Summary
Overview
Work history
Education
Skills
Certification
References
Timeline
Generic

Heather Barlow

Manchester,Greater Manchester

Summary

A results-driven and highly motivated individual with experience in retail and strong commitment to increasing sales and profitability, whilst maintaining a strong customer focus. Demonstrates strong skills in supplier relationship management and project & team leadership, driving cost-reduction strategies with commercial acumen.

Committed to leveraging these competencies to achieve strategic business objectives and deliver sustainable growth. Seeking a new challenge to utilise skills and an opportunity for further management responsibility to support the development of high performing teams.

Overview

7
7
years of professional experience
5
5
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification

Work history

Senior Trading Manager- Pizza Counter & Salad Bar

WM Morrison Supermarkets Ltd
Bradford, West Yorkshire
02.2025 - Current
  • Led cross-functional teams to deliver full range reset and new concepts including the biggest change across the Pizza Counter in over 10 years
  • Created new elevated and premium ranges to increase sales and cash profit whilst delivering increased customer offer.
  • Managed product quality to maintain high standards, including thorough EPD across key salad bar lines working with strategic partners.
  • Implemented loss prevention strategies, reducing unknown loss, waste and shrinkage levels.
  • Improved cost efficiency with effective contract negotiations including use of tenders.
  • Identified potential new suppliers for strategic expansion initiatives and used this to deliver significant annual savings.
  • Led product showcases to engage multifunctional senior stakeholders on delivery of new strategic direction

Buying Manager Deli

WM Morrison Supermarkets Ltd
Bradford, West Yorkshire
07.2023 - 02.2025
  • Led and managed a small team to deliver commercial objectives across multiple subcategories and industries.
  • Built strategic partnerships and managed long term collaborative supplier contracts and terms agreements.
  • Managed and supported development of junior buyers.
  • Worked with variety of family owned and large manufacturers, developing tailored negotiation styles and strategies to unlock collaborative working relationships.
  • Unlocked commodity deflation through strategic negotiations, particularly across meat and dairy.
  • Collaborated closely with supply chain team to manage forecasts particularly around key trading periods including Christmas.
  • Developed new seasonally relevant ranges.
  • Delivered improved merchandising and ranging strategy, to offer customer specific ranges based on regional demographics. Worked closely with local teams and attended regional trade shows to identify gaps in range and how to work better with local suppliers.
  • Worked closely with internal manufacturing teams to deliver end to end efficiencies and improve group commercial performance.

Buying Manager Skincare & Suncare

WM Morrison Supermarkets Ltd
Bradford, West Yorkshire
09.2021 - 07.2023
  • Improved product availability through improved merchandising principles and stock replenishment.
  • Led contract negotiations for better pricing and payment terms to deliver significant annual savings.
  • Led category resets across number of categories and worked closely with stakeholders to deliver multi channel customer focused product offer.
  • Liaised with senior stakeholders and presented at key senior stakeholder meetings.
  • Negotiated significant terms improvements with key strategic suppliers and led a number of cross category negotiations with industry leading brands.
  • Unlocked incremental funding from suppliers to support new strategic initiatives and helped to support delivery of wider commercial budgets.

Buyer Bathcare

WM Morrison Supermarkets Ltd
Bradford, West Yorkshire
09.2020 - 09.2021
  • Negotiated bulk purchase deals with suppliers particularly across Covid.
  • Own brand product development and reformulation to align on sustainability commitments and to deliver competitive pricing strategy and category tiers.
  • Sourced new suppliers to deliver improved cost savings across product portfolio to unlock effective promotional strategies and to drive volume.
  • Negotiated improved supplier terms and unlocked incremental investment through cost improvement and marketing spend with industry leading brands.
  • Managed promotional strategy for a heavily promoted category, working closely with Trade Planning teams to deliver customer focused promotions all year round and at key trading events such as Christmas, Summer & Back to School.

Graduate Buyer

WM Morrison Supermarkets Ltd
Bradford, West Yorkshire
09.2018 - 09.2020
  • Worked across numerous category roles to develop wider understanding of business operations.
  • Completed tenders across Fresh Seafood category unlocking significant annual savings.
  • Worked closely with internal integrated manufacturing team on development of new seasonally relevant product ranges, bringing newness and innovation to category whilst improving line efficiency and removing waste in factories & sites.
  • Worked throughout Covid to deliver strong product availability despite difficult trading period and reduced supply of key commodities.
  • Adapted forecasts and planning to meet change in customer shopping habits throughout the pandemic, to ensure the right range at the right time for customers.
  • Worked closely with suppliers to deliver strong WIGIG promotional plan to support suppliers with pockets of excess stock due to changes in demand, whilst also delivering great value deals at competitive prices.

Education

Bachelor of Arts - Business Studies

Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS)
09.2014 - 05.2018

A-Levels - Business Studies & Economics

North Halifax Grammar School
Halifax, Calderdale
09.2012 - 05.2014

Skills

  • Cost-reduction strategies
  • Commercial acumen
  • Project & Team leadership
  • Collaborative partnerships building
  • Category Management
  • Supplier relationship management




Certification

  • CIPS Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply

- Managing Contracts and Relationships in Procurement and Supply

- Sourcing in Procurement & Supply

- Defining Business Needs

- Commercial Negotiation

- Commercial Contracting

- Supplier Relationships.

  • CIPS Level 5 partial qualification

- Advanced Negotiation

- Managing Ethical Procurement & Supply.


References

References available upon request.

Timeline

Senior Trading Manager- Pizza Counter & Salad Bar

WM Morrison Supermarkets Ltd
02.2025 - Current

Buying Manager Deli

WM Morrison Supermarkets Ltd
07.2023 - 02.2025

Buying Manager Skincare & Suncare

WM Morrison Supermarkets Ltd
09.2021 - 07.2023

Buyer Bathcare

WM Morrison Supermarkets Ltd
09.2020 - 09.2021

Graduate Buyer

WM Morrison Supermarkets Ltd
09.2018 - 09.2020

Bachelor of Arts - Business Studies

Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS)
09.2014 - 05.2018

A-Levels - Business Studies & Economics

North Halifax Grammar School
09.2012 - 05.2014

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Heather Barlow