Udo Bocken - Interim Head of Technical Procurement

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 15 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 Procurement 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

Check rate

Experience

Apr 2024 - Jul 2025

1 year 4 months

Rinteln, Germany

Interim Head of Technical Procurement

Riha WeserGold Getränke GmbH & Co. KG

Managed technical procurement with 4 employees
Tendered, negotiated and finalized the gas supply for 2025, 2026 and 2027
Electricity procurement for 2024 and 2025
Feasibility study for a photovoltaic system for the Rinteln, Dodow and Waibstadt sites with tendering and negotiation of potential partners
Procurement of fossil fuels: diesel, gas and electricity as well as CO2 certificates
Procurement of technical gases including CO2
Realignment of cleaning and disinfection supplies for 3 operating sites and optimization of storage for these hazardous materials
Profitability calculation of the gas turbine (steam and electricity)
Fleet concept: conventional drive vs e-mobility
Procurement of 29 new tractor units
Two major maintenance projects: renewing the exterior shell of a high-bay warehouse and renewing the warehouse and high-bay logistics hardware and software
Negotiation of framework, maintenance and consignment stock agreements including capex and MRO with the four main machine suppliers
Support for performance issues during the commissioning of a new machine
Negotiation and signing of the contract for converting three machines for the site in Spain
Savings in the seven-digit 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 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 purchasing optimization
Procurement and scheduling of raw, auxiliary and operating materials (approx. €150 million)
Ensuring the availability of raw, auxiliary and operating materials
Optimizing aluminum beverage cans (material efficiency, design improvements)
Contractual fixation 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 signing framework agreements
Procurement market analysis as well as supplier qualification and annual evaluation
Sparring partner for management
Personnel recruiting: head of purchasing, 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 Coverage: Head of Purchasing

Trolli GmbH

Leading the purchasing department until a new hire
Setting up a new energy procurement
Technical purchasing, negotiating and drafting work, architect and maintenance contracts
Creating the budget for 2023
Negotiating the three main raw materials: glucose, gelatin, sugar
Handing over and training the new head of purchasing
Ensuring supply security and minimizing purchasing costs

Dec 2021 - Apr 2022

5 months

Norderstedt, Germany

Interim Vacancy Coverage: Purchasing Manager

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 contract implementation in warehousing and distribution
Implementing new structures in inbound and outbound logistics
Structuring purchasing/ordering 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

Purchasing Project Manager

Wolf Wurstwarenspezialitäten GmbH

Negotiating convenience raw material contracts for 2021/2022 or finding alternative suppliers (approx. €10M)
Sourcing organic poultry meat for a new product range and supporting 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 KPI definitions
Analyzing, consolidating and negotiating technical, trades and facility services
Sourcing and negotiating cleaning agents, RHB (raw, auxiliary and operating materials) and packaging updates
Searching for plastic trays for meat emulsion metal detection
Ensuring 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 fixing the tenders
Restructuring outbound logistics
Savings in the mid six-figure range
Return on Interim Management (RoIM): factor 7

Dec 2020 - Dec 2020

1 month

Schwandorf, Germany

Strategic Buyer / Procurement Consultant

Wolf Wurstwarenspezialitäten GmbH

Sourcing in the area of cooked poultry meat
Sourcing and negotiating hygiene products (nitrile gloves, hair nets)
Updating raw materials / packaging
Savings in the lower six-figure range
Return on Interim Management (RoIM): factor 10

Jun 2020 - Jun 2020

1 month

Procurement Consultant

Fleischverarbeitendes Unternehmen

Identifying new procurement channels 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: merging four procurement business units into a central unit in strategic central procurement (non-food, approx. €500 million)
Maximizing synergies in ingredients, packaging, logistics, energy, capex, MRO, labor, and hygiene
Bridged vacancy of Global Head of Procurement and led the Food Lead Buyer team, including transition and support for the new Global Head
Conducted annual performance reviews 2020/21
Saved €560,000 in Salomon packaging procurement
Return on Interim Manager (RoIM): factor 4

Feb 2020 - May 2020

4 months

Lüdinghausen, Germany

Consultant in Procurement

PE. WE. GmbH

Tendering for primary and secondary packaging (paper and plastic) and ingredients (mainly poultry meat) for retail and gastronomy (approx. €7 million)
Negotiation and contractual finalization of tenders
Savings in the mid six-digit 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 conducting of annual reviews in packaging
Acting as department head or strategic buyer in case of illness or absence
Savings in the six-digit 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
Acting as department head or strategic buyer in case of illness or absence
Sparring partner for executive management

Jun 2018 - Mar 2019

10 months

Hochdorf, Switzerland

Bridging Vacancy: Head of Procurement

Hochdorf Swiss Nutrition Ltd.

