Udo Bocken - Interim Procurement Director for Food

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Badbergen, Germany

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Experience

Apr 2026 - Aug 2026

5 months

Switzerland

Consultant and Project Manager

MEDEWO Gruppe

Packaging wholesale
Transformation project at the interface of purchasing, supply chain and inventory management.
Professional support for the introduction of Eazystock and development of the procurement and planning logic for order quantities, service levels, reorder points, MOQ/MOV, coverage and data quality.
Design of the relocation of Swiss inventory to Adligenswil and Root, including variant comparison, item prioritization and interface management between purchasing, logistics, sales, product management and IT.
Introduction of a total cost and working capital approach.
Development of a prioritized roadmap for 117 supplier data records and restructuring of supplier meeting preparation.
Made the relocation planable for the first time with a timeline, variants, item priorities and responsibilities.
Developed a roadmap for 117 supplier data records; 73 records could be scheduled, while data gaps for 44 records were made transparent.
Structured the preparation process for supplier meetings from 2.5–3.0 to around 1.5 working days, with a potential time reduction of 40–50 %.
Inventory, working capital, warehouse, ordering and logistics potential supported by calculation logic.
Monetary effects are deliberately reported only after implementation and target-actual comparison.

Apr 2024 - Jul 2025

1 year 4 months

Rinteln, Germany

Interim Head of Technical Purchasing

Riha WeserGold Getränke GmbH & Co. KG

Beverage industry | Purchasing/project volume approx. 45 Mio. EUR | Leadership of 4 employees
Overall responsibility for technical purchasing and management of four employees.
Strategic procurement and contract conclusion for gas, electricity, technical gases and fuels, as well as feasibility analysis for photovoltaics at three sites.
Procurement and negotiation of 29 tractor units.
Negotiation of framework, maintenance and consignment contracts with key machine suppliers.
Purchasing-side management of major maintenance and automation projects at the high-bay warehouse, support for a machine commissioning and conclusion of a conversion contract for three machines in Spain.
Involvement in FSSC 22000, ISO 14001 and ISO 50001.
Realized savings in the 7-figure range.
Secured energy requirements, technical investments and key machine and service contracts economically and contractually.
Implemented the procurement of 29 tractor units as well as key maintenance and automation projects from the purchasing side.
RoIM Factor 4.7

Nov 2023 - Nov 2023

1 month

Bremen, Germany

Trainer and Coach

Henry Lamotte Food GmbH

Food Trading
Designed, prepared and conducted a practice-oriented purchasing training and workshop for five participants.
Fully designed and conducted a practice-oriented purchasing training and workshop for five participants.

May 2023 - Aug 2023

4 months

Rottenacker, Germany

Interim Head of Purchasing / Purchasing Consultant

Etimex Technical Components GmbH

Blow molding and injection molding | Purchasing/project volume approx. 35 Mio. EUR | Leadership of 1 employee
Interim management of purchasing and operational support in price, condition and contract negotiations.
Negotiation of price adjustments and framework contracts for injection and blow molding raw materials, stainless steel clamps, pallets and corrugated cardboard packaging.
Procurement and negotiation of two blow molding machines, including robotics and process technology.
Realized savings in the mid-6-figure range and improved economic conditions for material and investment requirements.
RoIM Factor 1.7

Sep 2022 - Jan 2023

5 months

Oettingen in Bayern, Germany

Purchasing Consultant / Interim Strategic Buyer and Head of Purchasing

Oettinger Brauerei GmbH

Brewery | Purchasing/project volume approx. 150 Mio. EUR | Leadership of 2 employees
Interim responsibility in strategic purchasing with management of two employees.
Ensured the availability of raw materials, auxiliary materials and operating supplies in a highly volatile procurement environment.
Analysis and optimization of aluminum cans, glass bottles, financial instruments and inventories.
Conducted price and condition negotiations, concluded framework contracts, performed procurement market analyses and managed supplier qualification and evaluation.
Sparring partner to management and recruited a Head of Purchasing, two strategic buyers and one purchasing clerk.
Reduced price increases by approx. 250,000 EUR, secured the supply of raw materials and packaging in a volatile market and filled four key purchasing positions at short notice.
RoIM approx. Factor 2.3

