Star buyer Stuart Owens Ambient and chilled juice buyer, Waitrose



He became a trainee buyer in 1990 at Sainsbury's. He progressed to a buying role in health and beauty, then household products. In 1998 he became a buyer for US chain Petsmart before joining Safeway as a buyer for soup in 2000. He took up his current role at Waitrose in 2003 and is now responsible for buying ambient and chilled juice lines.

?Guy Welford Category buyer, fresh milk, cream & chilled juice, Somerfield



He has been in his current role for two and a half years, and within this he has responsibility for buying chilled juice. Before this Welford was the buyer of pre-packed cheese, butters, spread and margarine. He has worked for Somerfield for 14 years, starting with stacking shelves as a boy when he was doing his A levels.



?Tim Wykes Senior buyer, chilled, Morrisons



He started his career with Morrisons in 1998 as own-label packaging co-ordinator on the marketing team. Two years later he joined the fresh foods buying team as a trainee buyer and was promoted to fresh food buyer after 15 months. He has spent the past 18 months as senior buyer for chilled juices, probiotic drinks and milk.



?Jane Potter Squash and juice drinks buyer, Tesco



Potter has been the buyer for squash and for lunchbox drinks for the past nine months. Before that she was on the Tesco retail graduate scheme, which she joined directly from Sheffield Hallam University.



?Jon Cummings Soft drinks buyer, Asda



Cummings says Asda overtrades in carbonated soft drinks but consumers are generally moving away from them into healthier categories such as water.



?Debbie Roberts Juices and smoothies buyer, Morrisons



Roberts joined Morrisons in October 2004 as assistant soft drinks buyer as part of the trading team expansion following the Safeway takeover. She was promoted to soft drinks buyer in July 2006. Before joining Morrisons she worked for P&O and Batleys.

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