From pubs to purchasing

From pubs to purchasing: Alex’s career at Wetherspoon

Alex first joined Wetherspoon at 17, working as a floor associate in The Earl of Dalkeith (Kettering).

Alex was attending college as part of the football academy for Kettering Town and looking for a local job. 

While moving through the ranks to become an experienced manager, Alex gained valuable experience of team management and the day-to-day running of pubs.

“Kettering was my base pub, but I was part of the opening team in 2014 for The Saxon Crown (Corby).

I also worked shifts covering managers’ holiday and vacant pubs in The Railway Inn (Rushden), The Samuel Lloyd (Corby), The Sugar Loaf (Market Harborough) and The Red Well (Wellingborough).

The valuable take-away was ‘Be like water’ – Bruce Lee. “Adaptability is key to success, and working in the pubs taught me that.”

Alex progressed to become a shift manager within a couple of years of joining the company.

In 2016, Alex took an opportunity in the finance team at head office in Watford, joining the accounts payable team in finance, aged 21.

Since then, Alex has developed a broad knowledge of the business, working across several roles.

“Working in the finance department opened the door to so many areas of the business through project work and contributing to business reviews, as well as financial year-end audits.

This was great experience while also completing my CIMA studies.

While it enabled development of analytical skills, particularly in areas of stock and property, it also involved IT (working with multiple data systems), tax (alcohol duty and import/export of goods), commercial (GP analysis), operations and audit.”

Alex then spent more than two years taking responsibility for distribution, becoming accountable for the delivery of all stock and non-stock products through the national distribution centre in Daventry and other key distribution partners, before moving to the commercial department.

Today, Alex focuses on procurement, playing a major role in supporting pubs and ensuring smooth supply-chain operations.

“From my days in the pubs, I know how much of an impact it can have if a product is unavailable and that introducing a new simple process can be really helpful too!

“I really enjoy representing the pubs in this way and work closely with all of the suppliers to ensure that 100% supply to Wetherspoon remains high on the agenda.”

More recently, Alex has focused on several property contracts and developing partnerships with suppliers, laying the foundations for the company’s future – an exciting project.

“The world of procurement constantly throws up challenges and tests your ability to adapt. Using all of the skills I’ve learned to achieve the best result for the company can be very rewarding.”

Alex Vitue

Procurement has become a passion for Alex, and the knowledge which he has gained over the past 13 years at Wetherspoon has supported his studies towards the professional MCIPS qualification, completion of which he is now nearing, having passed 19 exams in the past year.

Reflecting on his career, Alex says:

“I’ve had the chance to experience Wetherspoon from two very different sides – the pub and head office. Both have given me opportunities to learn and grow. I enjoy working in commercial because it’s all about making sure that the pubs have what they need to deliver the best service to customers.

“The world of procurement constantly throws up challenges and tests your ability to adapt. Using all of the skills I’ve learned to achieve the best result for the company can be very rewarding.”

Alex’s career so far shows how Wetherspoon encourages people to develop, try new things and take on new challenges.