Udo Bocken - Interim Head of Technical Purchasing

Q: Where is Udo based?

Udo is based in Badbergen, Germany .

Q: What languages does Udo speak?

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

Q: How many years of experience does Udo have?

Udo has at least 7 years of experience. During this time, Udo has worked in at least 13 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.

Q: What is Udo's latest experience?

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

Q: What companies has Udo worked for in recent years?

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 .

Q: Which industries is Udo most experienced in?

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

Q: Which business areas is Udo most experienced in?

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

Q: Which industries has Udo worked in recently?

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

Q: Which business areas has Udo worked in recently?

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

Recommended expert

Badbergen, Germany

Experience

Apr 2024 - Jul 2025

1 year 4 months

Rinteln, Germany

Interim Head of Technical Purchasing

Riha WeserGold Getränke GmbH & Co. KG

Leading the technical purchasing team with 4 employees
Tendering, negotiating, and concluding gas supply contracts for 2025, 2026, and 2027
Purchasing electricity for 2024 and 2025
Feasibility study of a photovoltaic system for the Rinteln, Dodow, and Waibstadt sites, including tendering and negotiating with potential partners
Purchasing fossil fuels: diesel, gas, and electricity, as well as CO2 certificates
Purchasing technical gases, including CO2
Realigning cleaning and disinfection supplies for three plants and optimizing storage of these hazardous materials
Cost-benefit analysis of the gas turbine (steam and electricity)
Fleet concept: conventional engines vs. electric mobility
Procurement of 29 new tractor units
Two major maintenance projects: renewing the outer shell of a high-bay warehouse and overhauling warehouse and high-bay logistics hardware and software
Negotiating framework, maintenance, and consignment stock contracts, including CAPEX and MRO, with the four main machine suppliers
Addressing performance issues during the commissioning of a new machine
Negotiating and finalizing the contract for converting three machines at the Spain site
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

Procurement 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 for injection and blow molding raw materials, stainless steel clamps, pallets, and corrugated cardboard packaging
Lead negotiator for procuring 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

Procurement Consultant / Interim for Strategic Tasks

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)
Contractual securing of financial instruments in aluminum procurement
Optimizing glass beverage bottles (material efficiency, design, recyclability, transport optimization)
Inventory optimization
Strategic and operational purchasing consulting
Conducting price negotiations and finalizing framework agreements
Procurement market analysis, supplier qualification, and annual evaluation
Sparring partner for the management board
Staff recruitment: purchasing manager, two strategic buyers, purchasing clerks
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: Purchasing Manager

Trolli GmbH

Leading the purchasing department until a replacement was appointed
Establishing a new energy purchasing unit
Technical procurement, negotiating and drafting work, architectural, and maintenance contracts
Preparing the budget for 2023
Negotiating the three main raw materials: glucose, gelatin, sugar
Transferring duties and onboarding the new purchasing manager
Ensuring supply security and minimizing procurement costs

Dec 2021 - Apr 2022

5 months

Norderstedt, Germany

Vacancy Cover: Head of Purchasing

Tripoint GmbH (Genuport Trade GmbH)

Troubleshooting quantities and prices in the sports nutrition area (approx. €10M)
Building, coordinating, and managing the supplier portfolio and co-manufacturers
Negotiating logistics services including contractual implementation in warehouse and distribution
Implementing new structures in inbound and outbound logistics
Structuring procurement/disposition processes including planning setup and review
Preparing 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 for a new product line and collaborating on recipe development
Sourcing QS-certified poultry (chicken) in Eastern Europe for a new product line
Tendering, negotiating, and implementing employee rental laundry and setting up controlling with defined KPIs
Analyzing, consolidating, and negotiating technical, craft, and facility services
Sourcing and negotiations in cleaning agents, RHB / packaging update
Searching for plastic trays for meat batter metal detection
Securing product availability and minimizing price increases

Apr 2021 - Jun 2021

3 months

Lüdinghausen, Germany

Procurement Consultant

PE. WE. GmbH

Tenders for logistics costs for 2021/2022
Negotiating and contractually finalizing the tenders
Restructuring outbound logistics
Achieved savings in the mid six-figure range
Return of Interim Manager (RoIM): factor 7

Dec 2020 - Dec 2020

1 month

Schwandorf, Germany

Strategic Buyer / Procurement Consultant

Wolf Wurstwarenspezialitäten GmbH

Sourcing roasted poultry
Sourcing and negotiating hygiene products (nitrile gloves, hairnets)
Update RHB / packaging area
Achieved savings in the low six-figure range
Return of Interim Manager (RoIM): factor 10

Jun 2020 - Jun 2020

1 month

Procurement Consultant

Meat Processing Company

Finding new sourcing channels for poultry 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: Merging four procurement business units into one central strategic purchasing unit (Non-Food, approx. €500 million)
Maximizing synergies in ingredients, packaging, logistics, energy, capex, MRO, labor and hygiene areas
Covering vacancy for Global Head of Procurement and Lead Buyer Team FOOD, including handover and support of the new Global Head
Conducting annual review meetings 2020/21
Saving €560,000 in Salomon packaging procurement
Return on interim manager (RoIM): factor 4

Feb 2020 - May 2020

4 months

Lüdinghausen, Germany

Procurement Consultant

PE. WE. GmbH

Tenders for primary and secondary packaging (paper and plastic) as well as ingredients (especially poultry meat) for retail and catering (approx. €7 million)
Negotiation and contractual finalization 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 / Procurement Consultant

Wolf Wurstwarenspezialitäten GmbH

Analysis of bids for packaging tenders (approx. €30 million)
Preparation and execution of annual review meetings for packaging
Representing 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

Procurement Consultant

Wolf Wurstwarenspezialitäten GmbH

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

Jun 2018 - Mar 2019

10 months

Hochdorf, Switzerland

Vacancy Cover: Head of Purchasing

Hochdorf Swiss Nutrition Ltd.

