Udo Bocken - Interim Head of Technical Purchasing

Badbergen, Germany

Experience

Apr 2024 - Jul 2025

1 year 4 months

Rinteln, Germany

Interim Head of Technical Purchasing

Riha WeserGold Getränke GmbH & Co. KG

Managing technical purchasing with a team of 4
Tendering, negotiating, and finalizing gas requirements for 2025, 2026, and 2027
Electricity procurement for 2024 and 2025
Feasibility analysis of a photovoltaic system for the Rinteln, Dodow, and Waibstadt sites, including tendering and negotiating potential partners
Purchasing fossil fuels: diesel, gas, and electricity, as well as CO2 certificates
Purchasing technical gases, including CO2
Realignment of cleaning and disinfection supplies across three sites and optimization of hazardous materials storage
Cost-benefit analysis of the gas turbine (steam and electricity)
Fleet concept: conventional drive vs. electromobility
Purchasing 29 new tractor units
Two major maintenance projects: renewing the exterior shell of a high-bay warehouse and updating warehouse and high-bay logistics hardware and software
Negotiating framework, maintenance, and consignment stock agreements (including Capex and MRO) with the four main machine suppliers
Handling performance issues during the commissioning of a new machine
Negotiation and finalization of a contract to retrofit three machines for the site in Spain
Savings in the seven-figure range
Return on Interim Manager (RoIM): factor 4.7

Nov 2023 - Nov 2023

1 month

Bremen, Germany

Trainer and Coach

Henry Lamotte Food GmbH

Purchasing training and workshop for 5 people

May 2023 - Aug 2023

4 months

Rottenacker, Germany

Interim Head of Purchasing / Purchasing Consultant

Etimex Technical Components GmbH

Lead negotiator for price adjustments and framework agreements for injection and blow molding raw materials, stainless steel clamps, pallets, and corrugated cardboard packaging
Lead negotiator for the procurement of two blow molding machines, including robotics and process technology
Savings in the mid-six-figure range
Return on Interim Manager (RoIM): factor 1.7

Sep 2022 - Jan 2023

5 months

Mönchengladbach, Germany

Purchasing Consultant / Interim Strategic Assignments

Oettinger Brauerei GmbH

Advising on purchasing optimization
Procurement and scheduling of raw, auxiliary, and operating materials (approx. €150 million)
Ensuring availability of raw, auxiliary, and operating materials
Optimizing aluminum beverage cans (material efficiency, design improvements)
Contractually securing financial instruments for aluminum procurement
Optimizing glass beverage bottles (material efficiency, design, recyclability, transport optimization)
Inventory optimization
Strategic and operational purchasing consulting
Conducting price negotiations and signing framework agreements
Procurement market analysis, supplier qualification, and annual evaluation
Sparring partner for executive management
Staff recruiting: head of purchasing, two strategic buyers, and a purchasing clerk
Reducing price increases by approx. €250,000
Return on Interim Manager (RoIM): approx. 2.3

May 2022 - Aug 2022

4 months

Fürth, Germany

Vacancy Cover: Head of Purchasing

Trolli GmbH

Leading the purchasing department until the new head is in place
Setting up a new energy purchasing unit
Technical purchasing, negotiating, and drafting of work, architectural, and maintenance contracts
Creating the budget for 2023
Negotiating the three largest raw materials: glucose, gelatin, sugar
Handover and training of the new head of purchasing
Ensuring supply security and minimizing purchasing costs

Dec 2021 - Apr 2022

5 months

Norderstedt, Germany

Bridging Vacancy: Purchasing Manager

Tripoint GmbH (Genuport Trade GmbH)

Troubleshooting quantities and prices in the sports nutrition sector (approx. €10M)
Building, coordinating and managing the supplier portfolio and co-manufacturers
Negotiation of logistics services including contractual implementation in the warehouse and distribution
Implementing new structures in inbound and outbound logistics
Structuring purchasing and scheduling processes including planning setup and review
Drafting and negotiating manufacturing agreements
Minimizing price increases and ensuring supply security

