At Yodel, we believe in fostering strong partnerships with suppliers, clients, and external stakeholders.
The Yodel procurement team plays a critical role in ensuring these relationships are mutually beneficial, driving value and success across Yodel.
Led by Jason Lowry, our Director of Procurement, the team consists of seven individuals who specialise in analysing, assessing, and negotiating with third-party suppliers. As the team celebrate being shortlisted in the Digital Impact category of the World Procurement Awards, taking place in May, we spoke to our Director of Procurement, Jason Lowry.
Meet the Procurement Team:
- Eve Lewis (Procurement Manager)
- Richard Croft (Senior Category Buyer)
- Holly Jones (Senior Category Buyer)
- Anthony Warhurst (Senior Category Buyer)
- Jennie Arboleda (Buyer)
- Emma Dadson (Buyer Data Analyst)
Q: Can you introduce yourself and tell us more about the team?
A: “I’m Jason Lowry, and I’ve been working in procurement for over 20 years. I started my career as a Food Buyer and have had the opportunity to work across various industries. At Yodel, my focus is on driving transformation and strategic initiatives. I’m incredibly proud of the team I lead, and together, we collaborate closely with other departments to ensure we’re getting the best results for Yodel and our partners.”
Q: What are the biggest changes you’ve seen since joining Yodel?
A: “When I joined Yodel, we were in a very different position. Today, 86% of the company’s supplier spend flows through the procurement team, a significant increase since 2021. One of our most impactful changes has been the implementation of Ivalua, our leading digital eProcurement tool. This has allowed us to digitise our ways of working, providing 100% visibility of all our contracts and suppliers, streamlining the process and enhancing transparency for both the procurement team and departmental users across the business.”
Q: What does success look like for your team?
A: “Success for us means becoming an integral part of the business, with our contributions consistently recognised and valued. When I first joined Yodel, my goal was to ensure that procurement delivered real value to every department we worked with. We’re now seen as a core team, and our efforts in collaborating with third-party suppliers have resulted in tangible, positive outcomes for the business.”
Q: What has been your biggest achievement since joining Yodel?
A: “Without a doubt, my greatest achievement has been leading the transformation of our business processes and people. When I joined, many procurement activities were still manual. I envisioned a best-in-class procurement with fully digital process, and we’ve made that a reality. This digital shift has significantly improved efficiency and enhanced productivity. We've worked on numerous projects where we've improved collaboration with our partners, accessing greater potential from our supplier relationships and therefore driving even greater value for Yodel.”
Q: How do you collaborate with other departments to ensure synergy, and why is this important?
A: “Collaboration is absolutely key to our success. We work closely with all departments to understand their needs and gain valuable insights to ensure we partner with trusted suppliers who align with Yodel’s goals and will deliver on our business objectives. We also leverage data and analytics to challenge departments and show how we can optimise value for their specific requirements.”
Q: What is the team’s goal for 2025 and beyond?
A: “We’ve developed a comprehensive three-year plan outlining our vision for the future. Our key focuses will be cost optimisation, building deeper supplier relationships, ESG sustainable supply chain, implementing a business partner operating model, and fully leveraging the advanced technology at our disposal. We’re excited about the future and the opportunity to continue driving procurement excellence, ensuring we remain a strategic business partner at Yodel.”