Manager - Buyer for Dry Food

Ayala Corporation has formed a joint venture with CP AXTRA, Thailand's leading wholesale and retail operator, to bring Makro to the Philippines. The venture aims to introduce a differentiated wholesale format and assortment to the Philippines to address unmet local demand for high-quality, fresh food products.

Role Overview

The Manager - Buyer (Dry Food) manages, conceptualizes, develops, and purchases Dry Food products in line with company guidelines, achieving launch, sales, and profit targets for the category. As part of a growing start-up retail business, this role requires a hands-on leader who can drive category strategy, manage supplier relationships, and support strategic decision-making as we grow our wholesale footprint in the Philippines.

Key Responsibilities:

• Plan and select a range of Dry Food products to sell
• Set up sales plans and manage other income streams
• Manage and control category budget allocation across suppliers
• Assess customer demand, including price, quality, and availability
• Capture, analyze, and predict future market trends, adapting quickly to shifts in demand
• Evaluate company financial budgets against category products and policies
• Maximize profits at competitive prices through benchmarking against rivals
• Ensure products match or exceed benchmark quality while priced according to brand positioning
• Understand product seasonality, popularity, and timing within the category
• Regularly review performance indicators such as sales and discount levels
• Manage stock level planning and respond to changes in demand and logistics
• Meet with suppliers and negotiate contract terms
• Maintain relationships with existing suppliers and source new ones for the future
• Participate in promotional activities and understand customer needs
• Prepare reports and sales forecasts, presenting to senior management

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, International Business Administration, or related field
• Minimum 5-7 years of experience in sourcing or buying, ideally in grocery assortments
• Strong negotiation skills and solid commercial/merchandising sense
• Proactive, initiative-driven, with a positive, can-do attitude
• Ability to multitask and respond quickly under pressure
• Results- and detail-oriented
• Good command of English
• Proficient in MS Office