Aug 2021 - Nov 2021

4 months

Schwandorf, Germany

Project Manager in Purchasing

Wolf Wurstwarenspezialitäten GmbH

Negotiating Forster convenience raw materials for 2021/2022 or finding alternative suppliers (approx. €10M)
Sourcing organic poultry meat for a new product range and assisting in recipe development
Sourcing QS poultry meat (chicken) in Eastern Europe for a new product range
Tendering, negotiating and implementing staff rental laundry and setting up controlling with KPI definitions
Analyzing, consolidating and negotiating technical, trades and facility services
Sourcing and negotiating cleaning agents, raw materials and packaging updates
Finding plastic trays for meat batter metal detection
Securing product availability and minimizing price increases

Apr 2021 - Jun 2021

3 months

Lüdinghausen, Germany

Consultant in Purchasing

PE. WE. GmbH

Tendering logistics costs for 2021/2022
Negotiation and contractual finalization of the tenders
Restructuring outbound logistics
Savings in the mid six-figure range
Return on Interim Manager (RoIM): factor 7

Dec 2020 - Dec 2020

1 month

Schwandorf, Germany

Strategic Buyer / Purchasing Consultant

Wolf Wurstwarenspezialitäten GmbH

Sourcing roasted poultry meat
Sourcing and negotiating hygiene items (nitrile gloves, hairnets)
RHB / packaging update
Savings in the low six-figure range
Return on Interim Manager (RoIM): factor 10

Jun 2020 - Jun 2020

1 month

Consultant in Purchasing

Meat Processing Company

Finding new sourcing routes for poultry meat in Eastern Europe and South America (approx. €10M)
Initial contacts and price negotiations

May 2020 - Jan 2021

9 months

Boxtel, Netherlands

Interim Manager Head of Procurement

VION FOOD Group

Post Merger Integration: consolidation of four procurement business units into a central strategic purchasing unit (non-food, approx. €500M)
Maximized synergies in ingredients, packaging, logistics, energy, Capex, MRO, labor and hygiene
Covered the vacancy for Global Head of Procurement and lead buyer of the FOOD team, including transition and support for the new global head
Conducted annual negotiations 2020/21
Saved €560,000 in packaging procurement for Salomon
Return on interim management (RoIM): factor 4

Feb 2020 - May 2020

4 months

Lüdinghausen, Germany

Consultant in Procurement

PE. WE. GmbH

Managed tenders for primary and secondary packaging (paper and plastic) and ingredients (especially poultry) for retail and hospitality (approx. €7M)
Negotiated and finalized contracts for the tenders
Achieved savings in the mid-six-figure range
Return on interim management (RoIM): factor 11

Oct 2019 - Nov 2019

2 months

Schwandorf, Germany

Strategic Buyer / Procurement Consultant

Wolf Wurstwarenspezialitäten GmbH

Analyzed bids for packaging tenders (approx. €30M)
Prepared and conducted annual negotiations for packaging
Acted as a stand-in for the department head and strategic buyer in case of illness or absence
Achieved six-figure savings
Return on interim management (RoIM): factor 8

Apr 2019 - Apr 2019

1 month

Schwandorf, Germany

Procurement Consultant

Wolf Wurstwarenspezialitäten GmbH

Optimized procurement processes
Improved supplier management
Acted as a stand-in for the department head and strategic buyer in case of illness or absence
Served as sparring partner for the management

Jun 2018 - Mar 2019

10 months

Hochdorf, Switzerland

Vacancy Cover: Head of Procurement

Hochdorf Swiss Nutrition Ltd.

Member of the supply chain management team (internal/external logistics) for procurement (approx. €85M)
Analyzed material flows for milk powder filling and baby care packing under hygiene requirements in high-risk areas
Optimized aluminum and paper cans (material efficiency, design, coatings, transport optimization)
Developed wooden transport packaging for export (stability, material quality, environmental and safety regulations)
Performed warehouse cost analysis and cost reviews for logistics service providers, considering consignment warehouse options
HR recruiting: sourcing and hiring buyers
Restructured the procurement department and prepared/conducted annual negotiations 2019
Held mid-year price negotiations with key suppliers
Improved internal communication between procurement and related departments
Onboarded the new head of procurement
Conducted supplier audits and supported internal audits
Projects: standardization of SpoonCaps delivery packaging, sourcing of SnapCaps, carton tender, oilseed workshop, and copacker sourcing for baby care follow-on formula
Achieved seven-figure savings
Return on interim management (RoIM): factor 3.5

