Vendor Manager

Gourmet Foods International; Tennessee; On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Short-term Disability

Long-Term Disability

401(k) Matching

Profit Sharing

Flexible PTO

Paid Holidays

Free College Tuition

Parental Leave

Professional Development

Employee Discount

Referral Bonus

Job summary

Gourmet Foods International is seeking a buyer who thrives on exploring artisanal and imported goods, building strong supplier relationships, and forecasting market trends. You’ll travel domestically and internationally to engage with key vendors and ensure timely product replenishment across our distribution centers.

The role emphasizes negotiation, data integrity, and cross-functional collaboration with internal teams to optimize assortment and costs.

Qualifications

• College degree required in related field or business.
• Strong communication and negotiation abilities.
• Analytical mindset with attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Tasting and sourcing new artisanal/Imported products for distribution.
• Create purchase orders to ensure timely replenishment of all distribution centers.
• Use negotiation skills to secure the lowest cost to market.
• Communicate with vendors and sales teams to support best-in-class product performance.
• Monitor inventory across distribution centers and manage transfers to minimize waste.
• Maintain supplier/item data for accuracy and supplier relationships.

Skills

Vendor relationships

Negotiation

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Organization

Travel willingness

Education

College degree

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Job OverviewWe’re looking for team members with a passion for artisan food who love trying new things. Our buyers work as a team to bring innovative new products to market. You’ll be building relationships with artisan producers helping them forecast and market their gourmet products.Bonus, Incentives & Company-Provided ResourcesAbove-average salaryCompany-provided equipmentWhat does your day look like? Some of your duties may include:Tasting and sourcing new artisanal and imported productsOpportunities to travel both domestically and internationally to key and new vendors as needed.Creating purchase orders to facilitate the timely replenishment of all Distribution Centers.Uses negotiation skills to ensure the lowest cost to marketCommunicating with both assigned vendors and/or sales team to ensure optimal salesMonitoring inventory at all Distribution Centers and completing transfers as appropriate to eliminate unnecessary food waste.Establish and maintain professional relationships with suppliers and brokers to achieve sourcing, bidding, negotiation, selection, approval and quality of assigned product lines.Maintain, improve, and monitor supplier and item data to ensure accuracyOther stuff we like:Organized supply management skills, ability to develop and maintain vendor relationships, excellent interpersonal skills to interact with internal departments, management, and vendors. Ability to work with minimal supervision.3-5 years previous food industry experience (preferably import) while not required a strong plus.A college degree is required.Things that are a plus:Strong oral and written communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively with internal departments and external suppliers.Analytical, problem-solving, and strategic planning skills.Experience working in a large, complex multi-location distribution center organizationStrong organizational and planning skillsAbility to recognize future trendsProficient in Microsoft ExcelDetail-orientedWhat we think you’ll love about Gourmet Foods International:Advancement Opportunities. We offer career advancement, including college reimbursement. We want to see you grow with the company.Keeping it fresh. Learn new things every from new technology to innovative new products we distribute.Teamwork. Work on a team that supports each other.What else can we offer?Gourmet Foods' Benefits include Medical Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, short-term disability, Long-Term Disability, and accident insurance. We also offer 401(k) with matching contributions, Profit Sharing, Competitive Salaries, Flexible Paid Time Off (PTO), Paid Holidays, Free College Tuition, PAID Parental Leave, Professional Development Programs, opportunity to grow within the Company, Employee Discount, Referral Bonus.GFI is a drug-free employer. You voluntarily consent to a pre-employment drug screen, and a background check will be conducted as part of the hiring process. Background checks can include, but are not limited to, previous employment, education, and criminal records.Equal Employment OpportunityGourmet Foods International is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.