This is a varied and hands-on role that blends Procurement with the art of Buying.

A day in your life could look like

• Managing, negotiating, and onboarding suppliers in line with WHSmith’s National Food Strategy
• Conducting product costing and sales margin analysis using clear data-driven insights
• Liaising with external suppliers to confirm pricing and delivery timelines, and resolving any discrepancies, delays, or quality concerns
• Supporting decisions around food product selection, stock levels, space allocation, and inventory management
• Owning pricing strategies across our cafés and food-to-go offerings

• Leading end-to-end management of customer promotional activities across the café and Food to Go range.

What You’ll Need To Succeed

We’re looking for someone who’s eager to make a difference and has an analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data and translate that into meaningful commercial results. This is a fast-paced and dynamic environment but one with a strong team culture.

The following qualities are key

• Proven experience within Food / Fresh Food Buying and/or Procurement
• Exceptional contract negotiation and vendor management skills
• Experience within contract catering is preferable.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to build and maintain relationships

What’s In It For You?

• Opportunity to make your mark and own the Food portfolio
• Be part of a supportive and collaborative team
• Opportunities for career development and growth
• Learn from experienced professionals and gain exposure to real business challenges
• Access to 24/7 wellbeing support through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Generous employee discounts across our retail network

We’re committed to helping you build a strong foundation for your career. If you’re ready to take the next step apply now!

WHSmith is an equal opportunity employer. We value equity and inclusion across all aspects of our business. If you have any support requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of your application, so we can assist you appropriately during the recruitment process.

Please note: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.