MacGregor Black
Trading Director
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Trading Director – Beers, Wines & Spirits
Do you have extensive experience leading Buying, Trading or Category teams within Beers, Wines & Spirits? Have you built and delivered trading strategies that drive sales, margin and long-term category growth? Are you ready to take ownership of a significant BWS portfolio, leading major supplier relationships and influencing the wider direction of the business?
MacGregor Black are partnering with a leading UK Consumer Retail business on the search for a Trading Director – Beers, Wines & Spirits. This is a permanent role based in London.
This is a significant opportunity to take responsibility for the trading strategy and commercial performance of a large Beers, Wines & Spirits portfolio. The successful candidate will shape the direction of the category, lead relationships and negotiations with major drinks suppliers, and work across the business to deliver sustainable sales and profitability.
The role could suit an established Trading or Buying Director, or an experienced Head of Trading, Head of Buying or Category Controller looking to step into a broader Director-level position with greater ownership and influence.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and deliver the overall trading strategy across Beers, Wines & Spirits.
- Take responsibility for driving sales, margin, profitability and overall category performance.
- Lead major supplier negotiations, ensuring strong commercial terms and sustainable long-term partnerships.
- Build strategic relationships with key drinks suppliers and identify opportunities to unlock additional value and investment.
- Oversee ranging, pricing, promotional and category plans across the BWS portfolio.
- Identify changing customer behaviours, market trends and emerging opportunities across beer, wine and spirits.
- Use commercial data and insight to challenge performance and inform trading decisions.
- Work closely with Finance, Supply Chain, Marketing, Operations and other Trading teams to deliver commercial objectives.
- Lead, coach and develop the BWS trading team, setting clear expectations and creating a high-performance environment.
- Ensure trading strategy is translated into effective execution across the wider business.
- Represent the BWS category with key suppliers and partners across the drinks industry.
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Qualifications & Experience
- Significant experience within Trading, Buying or Category Management, ideally within a sizeable retail, grocery, convenience or consumer business.
- Strong knowledge of the Beers, Wines & Spirits market and the commercial dynamics of the category. WSET or similar strongly desired.
- Proven experience managing significant supplier relationships and leading complex commercial negotiations.
- Strong understanding of pricing, promotions, ranging, supplier investment and margin management.
- Evidence of delivering measurable sales, margin and profitability improvements.
- Experience leading and developing Buying, Trading or Category teams.
- Strong commercial judgement with the confidence to make decisions and challenge existing ways of working.
- Comfortable using data and insight to identify opportunities and shape commercial strategy.
- Excellent stakeholder management skills with experience influencing at Director and Board level.
- Able to combine long-term strategic thinking with the pace and hands-on decision making required within a fast-moving trading environment.
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Salary & Benefits
- Base salary up to £120,000
- Performance-related bonus
- Comprehensive benefits package
This is a Head Office-based position in London, working onsite five days per week.
Please contact Kieron Hall at MacGregor Black for more information.
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