Tarik

Buying Manager, Commercial/Produce

BA Management Studies, Nottingham University
Joined Tesco September 2004

The biggest challenge when I first started was taking in all the information that was being fed to me. You’re really thrown in at the deep end, and although it can be a little daunting at first, I found it to be the best way to learn. It means from day one you are given real responsibility and the opportunity to make a difference. There are plenty of chances for advancement and there’s always support along the way.

My time working in a store gave me a thorough understanding of the customer end, the shopping experience and the issues store staff face each day. It also gave me first hand experience the impact my decisions as a buyer could have on store operations.

My job’s so varied that no day is ever the same. Put simply I ensure that there is the right product on the shelf, at the right time and at the right price. To do this I decide price, negotiate cost and promotions with suppliers, agree the range, develop new products and help find new sources to maintain availability. This means one day I’ll be in the office, the next day I’ll be visiting stores and the next I could be out meeting a supplier. My roles so far have been in the Food categories, and the last 3 years have seen me gain breadth of experience as Buying Manager for Produce and now Buying Manager for Dairy.

My ambition in the short term is to become a senior buying manager. I’d then like to spend some time abroad in one of our International teams. I have no doubt that if I continue to add value and improve the shopping trip for the customer, Tesco will support me in my career.