May 2022 - Aug 2022

4 months

Fürth, Germany

Interim Head of Procurement

Trolli GmbH

Confectionery industry | Procurement/project volume approx. 61 Mio. EUR | Management of 8 employees
Bridged a vacancy as Interim Head of Procurement, managing eight employees.
Stabilized day-to-day operations and established energy procurement.
Managed contracts in technical procurement and prepared the 2023 procurement budget.
Negotiated the three largest raw material categories: glucose, gelatin and sugar.
Structured handover and onboarding of the new Head of Procurement.
Ensured security of supply in a volatile market, limited procurement costs, established energy procurement and ensured an orderly handover to the new Head of Procurement.

Dec 2021 - Apr 2022

5 months

Norderstedt, Germany

Interim Head of Procurement

Tripoint GmbH (Genuport Trade GmbH)

Sports Nutrition | Procurement/project volume approx. 10 Mio. EUR
Managed procurement on an interim basis, troubleshooting issues involving quantities, prices and availability.
Established and managed the supplier and co-manufacturer portfolio.
Negotiated warehouse and distribution services.
Restructured inbound and outbound logistics as well as procurement and planning processes.
Prepared and negotiated a Manufacturing Agreement.
Minimized price increases, restored security of supply and restructured the contractual and process framework for suppliers, co-manufacturers and logistics.

Jun 2020 - Jun 2020

1 month

Germany

Procurement Consultant

Meat Processing Company

Meat processing | Procurement/project volume approx. 10 Mio. EUR
Established alternative sourcing channels for poultry in Eastern Europe and South America.
Identified potential suppliers, initiated first contacts and led initial price negotiations.
Developed alternative international sources of supply, creating the basis for greater competition and additional supply options.

May 2020 - Jan 2021

9 months

Boxtel, Netherlands

Interim Manager Head of Procurement

VION FOOD Group

Meat industry | Procurement/project volume approx. 500 Mio. EUR | Management of 11 employees
Integrated four Procurement Business Units in Germany and the Netherlands into one central strategic procurement organization following the merger.
Responsible for ingredients, packaging, logistics, energy, CAPEX, MRO as well as work and hygiene supplies, and managed eleven employees.
Bridged the Global Head vacancy, supported the successor, led the Lead Buyer team and managed the annual negotiations.
Put out cardboard packaging in the Convenience unit for tender.
Conducted IFS supplier audits and contributed to HACCP, Food Fraud and Food Defence.
Integrated four Procurement Business Units in Germany and the Netherlands toward one central strategic procurement organization, ensured leadership and succession capabilities during the Global Head vacancy and delivered savings in key categories.
Achieved savings of 560.000 EUR in Salomon's packaging procurement alone.
RoIM Faktor 4

Jan 2020 - Dec 2021

2 years

Lüdinghausen, Germany

Procurement Consultant

PE. WE. GmbH

Convenience Food | Procurement/project volume approx. 4–7 Mio. EUR
Two assignments focused on packaging, ingredients and logistics.
Put primary and secondary paper and plastic packaging out to tender, especially cardboard packaging and films, as well as selected ingredients with a focus on poultry.
Structured the tenders, negotiated the results and formalized them in contracts.
In the follow-up assignment, put the 2021/2022 logistics services out to tender and implemented them contractually, as well as analyzed and restructured outbound logistics.
Achieved savings in the mid-six-figure range in both assignments.
Secured packaging, ingredient and logistics terms contractually and established a new economic basis for outbound logistics.
RoIM Faktoren 7 und 11

Jun 2018 - Mar 2019

10 months

Hochdorf, Switzerland

Interim Head of Procurement

Hochdorf Swiss Nutrition Ltd.

