>>the highs and lows of a week in the industry
In his new role in the world of cash and carry, as Booker’s grocery buyer responsible for ethnic, Asian and Oriental food, sugar and preserves, Paul Stanley has been put through his paces.
Every week he has liaised daily with a cross-section of people and has attended training seminars.
Stanley, who joined on October 20, describes it as a “rigorous and intensive induction programme, which over the first five weeks of employment involves meeting people including branch managers, head office and regional colleagues”.
And the pace will not slacken during the next two weeks, when he says his days will be crammed full of meetings with suppliers to work out a mutually beneficial buying strategy.
He says: “The strategy is to roll out an improved and expanded range of real Asia and Orient products to 56 branches during 2004. This range should significantly increase the appeal of the offer and make Booker a nationwide wholesaler of a credible Asia and Oriental range.”
Despite the wide brief, Stanley has enough experience not to be daunted and the fact that he relishes so many parts of his job also helps.
He lists negotiating, dealing with people and seeing a product through from start to finish as his favourite aspects. But he’s not too keen on wasting time with unnecessary phone calls and e-mails.
But as a buyer, Stanley is no stranger to major operations. He began his career at Sainsbury 18 years ago, working as a trainee and assistant store manager.
He then moved into buying at Sainsbury for 10 years. “During that time, I was mainly responsible for grocery buying as well as several non-food areas and fresh dairy,” he says.
He moved to Safeway for six years as senior grocery buyer before a stint at Homebase buying power tools.
a rigorous ethnic role at booker
In his new role in the world of cash and carry, as Booker’s grocery buyer responsible for ethnic, Asian and Oriental food, sugar and preserves, Paul Stanley has been put through his paces.
Every week he has liaised daily with a cross-section of people and has attended training seminars.
Stanley, who joined on October 20, describes it as a “rigorous and intensive induction programme, which over the first five weeks of employment involves meeting people including branch managers, head office and regional colleagues”.
And the pace will not slacken during the next two weeks, when he says his days will be crammed full of meetings with suppliers to work out a mutually beneficial buying strategy.
He says: “The strategy is to roll out an improved and expanded range of real Asia and Orient products to 56 branches during 2004. This range should significantly increase the appeal of the offer and make Booker a nationwide wholesaler of a credible Asia and Oriental range.”
Despite the wide brief, Stanley has enough experience not to be daunted and the fact that he relishes so many parts of his job also helps.
He lists negotiating, dealing with people and seeing a product through from start to finish as his favourite aspects. But he’s not too keen on wasting time with unnecessary phone calls and e-mails.
But as a buyer, Stanley is no stranger to major operations. He began his career at Sainsbury 18 years ago, working as a trainee and assistant store manager.
He then moved into buying at Sainsbury for 10 years. “During that time, I was mainly responsible for grocery buying as well as several non-food areas and fresh dairy,” he says.
He moved to Safeway for six years as senior grocery buyer before a stint at Homebase buying power tools.
a rigorous ethnic role at booker
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