Member of the supply chain management team (internal/external logistics) for purchasing (approx. €85 million)
Analysis of material flows in milk powder filling and baby care packing under high-risk hygiene requirements
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 auditing for logistics service providers, considering consignment stock options
HR recruiting: Searching for and hiring buyers
Restructuring the purchasing department and preparing/leading the 2019 annual review meetings
Mid-year price negotiations with A-level suppliers
Improved internal communication between purchasing and adjacent departments
Onboarding the new head of purchasing
Conducting supplier audits and supporting internal audits
Projects: Standardizing delivery packaging for SpoonCaps, sourcing SnapCaps, cardboard packaging tender, oilseed workshop, copacker sourcing for 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 Head of Purchasing

Edmund Merl Feinkost GmbH & Co. KG

Analyzed internal flows of raw and auxiliary materials, considering staging areas for production and storage
Goal: reduce working capital and optimize order quantities while increasing availability (approx. €20 million)
Outsourced packaging to an external logistics provider with just-in-time supply, reducing working capital
Coached the head of purchasing and analyzed and restructured purchasing department processes
Analyzed supplier, packaging, and raw material portfolios
Drafted purchasing terms and audit documents
Conducted supplier audits and supported internal audits
Achieved savings in the six-figure range
Return on Interim Manager (RoIM): factor 6.3

Apr 2016 - Apr 2016

1 month

Fulda, Germany

Consultant in Purchasing

Herzberger Bäckerei GmbH

Analyzed supplier and raw material portfolios (including fats and oils) and packaging portfolios for savings potential (approx. €15 million)
Mapped processes and suggested optimizations in purchasing and goods receipt
Developed a concept to implement the identified savings

Oct 2015 - Dec 2015

3 months

Schwandorf, Germany

Consultant in Purchasing

Wolf Wurstwarenspezialitäten GmbH

Prepared and led annual meetings with A-suppliers in packaging, meat, and natural casings (approx. €30 million)
Created tender documents for cartons and film packaging
Improved terms and reduced purchase prices
Consolidated packaging purchasing with structured tender documents and identified savings opportunities

Aug 2015 - Mar 2017

1 year 8 months

Munich, Germany

Team Leader Purchasing

PowerBar Europe GmbH / Active Nutrition International GmbH

Led project to launch a new product line under the brand Dymatize and analyzed material and production costs for make-or-buy decisions (approx. €35 million)
Managed tenders, negotiations, and contracts for print media and parcel services for 2016/2017
Travel management: secured special rates with hotel chains and car rental companies
Tendered and negotiated factory and office cleaning services, facility insurance, and software for a new B2C webshop (contributed to requirements specification)
Issued tenders and finalized contracts for cartons, films, plastic jars, and protein needs using RFI, RFQ, and RFP
Developed a concept for building and structuring the purchasing department
Performed supplier evaluations, coached the strategic buyer, and supported operational purchasing
Identified and implemented savings in corrugated and film packaging
Negotiated and concluded contracts for fruit concentrates with co-manufacturers
Attended trade fairs and built networks
Reduced working capital, established a commodity group structure, and created work instructions and reporting for goods receipt
Drafted and negotiated purchasing terms and manufacturing agreements
Achieved 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 by passion
CPO, Category Manager, as well as Purchasing and Department Head
Interim Manager, Consultant, and Coach
Approx. 40 years of professional experience, including about 25 years in food retail and the food industry
Additionally, I bring extensive and up-to-date practical knowledge and continuous training in drafting supply contracts, work contracts, co-manufacturer contracts, and delivery terms.

Skills

Cpo, Purchasing And Department Head With Procurement Volume From Eur 15 To 700 Million
Category Manager With Procurement Volume From Eur 70 To 300 Million
Post-merger Integration
Building A Central Procurement Organization
Implementing Savings Potentials In Procurement Markets
Reviewing Structures And Developing Corrective Measures And Optimizations For The Purchasing Department
Coaching Employees
Supplier Management And Development
Developing And Implementing Procedures For Purchasing And Materials Management
Conducting Annual Reviews As Well As Negotiating Price And Volume Agreements And Concluding Contracts (Including Framework Agreements)
Analyzing Inventory Levels And Developing Short-term Actions To Avoid Overstocking
Good To Very Good Networking And Market Overview In Procurement Markets
Analyzing Product Categories
Further Development And Expansion Of Product Range (Depending On Sales Channels)
Process Analysis (Depending On Sales Channels) And Defining And Optimizing Processes
Analyzing Customer Potential
Strategy Planning
Implementing The Strategy In Test And Control Stores
Evaluating Results
Responsible As Product Manager For Launching Private-label Brands
Creating Monthly And Annual Forecasts (Price, Margin, And Volume)
Setting Pricing (Entry Price, Mid Price, Private Label Pricing, Premium Pricing) Considering The Margin

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

February 2026

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Frequently asked questions

Do you have questions? Here you can find further information.

Where is Udo based?

Udo is based in Badbergen, Germany.

What languages does Udo speak?

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

How many years of experience does Udo have?

Udo has at least 7 years of experience. During this time, Udo has worked in at least 13 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.

What roles would Udo be best suited for?

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.

What is Udo's latest experience?

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

What companies has Udo worked for in recent years?

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.

Which industries is Udo most experienced in?

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

Which business areas is Udo most experienced in?

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