Food trading at Kühne + Heitz? 5 questions answered
Spotting opportunities, negotiating, and scoring the best deals: that’s what the world of food trading is all about. But what does it really mean to be a food trader at Kühne + Heitz? What can you expect from this job and what is required of you? We answer five important questions to give you an insight into the work as a food trader at Kühne + Heitz.
- Food trading, what exactly is it?
Food trading is about buying and selling food products, both nationally and internationally. As a food trader you make sure that food (in the case of Kühne + Heitz frozen products such as meat, vegetables, and dairy products) gets to the right place. That could be a supermarket, restaurant, or food processing plant. You can imagine that this involves quite a bit: from finding the right supplier to checking the quality, negotiating the price, and arranging the logistics.
- What do you need to be able to do, to become a food trader?
You don’t actually learn this trade in school. It is a matter of getting flight hours and also has to do with aptitude. You have to be an expert at multitasking, not shy away from responsibility and have the courage to take decisions at the ‘moment suprême’. That requires tactical insight, a sense of timing and: guts. It is also important that you have a strong social component. After all, in this profession you are constantly communicating. With suppliers, customers and your colleagues.
“You have to be able to sense the market well. When can you make a deal? What does a customer need? You learn that on the job, but you also have to have a feel for it” –Johannes
- Be sure to read: ‘The 9 characteristics of a food trader’
- What are the main responsibilities of a food trader at Kühne + Heitz?
Here, each food trader is responsible for his or her own market of buyers or suppliers. It is up to you to close the best deals within this area at the best time – and to ensure that these deals are handled properly. Your responsibilities also include maintaining relationships and spotting opportunities. So, it is important that you are always aware of what is going on and what is needed within ‘your’ area. Of course, you will be supported by your colleagues from commerce, finance and logistics.
- What makes working at Kühne + Heitz unique compared to other companies in this industry?
It is important to us that our people feel comfortable here and get as much out of their career at Kühne + Heitz as possible. This means that we support you well in your professional development. But also that we give you the freedom to explore new possibilities. If you can substantiate your idea well, we will work with you to make it happen. Our extensive local market knowledge is also unique. We know the habits and customs of the client and know how best to adapt our negotiation style and communication to them. No one size fits all, but a unique approach per region and per client. That makes our work easier and a lot more fun.
- What development opportunities do you have as a food trader at Kühne + Heitz?
Development on the job is a key aspect of your growth. By actively gaining experience, you continuously expand your knowledge and gain a deeper understanding of the challenges you may face. This allows you to prepare yourself optimally and bypass potential obstacles effortlessly. You will also have plenty of opportunities to hone your competencies and skills, such as taking courses, learning new languages and investing in your personal growth. With us you not only get a lot of responsibility, but we also offer you all the space and encouragement you need to take initiative and implement new ideas. This allows you to master the trading profession at lightning speed. Moreover, we all work here – from management to trader – at one long desk. Great to be able to switch quickly, but also to learn from each other. Both professionally and personally.
“Here you have the space to tackle things yourself, so do so. It really does make you better in the end” – Boris