SIMONE RÖSSEL
Enzesfeld-Lindabrunn
Summary
Food ignites curiosity, passion, and purpose – and that’s where I thrive.
I bridge sensory depth and strategic precision.
I focus on ultra-fresh products, where timing, quality, and reliability are not just benchmarks, but responsibilities.
In Spain, I first learned to navigate the unseen layers – of produce, people, and place.
It shaped the way I listen, lead, and decide to this day.
Across every role, I’ve moved within the space where sourcing meets structure – leading procurement, supply systems, and categories with full accountability for commercial results.
From ripening schedules to product launches, I operate across the entire value chain – with clarity, presence, and a strong sense of purpose.
I lead with empathy and structure, navigating complex systems with foresight and care.
Rooted in both intuition and analysis, I navigate the human and the operational side of food – where perception meets performance, and excellence begins with understanding.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Category Manager / Buyer Specialist
REWE Group | BILLA
01.2024 - 01.2025
- Gained market share through assortment optimization.
- Significantly reduced write-offs via performance monitoring.
- Full budget responsibility in the double-digit million range (EUR 10M+).
Head of Procurement – Fruit & Vegetables
Obsthaus GmbH
01.2023 - 12.2023
- Optimized quality standards and stock management.
Head of Procurement
Neni Holding GmbH
01.2021 - 12.2023
- Achieved full supply chain reliability in crisis situations.
- Delivered seven-figure savings through energy optimization.
Head of Procurement
Markta GmbH
01.2021 - 12.2022
- Start-up online farmers’ market and digital platform.
- Responsible for sourcing and supplier development in the context of regional, transparent food systems.
- Built scalable procurement structures for fresh and artisanal products.
- Enabled efficient producer onboarding and assortment structuring during growth phase.
Founder & Managing Director
Esencial – Taste in Quintessence
01.2016 - 12.2020
- Developed and launched a premium fruit syrup product line at Eurospar.
- Created sensory-driven, market-oriented product innovations.
Expert Consultant & Category Manager Ultra-Fresh – Fruit & Vegetables
AGM C&C / REWE INTERNATIONAL AG
01.2015 - 12.2016
- Achieved IFS certification across 10 locations.
Head of Procurement & Category Management
Julius Kiennast Lebensmittelgroßhandel GmbH
01.2014 - 12.2015
- Led 18 employees (disciplinary and technical).
- Full responsibility for revenue, margin and profit.
Head of International Procurement CEE – Fruit & Vegetables
REWE International AG
01.2011 - 12.2012
- Cross-country demand bundling and differentiated sourcing planning.
- Worked on-site in Bulgaria and Romania to strengthen regional sourcing.
- Built high-performing international teams.
- Full category and KPI responsibility, including margin, volume, and supplier performance management.
Head of Sales & Procurement Fruit & Vegetables
Agrofruit Export S.A.
01.2008 - 12.2011
- New client acquisition and listing at SPAR Czech Republic.
International Category Manager Fruit & Vegetables
Do & Co Gourmet Entertainment
01.2007 - 12.2008
- Established direct raw material sourcing and Navision data import.
- Trained employees in quality assurance.
Team Lead Procurement & Supply Chain – Fruit & Vegetables
Edeka Fruchtkontor S.L.
01.2001 - 12.2007
- Successful key account management and category leadership.
Procurement & Supply Chain Management – Fruit & Vegetables
San Lucar Group S.L. | Citrimed S.L.
01.1997 - 12.2001
- Early specialization in freshness, ripening and logistics.
Export Manager
Mekaniker S.L. | Lift Technology
01.1994 - 12.1996
Education
Matura (Austrian High School Diploma) - undefined
BG/BRG Neunkirchen
Spanish High School Degree - undefined
Universidad P.A.A.U.
Dual Studies in English & German Philology - undefined
Universidad de Filología
Certified Project Manager - undefined
Skills
- Strategic & Operational Procurement
- Fresh Produce Expertise
- Supply Chain Management
- Product Development & Sensory Profiling
- Leadership & Coaching
- Troubleshooting & Project Management
Values And Drivers
- Sensory & Food Pairing – Creating taste as an experience
- Ultra-Fresh – Responsibility from field to shelf
- Leadership – Clarity, growth and trust
- Nature & Animals – Advocacy, balance, welfare and protection (Habitat Sein – Poetic and narrative care for the whiskered, the howling, the wounded and the waiting)
- Networking – Co-creating ideas that make a difference
- Outdoor Sports – Movement as a source of strength and equilibrium
Selected Experience
- Senior Category Manager / Buyer Specialist, REWE Group | BILLA, Wiener Neudorf, 01/01/24, 12/31/25, Gained market share through assortment optimization., Significantly reduced write-offs via performance monitoring., Full budget responsibility in the double-digit million range (EUR 10M+).
