Produce Buyer

Jetro Restaurant Depot; New York (NY); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) Retirement Plan with Employer M

Paid Time Off (PTO)

Six Paid Company Holidays

Tuition Reimbursement Program

Voluntary Supplemental Benefits

Job summary

Restaurant Depot is seeking a Seafood Buyer to source and manage a diverse portfolio of fresh and frozen seafood for nationwide locations. You will negotiate pricing, manage supplier relationships and monitor markets to ensure quality, availability and competitive costs.

You will collaborate with vendors, distribution centers and internal teams to optimize inventory, forecast demand and drive category profitability.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in purchasing/procurement/category management or merchandising (seafood or perishable preferred).
• Strong knowledge of fresh & frozen seafood markets, seasonality, sourcing and quality standards.
• Experience negotiating with suppliers and managing vendor relationships.
• Ability to analyze pricing, margins, inventory and sales trends to drive decisions.

Responsibilities

• Source and purchase fresh and frozen seafood based on quality, availability and pricing.
• Manage supplier relationships, negotiate terms and volumes for profitability.
• Monitor seafood markets and manage inventory levels to ensure supply and freshness.
• Collaborate with vendors, operations, logistics and FSQA to maintain product quality and compliance.
• Forecast demand and identify new sourcing opportunities to support growth.
• Maintain accurate purchasing and product information in company systems.

Skills

Analytical skills

Organized

Cross-functional collaboration

Negotiation

Vendor management

Forecasting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Procurement, Food Industry Management

Tools

Microsoft Excel

ERP systems

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