Udo Bocken - Interim Head of Technical Procurement

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Available

Badbergen, Germany

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Experience

Apr 2024 - Jul 2025

1 year 4 months

Rinteln, Germany

Interim Head of Technical Purchasing

Riha WeserGold Getränke GmbH & Co. KG

Leading technical purchasing with 4 employees
Tendering, negotiating, and closing the gas supply for 2025 / 2026 and 2027
Electricity purchasing for 2024 and 2025
Feasibility analysis of a photovoltaic system for the sites Rinteln, Dodow, and Waibstadt, including tendering and negotiating possible partners
Purchasing fossil fuels: diesel, gas, and electricity as well as CO2 certificates
Purchasing industrial gases including CO2
New setup in the area of cleaning and disinfecting agents for 3 plant sites and optimizing the stock handling of these hazardous substances
Profitability calculation for the gas turbine (steam and electricity)
Fleet concept: conventional drive vs. e-mobility
Purchasing 29 new tractor units
Two major maintenance projects: renewal of the outer shell of a high-bay warehouse as well as renewal of warehouse and high-bay warehouse logistics hardware and software
Negotiating framework, maintenance, and consignment stock contracts including Capex and MRO with the four main machine suppliers
Supporting performance issues during the commissioning of a new machine
Negotiating and closing the contract for the conversion of 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 Purchasing Manager / Purchasing Consultant

Etimex Technical Components GmbH

Lead negotiator for price adjustments and framework agreements in the area of 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 Tasks

Oettinger Brauerei GmbH

Consulting on optimizing purchasing
Procurement and scheduling of raw materials, auxiliary materials, and operating supplies (approx. €150 million)
Ensuring the availability of raw materials, auxiliary materials, and operating supplies
Optimizing aluminum beverage cans (material efficiency, design improvements)
Contractual fixing of financial instruments in aluminum purchasing
Optimizing glass beverage bottles (material efficiency, design, recyclability, transport optimization)
Inventory optimization
Strategic and operational purchasing consulting
Conducting price negotiations and closing framework agreements
Procurement market analysis as well as supplier qualification and annual evaluation
Sparring partner for management
Recruiting staff: purchasing manager, two strategic buyers, purchasing administration
Reducing price increases by approx. €250,000
Return on Interim Manager (RoIM): approx. 2.3

May 2022 - Aug 2022

4 months

Fürth, Germany

Temporary Cover: Purchasing Manager

Trolli GmbH

Leading the purchasing department until the position was filled again
Building a new energy purchasing function
Technical purchasing, negotiating and drafting work, architect, and maintenance contracts
Preparing the budget for 2023
Negotiating the three biggest raw materials: glucose, gelatin, sugar
Handover and onboarding of the new purchasing manager
Supply security and minimizing purchasing costs

Dec 2021 - Apr 2022

5 months

Norderstedt, Germany

Temporary replacement: Head of Purchasing

Tripoint GmbH (Genuport Trade GmbH)

Troubleshooting on volumes and prices in the Sports Nutrition area (approx. €10 million)
Building, coordinating, and managing the supplier portfolio and co-manufacturers
Negotiating logistics services incl. contractual implementation in warehousing and distribution
Implementing new structures in inbound and outbound logistics
Structuring purchasing/disposition processes incl. planning setup and review
Creating 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

Negotiate Forster convenience raw materials for 2021/2022 or find alternative suppliers (approx. €10 million)
Sourcing organic poultry meat for a new product range and supporting recipe development
Sourcing QS-certified poultry meat (chicken) in Eastern Europe for a new product range
Tendering, negotiating, and implementing employee rental laundry services and setting up controlling with KPI definition
Analysis, consolidation, and negotiation of technical, trades, and facility services
Sourcing and negotiations in the area of cleaning agents, RHB / packaging update
Searching for plastic tubs 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 in the area of logistics costs for 2021/2022
Negotiation and contractual finalization of the tenders
Restructuring of outbound logistics
Savings in the mid six-figure range
Return of Interim Manager (RoIM): factor 7

Dec 2020 - Dec 2020

1 month

Schwandorf, Germany

Strategic Buyer / Consultant in Purchasing

Wolf Wurstwarenspezialitäten GmbH

Sourcing in the area of fried poultry meat
Sourcing and negotiations in the area of hygiene articles (nitrile gloves, astro caps)
Update in the RHB / packaging area
Savings in the lower six-figure range
Return of Interim Manager (RoIM): factor 10

