New York
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. \n \n Position Summary \n 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. \n 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. \n \n Key Responsibilities \n Produce Sourcing & Purchasing \n\n • Source, evaluate, & purchase fresh produce based on quality, availability, pricing, seasonality, & business needs.\n, • Manage relationships with domestic & international growers, shippers, distributors, & other produce suppliers.\n, • Negotiate pricing, purchasing terms, volume commitments, & promotional opportunities to achieve competitive costs & maximize profitability.\n, • Monitor produce markets, seasonal availability, growing conditions, supply trends, & commodity pricing fluctuations to support strategic purchasing decisions.\n, • Identify new products, suppliers, & sourcing opportunities that support customer demand & company growth.\n\n Vendor Relations & Market Management \n\n • Evaluate existing & prospective suppliers based on product quality, pricing, service, reliability, & overall performance.\n, • Develop & maintain strong supplier relationships to support consistent product availability & favorable purchasing terms.\n, • Resolve supplier, product quality, availability, & delivery issues in a timely manner.\n, • Stay informed on produce market conditions, growing regions, crop cycles, seasonality, & industry trends.\n\n Inventory, Quality & Distribution \n\n • Maintain appropriate inventory levels while balancing product availability, freshness, turns, shelf life, & shrink.\n, • Partner with vendors & internal teams to forecast demand & ensure consistent product supply across Restaurant Depot locations.\n, • Ensure produce products meet company specifications, quality standards, & applicable food safety requirements.\n, • Collaborate with Food Safety & Quality Assurance teams to address product quality, specification, or compliance concerns.\n, • Coordinate with logistics, distribution, & operations teams to support product flow, delivery schedules, & inventory availability.\n, • Manage product assortment, item performance, & SKU rationalization within assigned produce categories.\n\n Pricing, Cost Analysis & Category Performance \n\n • Analyze sales, inventory, margin, & purchasing data to identify trends, opportunities, & areas for improvement.\n, • Support promotional planning, pricing strategies, & seasonal produce programs.\n, • Maintain accurate purchasing, pricing, vendor, & product information within company systems.\n, • Develop & maintain strong knowledge of produce varieties, grades, sizes, pack specifications, origins, seasonality, & market conditions.\n, • Support company goals related to sales growth, gross margin, inventory management, & overall category performance.\n\n \n Qualifications \n\n • Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Procurement, Food Industry Management, or a related field preferred.\n, • 3+ years of purchasing, procurement, category management, or merchandising experience; fresh produce or perishable food purchasing experience strongly preferred.\n, • Strong knowledge of fresh produce products, markets, seasonality, sourcing, & quality standards.\n, • Experience negotiating with suppliers & managing vendor relationships.\n, • Strong analytical skills with the ability to evaluate pricing, margins, inventory, sales trends, & market data.\n, • Ability to make timely purchasing decisions in a fast-moving, commodity-driven environment.\n, • Strong communication, negotiation, & relationship-management skills.\n, • Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple products, suppliers, & priorities simultaneously.\n, • Strong attention to detail & ability to identify product quality, pricing, or supply issues.\n, • Proficiency in Microsoft Excel & other purchasing, inventory, or ERP systems.\n, • Ability to collaborate effectively across Procurement, Operations, Logistics, Distribution, FSQA, & other internal teams.\n\n \n Compensation & Benefits \n\n • Competitive salary commensurate with experience\n, • Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance Coverage\n, • 401(k) Retirement Plan with Employer Match\n, • Paid Time Off (PTO) in accordance with company policy\n, • Six (6) Paid Company Holidays\n, • Tuition Reimbursement Program, subject to eligibility & plan guidelines\n, • Additional Voluntary Supplemental Benefits, which may include life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance programs, & other optional benefits\n, • Competitive & Comprehensive Benefits Package Designed to Support You & Your Family\n\n All benefits are subject to eligibility requirements & applicable plan terms.