Produce Buyer

Job Description

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 Seafood Buyer is responsible for sourcing, purchasing & managing a diverse portfolio of fresh & frozen seafood products to support Restaurant Depot locations nationwide. This role manages supplier relationships, negotiates pricing & terms, monitors seafood markets & ensures product quality, availability & competitive costs.

The Seafood Buyer will work closely with vendors, distribution centers, operations & internal teams to maintain appropriate inventory levels, identify market opportunities & ensure seafood programs meet company standards for quality, value & profitability.

Key Responsibilities

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• Source, evaluate & purchase fresh & frozen seafood products based on quality, availability, pricing & business needs
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• Manage relationships with domestic & international seafood suppliers, processors & distributors
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• Negotiate pricing, purchasing terms, volume commitments & promotional opportunities to achieve competitive costs & maximize profitability
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• Monitor seafood markets, seasonal availability, supply conditions, commodity trends & pricing fluctuations to support strategic purchasing decisions
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• Maintain appropriate inventory levels while balancing product availability, freshness, turns & shrink
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• Analyze sales, inventory, margin & purchasing data to identify trends, opportunities & areas for improvement
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• Partner with vendors & internal teams to forecast demand & ensure consistent product supply across Restaurant Depot locations
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• Evaluate existing & prospective suppliers based on quality, pricing, service, reliability & overall performance
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• Identify new products, suppliers & sourcing opportunities that support customer demand & company growth
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• Ensure seafood products meet company specifications, quality standards & applicable food safety requirements
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• Collaborate with Food Safety & Quality Assurance teams to address product quality, specification or compliance concerns
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• Coordinate with logistics, distribution & operations teams to support product flow, delivery schedules & inventory availability
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• Manage product assortment, item performance & SKU rationalization within assigned seafood categories
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• Support promotional planning, pricing strategies & seasonal seafood programs
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• Resolve supplier, product quality, availability & delivery issues in a timely manner
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• Maintain accurate purchasing, pricing, vendor & product information within company systems
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• Develop & maintain strong knowledge of seafood species, grades, cuts, pack sizes, origins, seasonality & market conditions
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• Support company goals related to sales growth, gross margin, inventory management & overall category performance
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Qualifications

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• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Procurement, Food Industry Management or a related field preferred
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• 3+ years of purchasing, procurement, category management or merchandising experience; seafood or perishable food purchasing experience strongly preferred
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• Strong knowledge of fresh & frozen seafood products, seafood markets, seasonality, sourcing & quality standards preferred
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• Experience negotiating with suppliers & managing vendor relationships
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• Strong analytical skills with the ability to evaluate pricing, margins, inventory, sales trends & market data
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• Ability to make timely purchasing decisions in a fast-moving, commodity-driven environment
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• Strong communication, negotiation & relationship-management skills
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• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple products, suppliers & priorities simultaneously
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• Strong attention to detail & ability to identify product quality, pricing or supply issues
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• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel & other purchasing, inventory or ERP systems
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• Ability to collaborate effectively across Procurement, Operations, Logistics, Distribution, FSQA & other internal teams
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Benefits & Perks

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• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance Coverage
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• 401(k) Retirement Plan with Employer Match
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• Paid Time Off (PTO) in accordance with company policy
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• Six (6) Paid Company Holidays
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• Tuition Reimbursement Program (subject to eligibility & plan guidelines)
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• Additional Voluntary Supplemental Benefits (may include life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance programs & other optional benefits)
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• Competitive & Comprehensive Benefits Package Designed to Support You & Your Family
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• All benefits are subject to eligibility requirements & plan terms
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