Produce Buyer

Job Description

SUMMARY: Responsible for procuring supplies of quality fruits and vegetables available for resale to member retailers. To promote sales of these items to the members and purchase them from approved vendors.

This position supports AWG's mission to remain firmly committed to our long-established mission statement:

"Our mission is to ensure the success of our member retailers and provide opportunities to our employees. This will be accomplished by satisfying the customers', and our member retailers', needs for quality supermarket merchandise and superior support services. We will do this with high quality employees whose mission is to provide the lowest possible cost of goods in order to ensure our members profitability, competiveness and continued growth."

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The individual must have the ability to perform the responsibilities listed below. The list is not all inclusive of duties that may be requested by the department head or a member of upper management but are intended for an understanding of the purpose of the position. It is the responsibility of each individual at AWG to provide ultimate customer service to our members to support their efforts in increasing same store sales and profits.

1. Communicate with a network of local suppliers and F.O.B. growers and shippers who can provide quality produce at a competitive price.
2. Work with quality control to ensure only quality product is received and shipped by AWG.
3. Verify weekly list of suggested ad items and pricing.
4. Be aware of special opportunities to purchase product that would increase sales for AWG members.
5. Establish SRP's weekly to keep members competitive and maintain movement.
6. Adjust internal markup adequate to cover budgeted expenses.
7. Assist in development of weekly produce bulletin to provide members with market product information, merchandising ideas, and other helpful information.
8. Develop program that permits AWG to meet turnover needs as well as provide sufficient supply to fill orders.
9. Provide information regarding new and discontinued items, and special buy opportunities for our members.
10. Communicate market conditions and changes regularly and on a timely basis with Director of Produce Merchandising.
11. Work as a member of the AWG team so the total job responsibilities are met. Actions must always stress a sense of cooperation, integrity, tact and consideration with our members, associates and division management.
12. This position requires strong communication and computer skills with the ability to use and learn new technology. Management will be kept informed on planning, analysis, work performed and results. All records required by management must be complete, accurate and submitted on time.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. A reasonable accommodation will be considered according to the ADA if it would not impose an undue hardship on the operations of the business without significant difficulty or expense. The accommodation would permit a qualified employee the ability to perform all essential functions of the job within the safety and contractual guidelines of the position.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: Retail grocery store or grocery wholesale experience preferred. Degree not required, but equivalent work experience in retail preferred; minimum of 2 years related experience in the preferred fields of Produce retail or wholesale; or equivalent combination of education and experience, with minimum 2 years in management.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.

REASONING ABILITY: Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, and taste or smell. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Adequate heating, cooling, lighting and ventilation. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. While performing the job duties, the employee is occasionally exposed to extreme cold in the coolers. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to occasionally loud. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job.

This position's basic purpose is to use all available resources to assist the Produce Department in continuous growth and financial success.