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 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, sourcing, & quality standards.
• Experience negotiating with suppliers & managing vendor relationships.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to evaluate pricing, margins, inventory, sales trends, & market data.
• Ability to make timely purchasing decisions in a fast-moving, commodity-driven environment.
• Strong communication, negotiation, & relationship-management skills.
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple products, suppliers, & priorities simultaneously.
• Strong attention to detail & ability to identify product quality, pricing, or supply issues.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel & other purchasing, inventory, or ERP systems.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across Procurement, Operations, Logistics, Distribution, FSQA, & other internal teams.

Compensation & Benefits

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

All benefits are subject to eligibility requirements & applicable plan terms.