Dairy Ingredients, Cereals & Ingredients, Baby Care | Procurement/project volume approx. 85 Mio. EUR | Management of 4 employees
Interim management of procurement with responsibility for four employees.
Restructuring of the procurement organization, stabilizing the team, recruiting and onboarding the successor.
Preparation and management of annual and price negotiations with A-suppliers as well as supplier sourcing.
As a member of Supply Chain Management, analysis of material flows and hygiene risks for baby care packaging.
Optimization of aluminum and paper cans as well as export, carton and shipping packaging.
Conducting IFS supplier audits and implementing HACCP, Food Fraud and Food Defence.
Realized savings in the seven-figure range.
Stabilized the procurement organization and team, recruited the successor and provided a structured onboarding.
Further developed packaging structures, material flows and supplier management with regard to quality, hygiene and supply security.
RoIM Faktor 3,5

Sep 2017 - Mar 2018

7 months

Brühl, Germany

Interim Head of Procurement

Edmund Merl Feinkost GmbH & Co. KG

Delicatessen and Convenience | Procurement/project volume approx. 20 Mio. EUR | Management of 3 employees
Interim management of procurement with analysis of internal material flows, staging areas and packaging inventories.
Design and implementation of the outsourcing of packaging inventories to a logistics service provider with daily Just-in-Time supply.
Optimization of order quantities, volume planning and Working Capital.
Restructuring of the procurement organization, coaching the Head of Procurement, portfolio analyses, preparation of procurement terms and conditions as well as preparation and execution of IFS supplier audits.
Successfully outsourced packaging inventories and established daily Just-in-Time supply.
Optimized order quantities and Working Capital, further developed the procurement organization and realized savings in the six-figure range.
RoIM Faktor 6,3

Apr 2016 - Apr 2016

1 month

Fulda, Germany

Procurement Consultant

Herzberger Bäckerei GmbH

Bakery | Procurement/project volume approx. 15 Mio. EUR
Comprehensive potential analysis of the supplier, raw material and packaging portfolios.
Assessment of procurement structures, processes and incoming goods as well as identification of specific potential in procurement markets and implementation.
Systematically identified savings and procurement market potential and consolidated it into a specific implementation concept for further processing.

Apr 2016 - Apr 2016

1 month

Fulda, Germany

Procurement Consultant

Herzberger Bäckerei GmbH

Analysis of the supplier and raw material portfolio (including fats and oils) as well as the packaging portfolio with regard to savings potential (approx. €15 Mio.)
Process analysis and optimization proposals in procurement and incoming goods
Preparation of a concept for implementing the identified savings potential

Aug 2015 - Mar 2017

1 year 8 months

Munich, Germany

Head of Procurement

PowerBar Europe GmbH / Active Nutrition International GmbH

Sports Nutrition | Procurement/project volume approx. 35 Mio. EUR | Management of 3 employees
Head of Procurement with responsibility for three employees.
Conducted a Make-or-Buy decision for Dymatize using Open-Book and Conversion-Cost analysis.
Tendering of packaging, proteins, print, parcel, cleaning, insurance and software services based on RFI, RFQ and RFP.
Established category structures, supplier evaluation, reporting and procurement terms and conditions.
Coaching of strategic procurement, optimization of Working Capital and incoming goods as well as negotiation of Manufacturing Agreements with Co-Manufacturers.
Realized savings in the seven-figure range.
Systematized category and supplier management, optimized Working Capital and incoming goods, and established Make-or-Buy and Co-Manufacturer decisions on transparent cost and contractual foundations.
RoIM Faktor 2,2

Jan 2015 - Dec 2021

7 years

Schwandorf, Germany

Procurement Project Manager / Strategic Buyer / Consultant

Wolf Wurstwarenspezialitäten GmbH

Meat processing | Procurement/project volume up to approx. 30 Mio. EUR
Several mandates focusing on supply security, strategic sourcing, annual negotiations and packaging.
Established alternative sources for organic and QS poultry meat and sourced meat, canned goods, dairy products, dough products and basic foodstuffs.
Tenders and negotiations for cardboard packaging, films, rental laundry, hygiene products as well as technical and facility services.
Analyzed packaging offers, prepared and led annual negotiations, and revised the requirements structure for workwear at three sites.
Secured product availability, opened up new procurement channels and limited price increases.
Achieved savings in the six-figure range in the quantified individual mandates; RoIM up to factor 10.
Structured packaging and workwear requirements and prepared them for negotiations.
RoIM up to factor 10