Member of supply chain management (internal/external logistics) for procurement (approx. €85 million)
Analysis of material flows in milk powder filling and baby care packing under hygiene requirements in high-risk areas
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, considering consignment stock options
HR recruiting: sourcing and hiring of buyers
Restructuring of procurement department and preparation/conduction of annual reviews 2019
Mid-year price negotiations with A-suppliers
Improvement of internal communication between procurement and adjacent departments
Onboarding of the new Head of Procurement
Conducting supplier audits and supporting internal audits
Projects: standardization of SpoonCaps shipping packaging, sourcing of SnapCaps, carton tender, oilseed workshop, co-packer sourcing for baby care follow-on formula
Savings in the seven-digit 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

Analysis of internal raw and auxiliary material flows, considering staging zones for production and storage
Goal: reduce working capital and optimize order quantities while increasing availability (approx. €20m)
Outsourcing of packaging to an external logistics service provider with just-in-time supply and reduction of working capital
Coaching the head of purchasing and process analysis/restructuring of the purchasing department
Analysis of supplier, packaging, and raw material portfolio
Preparation 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

Purchasing Consultant

Herzberger Bäckerei GmbH

Analysis of the supplier and raw material portfolio (incl. fats and oils) as well as packaging portfolio for savings potential (approx. €15m)
Process analysis and optimization proposals in purchasing and goods receipt
Developing a concept to implement the identified savings potentials

Oct 2015 - Dec 2015

3 months

Schwandorf, Germany

Purchasing Consultant

Wolf Wurstwarenspezialitäten GmbH

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

Aug 2015 - Mar 2017

1 year 8 months

Munich, Germany

Purchasing Team Leader

PowerBar Europe GmbH / Active Nutrition International GmbH

Project management 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. €35m)
Tendering, negotiation, and contracting of services in print media and parcel delivery for 2016/2017
Travel management: special rates with hotel chains and car rental companies
Tendering and negotiation of plant and office cleaning services, facility insurance and software for a new B2C web shop (involved in requirements specification)
Tendering and contracting of cartons, films, plastic containers and protein supplies via RFI, RFQ, RFP
Concept development for the setup and structure of the purchasing department
Supplier evaluation, coaching of the strategic buyer, support of operational purchasing
Identification and implementation of savings in corrugated and film packaging
Negotiation and contracting of fruit concentrates for co-manufacturers
Trade fair visits and network building
Reduction of working capital, setup of commodity group structure, creation of work instructions and reporting in goods receipt
Drafting and negotiating purchasing terms and manufacturing agreements
Savings in the seven-figure range
Return of 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

Passionate procurement optimizer
CPO, category manager and head of purchasing and division
Interim manager, consultant and coach
About 40 years of work experience, including about 25 years in food retail and the food industry
I also bring broad, up-to-date hands-on knowledge and ongoing training in drafting supply contracts, service contracts, co-manufacturer contracts and delivery terms.

Skills

Cpo, Head Of Purchasing And Division With Purchasing Volumes Of €15 To €700 Million
Category Manager With Purchasing Volumes Of €70 To €300 Million
Post Merger Integration
Building A Central Procurement Organization
Realizing Savings Potentials In Procurement Markets
Reviewing Structures And Developing Corrective Actions And Optimizing The Purchasing Department
Coaching Employees
Supplier Management And Development
Developing And Implementing Work Instructions For Purchasing And Materials Management
Conducting Annual Reviews And Negotiating Price And Volume Agreements And Signing Contracts (Including Framework Agreements)
Analyzing Stock Levels And Developing Short-Term Measures To Avoid Overstocking
Good To Very Good Network And Market Insight In Procurement Markets
Category Analysis
Further Development And Building Of The Product Range (Depending On Sales Channels)
Process Analysis (Depending On Sales Channels) And Defining And Optimizing Processes
Customer Potential Analysis
Strategy Planning
Applying Strategy In Test And Control Locations
Evaluating Results
Responsibility As Product Manager For Launching Private Labels
Creating Monthly And Annual Forecasts (Price, Margin And Volume)
Setting Pricing (Entry Price, Mid-Price, Private Label Price Level, Premium Price Level) 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 Procurement, 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

June 2026

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Frequently asked questions

Have questions? Find more information here.

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 15 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 Procurement, Trainer and Coach, Interim Purchasing Manager / Purchasing Consultant.

What is Udo's latest experience?

Udo's most recent position is Interim Head of Technical Procurement 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.