With health high on the agenda, particularly when it comes to products aimed at children, the yoghurt and pot desserts category is an important one in terms of the buying the most suitable products
Suppliers are under pressure to make products that fit into the tighter requirements of each supermarket, but it is clear they recognise the pressure buyers are under when it comes to growing the category and assessing innovation.
For a category that often takes up a relatively small footprint in relation to the total floor space of a store, a large number of buyers of yoghurt and pot desserts were nominated for this feature and competition was fierce to get into the top six.
Sainsbury's Emma Dunlop emerges as the Star Buyer. Suppliers praise her for being clear on her requirements, which rank highly on their list of key qualities in establishing a good buyer-supplier relationship. She gets recognition for the fact that she “is efficient and she follows up on proposals,” and also wins respect for showing enthusiasm.
“Dunlop is extremely pragmatic and always judges business cases with the category in mind,” says one. “Her energy, passion and determination to develop a winning joint business is, with my eight years in the industry, the best I have seen.”
Dunlop is not the only buyer who displays noteworthy determination. Tesco's James Cornish stands out from the rest because he is “always looking for solutions and opportunities”, according to one supplier.
Cornish also gets praise for being relatively easy to reach on the phone and “to the point and fair. He strikes the best deal for Tesco but is also supportive of smaller businesses.”
Understanding and having a passion for the category is an admirable quality. Jane Hills, Waitrose's dairy buyer, is praised for having a “very detailed knowledge of the sector”. Suppliers also think warmly of her because she is keen to try new products and does not shy away from new ideas.
Another who is considered to be receptive to new challenges and ideas is Steve Dixon, trading controller at Nisachill. Not only do suppliers consider him to be open and pragmatic, but Dixon is “willing to take a risk - and he has honest and candid views on the market,” says one company. Suppliers also describe him a “breathe of fresh air to deal with”. Others say they have established good working relationships with Dixon to develop their brands and businesses.
A friendly approach is another winning quality, which is the reason why Laura Kingsman from Budgens has been voted into the top six. As well as her approachability, Kingsman is also recognised as being a buyer who can strike the best deal for Budgens, which earns her the respect of her suppliers.
In this category suppliers say they fully understand the pressure buyers are under. Nicky Lees, Asda's dairy buyer for yoghurts and health drinks, is noted for being “challenging to suppliers” although it is clear she “is not afraid to challenge her business in effort to drive new opportunities she feels are right for the category”. To this end, she is evidently supportive of npd but “demands that they are supported by a strong launch package in return”.
The fact that she has been in her current role for more than 18 months is also welcomed by suppliers, who say it has “proved beneficial to have had a period of stability to drive through longer-term initiatives”.
Star buyer
Emma Dunlop, senior dairy buyer, Sainsbury's
After university, Emma Dunlop secured a work placement with Corus UK, which helped her get on Tesco's graduate scheme. Her first role with Tesco was as a frozen food buyer. She joined Sainsbury's eight months and has taken to the role with determination as well as impressing suppliers with her energy and enthusiasm.
Nicky Lees, dairy buyer yoghurts and health drinks, Asda
Nicky Lees started as a trading assistant at Asda, before becoming to trainee buyer for cosmetics. Lees joined the supermarket's chilled team as its ready meals buyer. A year ago she became part of the dairy team as its yoghurt buyer. And has since taken on desserts and active health drinks.
Steve Dixon, trading controller, Nisachill
Steve Dixon started out pushing trolleys for a supermarket. He worked his way up to store manager, spent 10 years working for various stores and then switched to field sales. He joined Nisa-Today's as a buying controller and oversees eight frozen and chilled categories.
James Cornish, desserts buyer, Tesco
James Cornish joined Tesco in January 2004 as its lead customer manager in dairy. Before joining Tesco he worked at GlaxoSmithKline as a national account manager. He spent time as the buying manager for butters, spreads and margarine and before moving into his role as buyer for sandwiches, cream cakes and desserts.
Laura Kingsman, dairy buyer, Budgens
Kingsman's career with Budgens began five years ago when she moved from Safeway as a trainee buyer. She has bought yoghurts for more than three years and was responsible for launching Budgens' own label low fat yoghurts and its premium own label.
Jane Hills, dairy buyer, Waitrose
Jane Hills has worked at Waitrose since 2004, running the short-life dairy category. Before joining Waitrose Hills worked at Safeway, gaining buying experience in a number of categories including bakery, frozen food and grocery. Hills has a degree in food science.
