Produce Buyer

Middlebury Natural Foods Co-Op; Middlebury (VT); On-site; USD 42,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Health, vision, dental coverage

Store discount 20%

Profit-sharing bonuses

3+ weeks PTO

Job summary

Middlebury Natural Coop in Vermont is hiring a Produce Buyer to lead local and organic sourcing, manage inventory, and build strong relationships with regional growers. You will place and receive orders, analyze sales trends, negotiate pricing, and maintain accurate product data in our POS system while delivering exceptional customer service to shoppers in a cooperative, community-focused setting.

This full-time role requires physically lifting up to 50 lbs and working in cooler environments,

Qualifications

• Background in purchasing, buying, or inventory management.
• Strong attention to detail and time management.
• Clear, professional communication and organizational skills.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. and work in coolers/freezers.

Responsibilities

• Place and receive orders to keep the department stocked.
• Cultivate relationships with local growers and vendors.
• Track sales trends and seasonal movement to build product mix.
• Negotiate pricing and apply margin strategies to meet goals.
• Maintain PLUs, costs, and product data in the POS system.
• Plan and maintain attractive, well-rotated displays.
• Support inventories, case cleanings, and recordkeeping.
• Deliver excellent customer service and share product knowledge.
• Meet with the department manager to align on goals.

Skills

Purchasing experience

Inventory management

Attention to detail

Time management

Communication

Organizational skills

Physical stamina (lift 50 lbs)

Tools

MS Suite

Google Suite

POS systems

Job description

Do organic beets make your heart beat? Do you think it's rad to source locally-grown radishes? Then keep reading because you might be the perfect fit for us!

Our growing Produce department features a vast and always changing array of fresh produce, a large majority of which is locally-sourced or organically grown, and all of it is offered at a competitive price. We are seeking a Produce Buyer to join a team known for its excellent customer service skills and enthusiastic knowledge about fruits, veggies, and more.

What You’ll Do:

• Place and receive orders to keep the department consistently well-stocked
• Cultivate strong, mutually beneficial relationships with local growers and vendors
• Track sales trends and seasonal movement to build an exciting, competitive product mix
• Negotiate pricing and apply variable margin strategies to hit department goals
• Keep PLUs, costs, and product data accurate and current in our POS system
• Help plan and maintain eye-catching, well-rotated produce displays
• Support quarterly inventories, case cleanings, and accurate recordkeeping
• Deliver excellent customer service and share product knowledge with shoppers
• Meet regularly with the department manager to align on goals and strategy

What We’re Looking For:

• Background in purchasing, buying, or inventory management
• Sharp attention to detail and strong time management
• Clear, professional communication and organizational skills
• Comfortable lifting up to 50 lbs., standing for long shifts, and working in coolers/freezers

Preferred Qualifications:

• Retail produce experience - purchasing, merchandising, and quality control a plus
• Working knowledge of organic standards and multi-vendor sourcing
• Strong numerical/analytical skills for margin tracking and inventory management
• Background in natural foods or co-op retail
• Comfortable with MS suite, Google Suite, and point-of-sale systems

At our Co-op, we offer:

• Competitive pay and a supportive, inclusive company culture.
• A comprehensive benefits package, including group health insurance, optional vision and dental coverage, 20% store discount, profit-sharing bonuses, 3+ weeks PTO, and more.
• Opportunities to learn something new every day in a growing, community-focused workplace.

This is a full-time, 32-40 hour-per-week role. If you're ready to bring your expertise and enthusiasm to a team that values community and quality, we'd love to hear from you!

*$500 hiring bonus available. $500 paid out after 6 months of employment for external candidates only.*

Learn more about our organization at middlebury.coop