Mar 2013 - Mar 2014

1 year 1 month

Hamburg, Germany

Procurement Team Leader / Category Manager Food and Non-Food

Valora Retail Services GmbH

Kiosk / Retail | Procurement/project volume approx. 25 Mio. EUR | Management of 6 employees
Managed procurement and category management for Food and Non-Food, leading six employees.
Led annual negotiations, introduced the ok.-Wasser and beer private labels, established a process for rebates and advertising cost contributions, and developed category management for Non-Food and services.
Successfully introduced private labels, structured the rebate and advertising cost contribution process, and established category management for Non-Food and services.

May 2012 - Nov 2012

7 months

Berlin, Germany

Procurement Team Leader / Category Manager Fresh Food

All You Need GmbH

Online supermarket | Management of 2 employees
Established and managed fresh food procurement for fruit and vegetables, dairy products, and meat and sausage products, leading two employees.
Designed procurement and product flow processes for an online supermarket and established a continuous cold chain from goods receipt to delivery to the end customer.
Established the fresh food division across three main product categories and implemented a continuous cold chain through to delivery to the end customer.

Industry experience

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

Experienced in Food and Beverage, Manufacturing, Sport, Retail, and Transportation.

Food and Beverage

Manufacturing

Sport

Retail

Transportation

Business area experience

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

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

Procurement

Supply Chain Management

Project Management

Operations

Logistics

Quality Assurance

Summary

Interim Manager for purchasing, procurement transformation and supply chain, with a focus on the food industry, food retail and packaging. Engagements for vacancies, restructuring, post-merger integration, supply risks and earnings pressure. Assumption of management and P&L responsibility. From analysis and negotiation through contract conclusion, implementation and handover.

Skills

Roim Up To Factor 11
6- And 7-Figure Results
Leadership Of Up To 11 Employees
Mandates Up To 500 Mio. Eur
Vacancy Bridging
Restructuring
Post-Merger Integration
Troubleshooting
Supply Assurance
Build-Up And Handover
Management Of Purchasing And Teams
Category Management
Supplier And Contract Management
Working Capital
Implementation
Ingredients
Primary And Secondary Packaging
Energy
Capex
Mro
Logistics
Technical Services

Languages

German

Native

English

Advanced

Certifications & licenses

Handwerkskammer Osnabrück

Statistics

Experience

Total positions 18

Experience in Food and Beverage 11 y

Avg length 11 m

Longest experience 6 y 11 m

Global experience

Countries worked in 3 (Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands)

Primary country Germany

Expertise

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

Main industries Food and Beverage, Manufacturing, Sport

Main business areas Procurement, Supply Chain Management, Project Management

Qualifications

Certifications earned 1

Profile

Member since

January 2024

Last update

September 2026

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Frequently asked questions

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Udo is based in Badbergen, Germany.

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

Udo has at least 11 years of experience. During this time, Udo has worked in at least 12 different roles and for 17 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 1 year and 8 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: Consultant and Project Manager, Interim Head of Technical Purchasing, Trainer and Coach.

Udo's most recent position is Consultant and Project Manager at MEDEWO Gruppe.

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

Udo is most experienced in industries like Food and Beverage, Manufacturing, and Sport. Udo also has some experience in Retail and Transportation.

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

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

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

Udo has 1 certificate: Ausbildereignung nach AEVO.

Udo is immediately available full-time for suitable projects.

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Daily rate avg. 960 €

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Median rate 880 €

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.

Calculated based on our freelancers’ daily rates as of 27 Sep 2026. Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.