DEPARTMENT    
SOURCING


LOCATION        
BASED IN HONG KONG OFFICE IN MONGKOK WITH FREQUENT TRAVELS TO QINGDAO, CHINA AND VIETNAM


JOB PURPOSE    
To look after Humdinger’s NUTS supplier base in Asia, providing Technical assurance, relationship management and local intelligence to protect and support the interests of Humdinger and its customers.


ROLE BACKGROUND    
Humdinger buys 40% of all its raw material from the Asia region and sees the need for increased contact with suppliers and further regional knowledge. The purchase price of these materials, their security of supply and their provenance is vital to us and our customers and we would like to get closer and improve the management control of this important part of our supply chain.
We want to have someone located nearer region to look after Humdinger’s interests and strengthen our presence.


MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES/ACTIVITIES    

• Develop and strengthen relationships with existing peanut (china) and cashew nuts (Vietnam) suppliers and carry out regular visits.
• Find, assess and recommend new suppliers and new products
• Assist with and learn to carry out Technical audits and compliance visits
• Liaise with suppliers to progress joint business plans, improvement programmes and product development plans
• Assist with product testing and positive release of materials either before or during shipment to the UK. This will include arrangement or carrying out of sampling, review of the samples and courier to the UK or external laboratory.
• Trouble-shooting role re complaints, order fulfilment, quality issues.
• Develop Sustainability, Ethical and Environmental agendas on behalf of Humdinger and its customers.
• Collect market data, harvest information and local news of relevance to Humdinger’s interests and feed information to UK.
• Be an authentic and credible support in Humdingers relationships with UK retailers.
• Represent Humdinger’s interests in Trade arenas, Trade associations and other fruit and nut stakeholder groups.

KEY RESULTS AREAS    

• Improved continuity of supply and fewer interruptions in material availability at Humdinger’s factories
• Understanding of status of Suppliers on accreditation, ethical and technical abilities to meet ours and customer expectations.
• Gaining a firm knowledge and confidence in market conditions including Quality issues and prices.
• Enable Humdinger to be able to negotiate from a stronger position and achieve better pricing
• Facilitate a stronger relationship with retailers who value the close links to sources
• Improve choice of suppliers and products to increase value of our quality, buying and selling propositions.

EDUCATION / QUALIFICATIONS    

• Food related Technical knowledge.
• Strong Commercial tendencies and Experience in Far East nut sourcing.
• Understanding of logistics competencies particular of China/ Far East Shipments.

KNOWLEDGE / SKILLS / EXPERIENCE  

• Confident
• Trustworthy
• Independent
• Ability to travel around China and Overseas
• Good understanding of the fruit and nut or related industries
• Understanding need of Quality maintenance and how this can be achieved through Sampling and Testing
• Understanding of what good manufacturing processes and good food factories are.

PRACTICAL REQUIREMENTS     

• Will require passport as the role does include overseas travel
• Required to be able to fully communicate in Mandarin and English
• Capable of managing own time and prioritising work load

BENEFITS  

• 5 days working week.
• Travel and Medical insurance

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Kinnerton Hong Kong Ltd is a division of Zertus UK which is comprised of 4 food companies in the UK and Ireland -

1. Kinnerton – a market leader in chocolate licensing and a confectionery manufacturer in the UK.
2. Lir – a premium boxed chocolate manufacturer in Ireland.
3. Humdinger – a market leader in natural snacks and dried fruit in the UK
4. Sun Valley – a market leader in nut snacks in the UK.

Kinnerton Hong Kong was established in 2006 to serve our UK sister companies.  We procure and develop gifts such as toys and premiums and packaging such as tins and rigid boxes in China and export them to the UK and Ireland to be packed with our chocolate. We also procure dried fruits and nuts from Southeast Asia for Humdinger and Sun Valley.

In the HK office, we manage both the Hardware and Food suppliers in the Far East. Our functions include factory audits, testing, production inspection, quality control and product development

Kinnerton Hong Kong Ltd is now recruiting a Far East Quality Assurance Technologist to join us.