Suppliers are under pressure to make products that fit into the tighter requirements of each supermarket, but it is clear they recognise the pressure buyers are under when it comes to growing the category and assessing innovation.
For a category that often takes up a relatively small footprint in relation to the total floor space of a store, a large number of buyers of yoghurt and pot desserts were nominated for this feature and competition was fierce to get into the top six.
Sainsbury's Emma Dunlop emerges as the Star Buyer. Suppliers praise her for being clear on her requirements, which rank highly on their list of key qualities in establishing a good buyer-supplier relationship. She gets recognition for the fact that she “is efficient and she follows up on proposals,” and also wins respect for showing enthusiasm.
“Dunlop is extremely pragmatic and always judges business cases with the category in mind,” says one. “Her energy, passion and determination to develop a winning joint business is, with my eight years in the industry, the best I have seen.”
Dunlop is not the only buyer who displays noteworthy determination. Tesco's James Cornish stands out from the rest because he is “always looking for solutions and opportunities”, according to one supplier.
Cornish also gets praise for being relatively easy to reach on the phone and “to the point and fair. He strikes the best deal for Tesco but is also supportive of smaller businesses.”
Understanding and having a passion for the category is an admirable quality. Jane Hills, Waitrose's dairy buyer, is praised for having a “very detailed knowledge of the sector”. Suppliers also think warmly of her because she is keen to try new products and does not shy away from new ideas.
Another who is considered to be receptive to new challenges and ideas is Steve Dixon, trading controller at Nisachill. Not only do suppliers consider him to be open and pragmatic, but Dixon is “willing to take a risk - and he has honest and candid views on the market,” says one company. Suppliers also describe him a “breathe of fresh air to deal with”. Others say they have established good working relationships with Dixon to develop their brands and businesses.
A friendly approach is another winning quality, which is the reason why Laura Kingsman from Budgens has been voted into the top six. As well as her approachability, Kingsman is also recognised as being a buyer who can strike the best deal for Budgens, which earns her the respect of her suppliers.
In this category suppliers say they fully understand the pressure buyers are under. Nicky Lees, Asda's dairy buyer for yoghurts and health drinks, is noted for being “challenging to suppliers” although it is clear she “is not afraid to challenge her business in effort to drive new opportunities she feels are right for the category”. To this end, she is evidently supportive of npd but “demands that they are supported by a strong launch package in return”.
The fact that she has been in her current role for more than 18 months is also welcomed by suppliers, who say it has “proved beneficial to have had a period of stability to drive through longer-term initiatives”.
Star buyer
Emma Dunlop, senior dairy buyer, Sainsbury's
After university, Emma Dunlop secured a work placement with Corus UK, which helped her get on Tesco's graduate scheme. Her first role with Tesco was as a frozen food buyer. She joined Sainsbury's eight months and has taken to the role with determination as well as impressing suppliers with her energy and enthusiasm.
Nicky Lees, dairy buyer yoghurts and health drinks, Asda
Nicky Lees started as a trading assistant at Asda, before becoming to trainee buyer for cosmetics. Lees joined the supermarket's chilled team as its ready meals buyer. A year ago she became part of the dairy team as its yoghurt buyer. And has since taken on desserts and active health drinks.
Steve Dixon, trading controller, Nisachill
Steve Dixon started out pushing trolleys for a supermarket. He worked his way up to store manager, spent 10 years working for various stores and then switched to field sales. He joined Nisa-Today's as a buying controller and oversees eight frozen and chilled categories.
James Cornish, desserts buyer, Tesco
James Cornish joined Tesco in January 2004 as its lead customer manager in dairy. Before joining Tesco he worked at GlaxoSmithKline as a national account manager. He spent time as the buying manager for butters, spreads and margarine and before moving into his role as buyer for sandwiches, cream cakes and desserts.
Laura Kingsman, dairy buyer, Budgens
Kingsman's career with Budgens began five years ago when she moved from Safeway as a trainee buyer. She has bought yoghurts for more than three years and was responsible for launching Budgens' own label low fat yoghurts and its premium own label.
Jane Hills, dairy buyer, Waitrose
Jane Hills has worked at Waitrose since 2004, running the short-life dairy category. Before joining Waitrose Hills worked at Safeway, gaining buying experience in a number of categories including bakery, frozen food and grocery. Hills has a degree in food science.
No comments yet