Sep 2017 - Mar 2018

7 months

Brühl, Germany

Interim Purchasing Manager

Edmund Merl Feinkost GmbH & Co. KG

Analysis of internal raw material and auxiliary material flows considering staging areas for production and storage
Goal: reduce working capital and optimize order quantities while increasing availability (approx. €20 million)
Outsourcing packaging to an external logistics provider with just-in-time supply and reduction of working capital
Coaching of the purchasing manager and process analysis/restructuring of the purchasing department
Analysis of supplier, packaging, and raw material portfolio
Development of purchasing terms and audit documents
Conducting supplier audits and supporting internal audits
Savings in the six-figure range
Return of Interim Manager (RoIM): factor 6.3

Apr 2016 - Apr 2016

1 month

Fulda, Germany

Procurement Consultant

Herzberger Bäckerei GmbH

Analysis of the supplier and raw material portfolios (including fats and oils) as well as packaging portfolios for potential savings (approx. €15 million)
Process analysis and optimization proposals in purchasing and goods receipt
Development of a concept to implement the identified savings potential

Oct 2015 - Dec 2015

3 months

Schwandorf, Germany

Procurement Consultant

Wolf Wurstwarenspezialitäten GmbH

Preparation and execution of annual negotiations with A-suppliers in packaging, meat, and natural casings (approx. €30 million)
Preparation of tender documents for cartons and film packaging
Improvement of terms and reduction of purchase prices
Consolidation of packaging procurement through structured tender documents and savings opportunities

Aug 2015 - Mar 2017

1 year 8 months

Munich, Germany

Procurement Team Leader

PowerBar Europe GmbH / Active Nutrition International GmbH

Project management of the launch of a new product range under the Dymatize brand and analysis of material and production costs for make-or-buy decisions (approx. €35 million)
Tendering, negotiation, and contracting of print media and parcel service providers for 2016/2017
Travel management: special conditions with hotel chains and car rental companies
Tendering and negotiation of plant and administrative cleaning services, facility insurance services, and software for the new B2C web shop (involvement in requirements specification)
Tendering and contracting of cartons, films, plastic jars, and protein supplies using RFI, RFQ, RFP
Development of a concept for building and structuring the purchasing department
Supplier evaluation, coaching of the strategic buyer, support of operational purchasing
Identification and implementation of savings in corrugated board and film packaging
Negotiation and contracting of fruit concentrates for co-manufacturers
Trade fair visits and network building
Reduction of working capital, establishment of a commodity group structure, creation of work instructions and reporting in goods receipt
Creation and negotiation of purchasing terms and manufacturing agreements
Savings in the seven-figure range
Return of Interim Manager (RoIM): factor 2.2

Summary

Passionate purchasing optimizer
CPO, category manager, and head of purchasing and divisions
Interim manager, consultant, and coach
About 40 years of professional experience, including about 25 years in food retail and food manufacturing
I also bring extensive, current hands-on knowledge and continuous training in drafting supply contracts, work contracts, co-manufacturer contracts, and delivery terms.

Skills

Cpo, Head Of Purchasing And Divisions With Purchasing Volumes From €15 To €700 Million
Category Manager With Purchasing Volumes From €70 To €300 Million
Post Merger Integration
Establishing A Central Procurement Organization
Realizing Cost-saving Opportunities In Procurement Markets
Reviewing Structures And Developing Corrective Measures And Optimizing The Purchasing Department
Coaching Employees
Supplier Management And Development
Developing And Implementing Procedural Instructions For Purchasing And Materials Management
Conducting Annual Reviews, Negotiating Price And Volume Agreements, And Signing Contracts (Including Framework Agreements)
Analyzing Inventory And Developing Short-term Measures To Prevent Overstocking
Good To Excellent Network And Market Overview In Procurement Markets
Analyzing Product Categories
Developing And Building The Product Assortment (Depending On Sales Channels)
Process Analysis (Depending On Sales Channels) And Defining And Optimizing Processes
Analyzing Customer Potential
Planning The Strategy
Implementing The Strategy In Test And Control Stores
Evaluating The Results
Responsibility As Product Manager For Launching Private Labels
Creating Monthly And Annual Forecasts (Price, Margin, And Volume)
Setting Pricing (Entry Price, Mid-range Pricing, Private Label Pricing, Premium Pricing) Considering Margin