Jun 2020 - Jun 2020

1 month

Consultant in Purchasing

Meat processing company

Search for new procurement routes for poultry meat in Eastern Europe and South America (approx. €10 million)
Initial contacts and price negotiations

May 2020 - Jan 2021

9 months

Boxtel, Netherlands

Interim Manager Head of Procurement

VION FOOD Group

Post-merger integration: merger of four procurement business units into one central unit in strategic central purchasing (non-food, approx. €500 million)
Maximization of synergies in ingredients, packaging, logistics, energy, capex, MRO, workwear, and hygiene
Cover for the vacancy of Global Head of Procurement and Lead Buyer Team FOOD, including handover and support of the new Global Head
Conducting the annual negotiations 2020/21
Savings of €560,000 in Salomon packaging purchasing
Return on Interim Manager (RoIM): factor 4

Feb 2020 - May 2020

4 months

Lüdinghausen, Germany

Consultant in Purchasing

PE. WE. GmbH

Tenders in the area of primary and secondary packaging (paper and plastic) as well as ingredients (especially poultry meat) for retail and gastronomy (approx. €7 million)
Negotiation and contractual fixing of the tenders
Savings in the mid six-figure range
Return on Interim Manager (RoIM): factor 11

Oct 2019 - Nov 2019

2 months

Schwandorf, Germany

Strategic Buyer / Consultant in Purchasing

Wolf Wurstwarenspezialitäten GmbH

Analysis of offers for tenders in the packaging area (approx. €30 million)
Preparation and execution of the annual negotiations in packaging
Cover for the department head or strategic buyer in case of illness or absence
Savings in the six-figure range
Return on Interim Manager (RoIM): factor 8

Apr 2019 - Apr 2019

1 month

Schwandorf, Germany

Consultant in Purchasing

Wolf Wurstwarenspezialitäten GmbH

Process optimization in purchasing
Optimization of supplier management
Cover for the department head or strategic buyer in case of illness or absence
Sparring partner for management

Jun 2018 - Mar 2019

10 months

Hochdorf, Switzerland

Interim Cover: Purchasing Manager

Hochdorf Swiss Nutrition Ltd.

Member of Supply Chain Management (internal/external logistics) for purchasing (approx. €85 million)
Analysis of material flows in milk powder filling and baby care packing under hygiene requirements in the high-risk area
Optimization of aluminum and paper cans (material efficiency, design, coatings, transport optimization)
Development of wooden transport packaging for export (stability, material quality, environmental and safety regulations)
Warehouse cost analysis and cost review for logistics service providers, taking consignment stock options into account
HR recruiting: search and hiring of buyers
Restructuring of the purchasing department and preparation/lead of the annual negotiations 2019
In-year price negotiations with key suppliers
Improvement of internal communication between purchasing and related specialist departments
Training of the new purchasing manager
Carrying out supplier audits and supporting internal audits
Projects: standardization of delivery packaging SpoonCaps, sourcing of SnapCaps, carton tender, oilseeds workshop, copacker sourcing baby care follow-on formula
Savings in the seven-figure range
Return on Interim Manager (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, taking into account staging areas for production and storage
Goal: reduction of working capital and optimization of order quantities while increasing availability at the same time (approx. €20 million)
Outsourcing of packaging to external logistics providers 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
Preparation of purchasing terms and audit documents
Carrying out supplier audits and supporting internal audits
Savings in the six-figure range
Return on Interim Manager (RoIM): factor 6.3

Apr 2016 - Apr 2016

1 month

Fulda, Germany

Purchasing Consultant

Herzberger Bäckerei GmbH

Analysis of the supplier and raw material portfolio (incl. fats and oils) as well as packaging portfolio with regard to savings potential (approx. €15 million)
Process analysis and optimization proposals in purchasing and goods receiving
Development of a concept for implementing the identified savings potential

Oct 2015 - Dec 2015

3 months

Schwandorf, Germany

Purchasing Consultant

Wolf Wurstwarenspezialitäten GmbH

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

Aug 2015 - Mar 2017

1 year 8 months

Munich, Germany

Purchasing Team Leader

PowerBar Europe GmbH / Active Nutrition International GmbH

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

Industry Experience

See where this freelancer has spent most of their professional time.

