This month, the very best buyers in the frozen foods category are nominated by suppliers. Fiona McLelland reports
Tesco has come out top with two of its buyers voted among the Six of the Best this month. The Grocer asked suppliers of frozen foods to nominate the buyers they most admire and Tesco’s ice cream and desserts buyer Wendy White received the most nominations. She was also among the six best frozen buyers in March 2004.
“Wendy has given us the biggest opportunities among the multiples,” said one small manufacturer.
“She has been very open with information and has taught us a lot. She has given us information about different store formats and customers.”
One supplier described The Co-operative Group’s frozen foods buyer, Sarah Bailey, as “very accessible, tough but fair, open to suggestions and very focused on her job”.
The accessibility of Somerfield’s buyer for ice cream and frozen desserts, Louise Dunford, impressed our suppliers. “She is very quick responding to any questions. She is also very approachable.”
Tesco’s frozen ready meals and pizzas buyer, Gareth Jones, was said to be a tough trader, but our suppliers said he was always fair and professional, and knowledgeable about all the categories involved.”
Jason Smith, Sainsbury’s senior buyer, frozen, gained his nominations for his honesty, decisive nature and ability to encourage debate. “Jason always stands by what he says and never promises something he knows he can’t deliver. He is patient but persistent and his calm approach helps build a more productive relationship.”
Like White, John Wyatt, Asda’s buyer for frozen chips, potatoes and vegetables and frozen fish, was one of frozen foods’ Six of the Best last year. This time round suppliers praised his accessibility, honesty and his ability to deliver his end of a deal.
“He trades in a friendly manner and is interested in new ideas.”
Sarah Bailey
Sarah Bailey joined the Co-operative Group last year and looks after the ice cream, dessert, savoury pastry and ready meal ranges. Prior to joining, Bailey was employed at Iceland for 11 years. She started as a finance clerk, was then a buyer’s assistant, a packaging technologist, and became a buyer in 1999.
Louise Dunford
Dunford joined Somerfield in 2003 after graduating with a law degree. She started on the management training scheme, which involved completing a number of cross-department projects. She joined the buying team for frozen foods last year. She has recently introduced a new range of premium So Good ice creams.
Gareth Jones
Jones has been with Tesco for three years. He previously worked in stock control and as a confectionery buyer for Woolworths and at Wilkinson Sword, where he managed a blade packaging production team. He says his experience in manufacturing gives him a more informed view of the business.
Jason Smith
Smith has a background in wholesale trade and convenience retailing with buying roles for Landmark and Total Fina Elf. He joined Sainsbury in 2002 as buyer within household. He worked as a project analyst in performance improvement before becoming senior buyer within frozen responsible for ready meals and pizza. John Wyatt
Wyatt joined Asda in 2000 as a graduate trainee and worked in-store as a warehouse manager. He became a trading assistant in frozen foods in 2002, then was trainee buyer on desserts, ice cream and fish before being promoted to buyer for frozen chips, potatoes and vegetables, and subsequently fish.
Tesco has come out top with two of its buyers voted among the Six of the Best this month. The Grocer asked suppliers of frozen foods to nominate the buyers they most admire and Tesco’s ice cream and desserts buyer Wendy White received the most nominations. She was also among the six best frozen buyers in March 2004.
“Wendy has given us the biggest opportunities among the multiples,” said one small manufacturer.
“She has been very open with information and has taught us a lot. She has given us information about different store formats and customers.”
One supplier described The Co-operative Group’s frozen foods buyer, Sarah Bailey, as “very accessible, tough but fair, open to suggestions and very focused on her job”.
The accessibility of Somerfield’s buyer for ice cream and frozen desserts, Louise Dunford, impressed our suppliers. “She is very quick responding to any questions. She is also very approachable.”
Tesco’s frozen ready meals and pizzas buyer, Gareth Jones, was said to be a tough trader, but our suppliers said he was always fair and professional, and knowledgeable about all the categories involved.”
Jason Smith, Sainsbury’s senior buyer, frozen, gained his nominations for his honesty, decisive nature and ability to encourage debate. “Jason always stands by what he says and never promises something he knows he can’t deliver. He is patient but persistent and his calm approach helps build a more productive relationship.”
Like White, John Wyatt, Asda’s buyer for frozen chips, potatoes and vegetables and frozen fish, was one of frozen foods’ Six of the Best last year. This time round suppliers praised his accessibility, honesty and his ability to deliver his end of a deal.
“He trades in a friendly manner and is interested in new ideas.”
Sarah Bailey
Sarah Bailey joined the Co-operative Group last year and looks after the ice cream, dessert, savoury pastry and ready meal ranges. Prior to joining, Bailey was employed at Iceland for 11 years. She started as a finance clerk, was then a buyer’s assistant, a packaging technologist, and became a buyer in 1999.
Louise Dunford
Dunford joined Somerfield in 2003 after graduating with a law degree. She started on the management training scheme, which involved completing a number of cross-department projects. She joined the buying team for frozen foods last year. She has recently introduced a new range of premium So Good ice creams.
Gareth Jones
Jones has been with Tesco for three years. He previously worked in stock control and as a confectionery buyer for Woolworths and at Wilkinson Sword, where he managed a blade packaging production team. He says his experience in manufacturing gives him a more informed view of the business.
Jason Smith
Smith has a background in wholesale trade and convenience retailing with buying roles for Landmark and Total Fina Elf. He joined Sainsbury in 2002 as buyer within household. He worked as a project analyst in performance improvement before becoming senior buyer within frozen responsible for ready meals and pizza. John Wyatt
Wyatt joined Asda in 2000 as a graduate trainee and worked in-store as a warehouse manager. He became a trading assistant in frozen foods in 2002, then was trainee buyer on desserts, ice cream and fish before being promoted to buyer for frozen chips, potatoes and vegetables, and subsequently fish.
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