Produce Buyer

Restaurant Depot is the nation’s leading members-only, wholesale cash-and-carry supplier serving independent restaurants, caterers, delis, convenience stores, & other foodservice businesses across 165+ locations in 35 states. Our stores offer bulk quantities of fresh meat, seafood, produce, dairy, frozen foods, grocery items, beverages, paper goods, cleaning supplies, restaurant equipment, & more. Open seven days a week, we are committed to delivering quality products, competitive pricing, & exceptional service to our members. Position Summary The Produce Buyer is responsible for sourcing, purchasing, & managing a diverse portfolio of fresh produce products to support Restaurant Depot locations nationwide. This role manages supplier relationships, negotiates pricing & terms, monitors produce markets, & ensures product quality, freshness, availability, & competitive costs. The Produce Buyer will work closely with growers, vendors, distribution centers, operations, & internal teams to maintain appropriate inventory levels, identify market opportunities, & ensure produce programs meet company standards for quality, value, & profitability. Key Responsibilities Produce Sourcing & Purchasing Source, evaluate, & purchase fresh produce based on quality, availability, pricing, seasonality, & business needs. Manage relationships with domestic & international growers, shippers, distributors, & other produce suppliers. Negotiate pricing, purchasing terms, volume commitments, & promotional opportunities to achieve competitive costs & maximize profitability. Monitor produce markets, seasonal availability, growing conditions, supply trends, & commodity pricing fluctuations to support strategic purchasing decisions. Identify new products, suppliers, & sourcing opportunities that support customer demand & company growth. Vendor Relations & Market Management Evaluate existing & prospective suppliers based on product quality, pricing, service, reliability, & overall performance. Develop & maintain strong supplier relationships to support consistent product availability & favorable purchasing terms. Resolve supplier, product quality, availability, & delivery issues in a timely manner. Stay informed on produce market conditions, growing regions, crop cycles, seasonality, & industry trends. Inventory, Quality & Distribution Maintain appropriate inventory levels while balancing product availability, freshness, turns, shelf life, & shrink. Partner with vendors & internal teams to forecast demand & ensure consistent product supply across Restaurant Depot locations. Ensure produce products meet company specifications, quality standards, & applicable food safety requirements. Collaborate with Food Safety & Quality Assurance teams to address product quality, specification, or compliance concerns. Coordinate with logistics, distribution, & operations teams to support product flow, delivery schedules, & inventory availability. Manage product assortment, item performance, & SKU rationalization within assigned produce categories. Pricing, Cost Analysis & Category Performance Analyze sales, inventory, margin, & purchasing data to identify trends, opportunities, & areas for improvement. Support promotional planning, pricing strategies, & seasonal produce programs. Maintain accurate purchasing, pricing, vendor, & product information within company systems. Develop & maintain strong knowledge of produce varieties, grades, sizes, pack specifications, origins, seasonality, & market conditions. Support company goals related to sales growth, gross margin, inventory management, & overall category performance. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Procurement, Food Industry Management, or a related field preferred. 3+ years of purchasing, procurement, category management, or merchandising experience; fresh produce or perishable food purchasing experience strongly preferred. Strong knowledge of fresh produce products, markets, seasonality, sourcin…

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