- Head of Procurement – Fruit & Vegetables, Obsthaus GmbH, Vienna, 01/01/23, 12/31/23, Optimized quality standards and stock management.
- Head of Procurement, Neni Holding GmbH, Gumpoldskirchen, 01/01/21, 12/31/23, Achieved full supply chain reliability in crisis situations., Delivered seven-figure savings through energy optimization.
- Head of Procurement, Markta GmbH, Vienna, 01/01/21, 12/31/22, Start-up online farmers’ market and digital platform., Responsible for sourcing and supplier development in the context of regional, transparent food systems., Built scalable procurement structures for fresh and artisanal products., Enabled efficient producer onboarding and assortment structuring during growth phase.
- Founder & Managing Director, Esencial – Taste in Quintessence, Neunkirchen, 01/01/16, 12/31/20, Developed and launched a premium fruit syrup product line at Eurospar., Created sensory-driven, market-oriented product innovations.
- Expert Consultant & Category Manager Ultra-Fresh – Fruit & Vegetables, AGM C&C / REWE INTERNATIONAL AG, 01/01/15, 12/31/16, Achieved IFS certification across 10 locations.
- Head of Procurement & Category Management, Julius Kiennast Lebensmittelgroßhandel GmbH, Gars am Kamp, 01/01/14, 12/31/15, Led 18 employees (disciplinary and technical)., Full responsibility for revenue, margin and profit.
- Head of International Procurement CEE – Fruit & Vegetables, REWE International AG, Vienna, 01/01/11, 12/31/12, Cross-country demand bundling and differentiated sourcing planning., Worked on-site in Bulgaria and Romania to strengthen regional sourcing., Built high-performing international teams., Full category and KPI responsibility, including margin, volume, and supplier performance management.
- Head of Sales & Procurement Fruit & Vegetables, Agrofruit Export S.A., Castellón, Spain, 01/01/08, 12/31/11, New client acquisition and listing at SPAR Czech Republic.
- International Category Manager Fruit & Vegetables, Do & Co Gourmet Entertainment, Vienna, 01/01/07, 12/31/08, Established direct raw material sourcing and Navision data import., Trained employees in quality assurance.
- Team Lead Procurement & Supply Chain – Fruit & Vegetables, Edeka Fruchtkontor S.L., Valencia, Spain, 01/01/01, 12/31/07, Successful key account management and category leadership.
- Procurement & Supply Chain Management – Fruit & Vegetables, San Lucar Group S.L. | Citrimed S.L., Valencia, Spain, 01/01/97, 12/31/01, Early specialization in freshness, ripening and logistics.
- Export Manager, Mekaniker S.L. | Lift Technology, Valencia, Spain, 01/01/94, 12/31/96
Timeline
Senior Category Manager / Buyer Specialist
REWE Group | BILLA
01.2024 - 01.2025
Head of Procurement – Fruit & Vegetables
Obsthaus GmbH
01.2023 - 12.2023
Head of Procurement
Neni Holding GmbH
01.2021 - 12.2023
Head of Procurement
Markta GmbH
01.2021 - 12.2022
Founder & Managing Director
Esencial – Taste in Quintessence
01.2016 - 12.2020
Expert Consultant & Category Manager Ultra-Fresh – Fruit & Vegetables
AGM C&C / REWE INTERNATIONAL AG
01.2015 - 12.2016
Head of Procurement & Category Management
Julius Kiennast Lebensmittelgroßhandel GmbH
01.2014 - 12.2015
Head of International Procurement CEE – Fruit & Vegetables
REWE International AG
01.2011 - 12.2012
Head of Sales & Procurement Fruit & Vegetables
Agrofruit Export S.A.
01.2008 - 12.2011
International Category Manager Fruit & Vegetables
Do & Co Gourmet Entertainment
01.2007 - 12.2008
Team Lead Procurement & Supply Chain – Fruit & Vegetables
Edeka Fruchtkontor S.L.
01.2001 - 12.2007
Procurement & Supply Chain Management – Fruit & Vegetables
San Lucar Group S.L. | Citrimed S.L.
01.1997 - 12.2001
Export Manager
Mekaniker S.L. | Lift Technology
01.1994 - 12.1996
Matura (Austrian High School Diploma) - undefined
BG/BRG Neunkirchen
Spanish High School Degree - undefined
Universidad P.A.A.U.
Dual Studies in English & German Philology - undefined
Universidad de Filología
Certified Project Manager - undefined
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