Produce Buyer

Jetro Restaurant Depot; Anaheim (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) retirement plan

Paid time off

Company holidays

Tuition reimbursement

Voluntary benefits

Job summary

Restaurant Depot is seeking a Seafood Buyer to source, purchase and manage a diverse portfolio of fresh and frozen seafood for nationwide stores. You will work with suppliers, negotiate terms, and monitor market conditions to ensure quality, availability and profitability.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree in a related field, 3+ years in procurement or merchandising for seafood or perishable foods, strong Excel and ERP experience, and collaboration across procurement, operations and QA.

Qualifications

• Experience purchasing seafood or perishable foods is required.
• Strong pricing, inventory, and market data analysis skills are essential.
• Ability to manage supplier relationships and negotiations with vendors.

Responsibilities

• Source and purchase fresh and frozen seafood based on quality and price.
• Manage relationships with domestic and international seafood suppliers.
• Negotiate pricing, terms, and volume commitments to optimize costs.
• Monitor seafood markets and trends to inform purchasing decisions.
• Collaborate with operations, logistics, FSQA to ensure supply and quality.

Skills

Vendor relations

Excel

Analytics

Negotiation

Procurement

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business or related field

Tools

ERP systems

MS Office

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 Seafood Buyer is responsible for sourcing, purchasing & managing a diverse portfolio of fresh & frozen seafood products to support Restaurant Depot locations nationwide. This role manages supplier relationships, negotiates pricing & terms, monitors seafood markets & ensures product quality, availability & competitive costs.

The Seafood Buyer will work closely with vendors, distribution centers, operations & internal teams to maintain appropriate inventory levels, identify market opportunities & ensure seafood programs meet company standards for quality, value & profitability.

Key Responsibilities

• Source, evaluate & purchase fresh & frozen seafood products based on quality, availability, pricing & business needs
• Manage relationships with domestic & international seafood suppliers, processors & distributors
• Negotiate pricing, purchasing terms, volume commitments & promotional opportunities to achieve competitive costs & maximize profitability
• Monitor seafood markets, seasonal availability, supply conditions, commodity trends & pricing fluctuations to support strategic purchasing decisions
• Maintain appropriate inventory levels while balancing product availability, freshness, turns & shrink
• Analyze sales, inventory, margin & purchasing data to identify trends, opportunities & areas for improvement
• Partner with vendors & internal teams to forecast demand & ensure consistent product supply across Restaurant Depot locations
• Evaluate existing & prospective suppliers based on quality, pricing, service, reliability & overall performance
• Identify new products, suppliers & sourcing opportunities that support customer demand & company growth
• Ensure seafood 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 seafood categories
• Support promotional planning, pricing strategies & seasonal seafood programs
• Resolve supplier, product quality, availability & delivery issues in a timely manner
• Maintain accurate purchasing, pricing, vendor & product information within company systems
• Develop & maintain strong knowledge of seafood species, grades, cuts, pack sizes, 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; seafood or perishable food purchasing experience strongly preferred
• Strong knowledge of fresh & frozen seafood products, seafood markets, seasonality, sourcing & quality standards preferred
• 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
• 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
• 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 (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 & plan terms