Bakery Category Buyer

Angelo Caputo's Fresh Markets; Carol Stream (IL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Performance Based Bonus Plan

Health, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off and holidays

Employee discount

Job summary

A family-owned grocery chain in Illinois is seeking a Bakery Buyer to manage product selection and vendor relationships across multiple locations. The ideal candidate will have over three years of relevant experience, strong knowledge of bakery products, and excellent negotiation skills. Responsibilities include overseeing product quality, managing promotions, and training store teams. This is an opportunity to join a company built on family and community values.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of bakery, grocery, foodservice, or retail buying experience.
• Strong knowledge of bakery products and specialty foods.
• Proven vendor management and negotiation skills.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
• Analytical mindset with ability to interpret sales and margin data.
• Ability to travel between store locations as needed.

Responsibilities

• Oversee specific category planning and product assortment across several stores.
• Ensure product mix consistency and quality across locations.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with suppliers and distributors.
• Monitor sales performance, margins, and inventory efficiency.
• Negotiate pricing, contracts, and promotions for products distributed to multiple store locations.
• Monitor supplier performance to ensure consistent quality and timely deliveries.
• Collaborate with store directors and bakery managers at various locations to ensure successful execution of category initiatives.
• Provide product training, standards, and operational guidance to bakery managers and teams across multiple stores.
• Support store openings, remodels, and resets for bakery departments as needed.
• Monitor sales performance, margins, and inventory efficiency across all bakery departments.
• Prepare consolidated reports for leadership, including category trends and store comparisons.
• Identify opportunities for growth, cost savings, and innovation that can be implemented chain-wide.

Skills

Vendor management

Negotiation skills

Leadership

Analytical mindset

Analytical mindset

Communication

Organizational skills

Travel between locations

Job description

Bakery Buyer

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About Us

For over 65 years, Angelo Caputo’s Fresh Markets has proudly served Chicagoland with fresh produce, authentic groceries, specialty bakery items, and imported goods from around the world. As a family-owned company, we are guided every day by our Purpose, Mission, and Values:

• Our Purpose: To nourish our community with fresh, authentic food while creating a shopping experience rooted in tradition and family.
• Our Mission: To provide the highest-quality fresh foods, exceptional service, and a welcoming atmosphere that celebrates our Italian heritage and serves all cultures in our community.
• Our Values:
• Family: Treating our employees, customers, and partners like family.
• Quality: Offering only the finest products and service.
• Integrity: Acting honestly and responsibly in all that we do.
• Community: Supporting and giving back to the neighborhoods we serve.
• Tradition: Preserving our heritage while embracing innovation to meet customer needs.

Position Summary

The Bakery Buyer will oversee category department product selection, vendor relationships, pricing strategies, and category growth across multiple Angelo Caputo’s Fresh Markets locations. This role requires strong baked goods knowledge, leadership, and negotiation skills to ensure consistency and profitability across stores, while aligning with our purpose, mission, and values.

Key Responsibilities

• Multi-Location Category Management – oversee specific category planning and product assortment across several Caputo’s stores.
• Ensure consistency in product mix, quality, and merchandising across locations while tailoring offerings to meet community preferences.
• Develop and execute promotional and seasonal plans across multiple markets.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with suppliers and distributors.
• Negotiate pricing, contracts, and promotions for products distributed to multiple store locations.
• Monitor supplier performance to ensure consistent quality and timely deliveries.
• Collaborate with store directors and bakery managers at various locations to ensure successful execution of category initiatives.
• Provide product training, standards, and operational guidance to bakery managers and teams across multiple stores.
• Support store openings, remodels, and resets for bakery departments as needed.
• Monitor sales performance, margins, and inventory efficiency across all bakery departments.
• Prepare consolidated reports for leadership, including category trends and store comparisons.
• Identify opportunities for growth, cost savings, and innovation that can be implemented chain-wide.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of bakery, grocery, foodservice, or retail buying experience (multi-location experience preferred).
• Strong knowledge of bakery products and specialty foods.
• Proven vendor management and negotiation skills.
• Experience managing category performance across multiple stores is highly valued.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
• Analytical mindset with ability to interpret sales and margin data.
• Ability to travel between store locations as needed.

Benefits

• Competitive salary (based on experience).
• Performance Based Bonus Plan.
• Health, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) with company match.
• Paid time off and holidays.
• Employee discount at all Caputo’s Fresh Markets locations.

Be part of a company built on tradition, family, and community.