Retail Buyer

Funky Food AU; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 134,000; Full time

Job summary

Funky Food AU Pty Ltd (Trading as Funky Food) in Melbourne seeks a Retail Buyer to source fresh produce and grocery products for Victorian operations. You will manage local supplier relationships, analyse customer demand and sales performance, and develop purchasing strategies to support the business across the state.

The role requires strong commercial judgement, knowledge of fresh produce quality, seasonality, and market conditions, balancing availability, pricing, profitability and waste

Qualifications

• Diploma or higher qualification in Business, Commerce, Retail Management or Supply Chain Management, or equivalent experience.
• At least three years of demonstrated experience in retail buying, purchasing or procurement.
• Strong understanding of fresh produce grading, seasonality and storage requirements.
• Proven negotiation with suppliers and ability to secure favourable terms.
• Analytical skills to analyse sales, costs and inventory using spreadsheets or related software.

Responsibilities

• Negotiate purchase prices, product specs, order volumes and delivery terms with suppliers to secure competitive supply.
• Develop and implement pricing and promotional strategies for online grocery platform.
• Monitor sales, inventory and stock movement across fresh produce and grocery categories.
• Establish merchandise purchasing plans and stock investment budgets based on seasonal cycles and forecasts.
• Research consumer purchasing patterns to determine variety, quantity, quality and specs required for subscription boxes.
• Coordinate long-term product assortment plans and promotional activities with management.
• Assess and manage slow-moving, surplus and short-shelf-life stock to minimise waste while protecting gross margins.
• Determine purchasing quantities, replenishment schedules and stock allocations for online ordering and delivery.
• Contribute to revenue, stock investment and gross profit targets by evaluating costs, supplier performance and profitability.

Skills

Negotiation

Supplier management

Sales and inventory analysis

Commercial awareness

Analytical decision making

Education

Business / Commerce / Retail Management or Supply Chain qualification

Job description

Company: Funky Food AU Pty Ltd (Trading as Funky Food)

Location: 3 Pelly Court, Epping VIC 3076

Employment Type: Full-time

Annual Salary: $122,000 base salary plus superannuation

About Us

Funky Food is an Australian online grocery business committed to reducing food waste by sourcing and delivering fresh, quality produce that might otherwise be rejected due to cosmetic imperfections or excess supply. Working with Australian farmers and local suppliers, we offer customers affordable seasonal fruit and vegetables, alongside a growing selection of grocery and pantry products. Through our subscription-based delivery service and customised grocery boxes, we aim to make fresh food more accessible while supporting sustainable food consumption.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and commercially driven Retail Buyer to join our team in Epping, Victoria. The successful candidate will be responsible for sourcing and purchasing fresh produce and grocery products for our Victorian operations, managing local supplier relationships, analysing customer demand and sales performance within the Victorian market, and developing purchasing strategies that support our business operations across the state.

The role requires strong commercial judgement, a sound understanding of fresh produce quality, seasonality and local market conditions, and the ability to balance product availability, competitive pricing, profitability and waste reduction within our Victorian operations.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Negotiate purchase prices, product specifications, order volumes, delivery schedules, promotional arrangements and trading terms with farmers, growers, wholesalers and other grocery suppliers to secure competitive and reliable supply.
• Develop and implement product pricing and promotional strategies for our online grocery platform, including seasonal offers, product bundles and merchandise presentation initiatives that support customer engagement and sales performance.
• Monitor product sales, inventory movements and stock availability across our fresh produce and grocery categories, while reviewing supplier information and market conditions to identify purchasing opportunities and changing supply requirements.
• Establish merchandise purchasing plans and stock investment budgets based on seasonal harvest cycles, forecast customer orders, anticipated market trends, special events and financial requirements.
• Research and anticipate consumer purchasing patterns to determine the appropriate variety, quantity, quality and specifications of fresh produce and grocery products required for our subscription boxes and customised customer orders.
• Liaise with management to coordinate long‑term product assortment plans, purchasing priorities and promotional activities in line with customer preferences, seasonal availability and business growth objectives.
• Assess and manage slow-moving, surplus and short‑shelf‑life stock by recommending timely price reductions, promotional offers or alternative product allocations to minimise food waste while protecting gross profit margins.
• Determine product selections, purchasing quantities, replenishment schedules and stock allocations to support our online ordering platform, warehouse operations and delivery network, considering product freshness, storage requirements and expected demand.
• Contribute to achieving revenue, stock investment and gross profit targets by evaluating purchasing costs, supplier performance, stock turnover and product profitability, and recommending adjustments to buying strategies.

Preferred Qualifications and Experience

• Diploma or higher qualification in Business, Commerce, Retail Management, Supply Chain Management or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
• At least three years of demonstrated experience in retail buying, purchasing or procurement, preferably within fresh produce, grocery retail or the fast‑moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry.
• Strong understanding of fresh produce grading, seasonal availability, shelf life, product freshness and appropriate storage requirements.
• Proven ability to negotiate effectively with suppliers, manage commercial relationships and secure favourable purchasing and supply arrangements.
• Proficiency in analysing sales figures, purchasing costs and inventory information using spreadsheets, stock management systems and other relevant business software.
• Strong organisational, analytical and decision‑making skills, with the ability to manage purchasing priorities and respond to changing market conditions.
• Sound commercial awareness, particularly in relation to product pricing, gross profit margins, inventory control and waste reduction.