Specialty Foods Buyer

Our company is seeking a highly motivated Specialty Foods Buyer to join our growing Purchasing Team. Answering into Purchasing Management, the Specialty Foods Buyer will procure specialty products ranging from domestic and imported cheeses, charcuterie, & related accoutrements. Candidates must possess Wholesale, Food Service, or Retail experience to be considered for this role.
RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Own the daily buying of cheeses, charcuterie, oils and vinegars, preserves, ingredients, and related accoutrements.
• Select vendors to procure from, based upon their ability to provide a continuous supply of product, service level, and responsiveness to market changes and the company's requirements.
• Maintain item and vendor data management within Enterprise Resource Platform, on all items pertaining to the Specialty Foods category.
• Learn & utilize the company's suite of solutions, ranging from Demand Planning, Canned Reporting, and Business Intelligence tools.
• Maintain & adhere to the company's 98.5%+ fulfillment rate standards.
• Negotiate best pricing, deals, and publish regular Specialty Foods category business reviews.
• Proactively plan for harvests, supply chain constraints, and map out acceptable substitutes.
• Coordinate with Quality Control, Receiving, and Sales as it pertains to maintaining the highest quality standards, on-time deliveries, and industry leading fulfillment rates.
• Participate in weekly team meetings & ongoing educational series.
• Assist Purchasing Management with growth opportunities across the category including, but not limited to; assessing current selection and identifying opportunities for growth within the specialty foods division across both domestic and imported products.
• Stay current with specialty food trends, educate and collaborate with related departments on developing new products & growing existing lines. Publish regular market trends to Purchasing and/or Sales Management.
• Work with internal departments and external vendors on aging inventory as well as damaged items on inbound freight.
• Support the Sales team with product spec and pricing information, and provide recommendations on new and existing products.
• Must have a strong desire to develop new brands on specialty items, especially within the cheese and charcuterie categories, but also oils/vinegars, ingredients, and specialty accompaniments.

EXPERIENCE:

• 3+years' buying experience within food and beverage.
• Strong knowledge and use of Microsoft Office Tools.
• Ability to multi-task many activities, projects and timelines.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Must be able to communicate with personnel at all levels of the organization including ownership.
• Self-starter with the ability to set priorities and goals and work to accomplish the goals.
• Strong negotiation skills.

EEO M/F/D/V
Our company recruits, hires and promotes individuals without regard to race, creed, color, religion, age, gender, national origin or ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, or physical or mental disability unrelated to an individual's ability to perform the job, or any other status protected by law, all in accordance with applicable Federal, State or Local Laws.