Experienced in Food and Beverage and Manufacturing.

Food and Beverage

Manufacturing

Business Area Experience

See which departments and functions this freelancer has contributed to most.

Experienced in Procurement, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, and Quality Assurance.

Procurement

Supply Chain Management

Logistics

Quality Assurance

Summary

Purchasing optimizer out of passion
CPO, category manager, as well as purchasing and department manager
Interim manager, consultant, and coach
Around 40 years of work experience, including around 25 years in food retail and the food industry
In addition, I bring extensive and up-to-date hands-on knowledge as well as ongoing training in drafting supply agreements, work contracts, co-manufacturer agreements, and terms and conditions of delivery.

Skills

Cpo, Purchasing And Department Manager With Purchasing Volumes From 15 To 700 Million Eur
Category Manager With Purchasing Volumes From 70 To 300 Million Eur
Post-Merger Integration
Building A Central Procurement Organization
Implementing Savings Potential In Procurement Markets
Reviewing Structures And Developing Corrective Measures And Improving The Purchasing Department
Coaching Employees
Supplier Management And Development
Developing And Implementing Procedures And Work Instructions For Purchasing And Materials Management
Leading Annual Meetings As Well As Negotiating Price And Quantity Agreements And Closing Contracts (Including Framework Agreements)
Analyzing Inventory Levels And Developing Short-Term Measures To Avoid Excess Stock
Good To Very Good Network And Market Overview In Procurement Markets
Analysis Of Product Groups
Further Development And Building Of The Product Range (Depending On Sales Format)
Process Analysis (Depending On Sales Format) And Defining As Well As Optimizing Processes
Analysis Of Customer Potential
Strategic Planning
Applying The Strategy In Test And Control Operations
Evaluating The Results
Responsibility As Product Manager For The Launch Of Private Labels
Creating Monthly And Annual Forecasts (Price, Margin, And Volume)
Setting Pricing (Entry Price, Mid-Range Price, Private Label Price Level, Premium Price Level) Taking The Margin Into Account

Languages

German

Native

English

Advanced

Statistics

Experience

Total positions 19

Experience in Food and Beverage 6.5 y

Avg length 4 m

Longest experience 1 y 7 m

Global Experience

Countries worked in 3 (Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland)

Primary country Germany

Expertise

Recent roles Interim Head of Technical Purchasing, Trainer and Coach, Interim Purchasing Manager / Purchasing Consultant

Main industries Food and Beverage, Manufacturing

Main business areas Procurement, Supply Chain Management, Logistics

Profile

Created

January 2024

Last Update

August 2026

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Frequently asked questions

Have questions? Find more information here.

Udo is based in Badbergen, Germany.

Udo speaks the following languages: German (Native), English (Advanced).

Udo has at least 7 years of experience. During this time, Udo has worked in at least 14 different roles and for 14 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 4 months. Note that Udo may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Based on recent experience, Udo would be well-suited for roles such as: Interim Head of Technical Purchasing, Trainer and Coach, Interim Purchasing Manager / Purchasing Consultant.

Udo's most recent position is Interim Head of Technical Purchasing at Riha WeserGold Getränke GmbH & Co. KG.

In recent years, Udo has worked for Riha WeserGold Getränke GmbH & Co. KG, Henry Lamotte Food GmbH, Etimex Technical Components GmbH, Oettinger Brauerei GmbH, and Trolli GmbH.

Udo is most experienced in industries like Food and Beverage, Manufacturing, and Professional Services.

Udo is most experienced in business areas like Procurement, Supply Chain Management, and Logistics. Udo also has some experience in Quality Assurance.

Udo has recently worked in industries like Food and Beverage and Manufacturing.

Udo has recently worked in business areas like Procurement, Supply Chain Management, and Logistics.

Udo is immediately available full-time for suitable projects.

Daily Rate Distribution

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<€480 €560-640 €640-720 €720-800 €800-880 €880+

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Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.

Average rates for similar positions

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Daily rate avg. 788 €

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Median rate 800 €

The median daily rate is the middle value of all daily rates — half of comparable freelancers charge less, half charge more. Unlike the average, it is barely affected by outliers.

Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.