Are you passionate about the fresh produce industry and ready to take on a new and exciting challenge? Join our employee-owned company as a Produce Buyer and play a pivotal role in bringing fresh, high-quality produce to our valued customers!
Company Overview:
Liberty Fruit Company is a leader in the regional produce industry, supplying a wide range of fresh fruits, vegetables, and other food products to various businesses spanning a 12-state area. We take pride in our commitment to excellence, sustainability, and innovation. As an employee- owned company, we believe in empowering our team members to make a real impact and
share in our collective success. As we continue to grow, we are seeking a talented Produce Buyer to source the most cost-effective produce while maintaining the highest quality standards.
Job Summary:
As a Produce Buyer, you will be at the forefront of our procurement operations, responsible for sourcing and purchasing fresh produce commodities directly from all major growers/growing regions. Your expertise will be critical in ensuring that we maintain an uninterrupted supply of high-quality produce that aligns with our company's values and meets our customers’
expectations.
Essential Functions & Duties:
Responsible for a select group of commodities which may include, but not limited to fresh produce and other items as customer demand dictates.
- Determine which commodities, services and growing regions best meet and exceed our customers’ expectations.
- Identify spot buy opportunities.
- Negotiate the lowest possible cost, and award daily business and/or contracts that ensure the correct amount of product or service arrives in our warehouse at the appropriate time.
- Buyers responsible for retail items will gather costing information to effectively quote retailers’ weekly Ads in a timely manner.
- Maintain open communication with the sales team to promote and push the sale of products to minimize spoilage.
- Review and study sales reports and maintain inventory levels to maximize sales and minimize spoilage.
- Identify domestic and foreign suppliers within all major growing regions.
- Orders placed from various growing regions will be coordinated with other team buyers to build full truckloads in order to maximize inbound freight costs. Buyers are responsible for identifying the best freight carriers for the company at the lowest possible rates.
- Appropriately vet new vendors for commodity purchases.
- Continue to expand product knowledge through the use of educational tools available (books, mentors, websites).
- Participates in process improvements and promotes teamwork.
Requirements:
This position requires the evaluation of suppliers based upon quality, price, service support, reliability, availability, and product selection. Identify primary, secondary, and supplemental vendors for the sourcing and procurement of items. Monitor and manage supplier agreements, contract parameters, and base costs for customers requiring weekly pricing. Physical
requirements include the ability to walk the refrigerated warehouse on a frequent basis to check inventory and quality.
Qualifications:
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Preferred 5 years of FOB buying experience in a produce wholesale/distribution environment.
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Demonstrated technical knowledge of fresh produce commodities, markets and supply chain dynamics.
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Candidate must be able to demonstrate a high attention to detail.
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Strong negotiating skills are necessary for this position.
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Must have excellent computer skills, proficient in Microsoft Outlook, Excel and Word.
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Ability to communicate effectively and maintain inter-department relationships.
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Must be a great communicator and have a positive attitude.
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Must be resilient and be able to work in a fast-paced environment.
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Experience with specific ERP systems such as Produce Pro software is preferred.
Liberty Fruit Company offers a full benefit package including paid time off, employee stock ownership program, medical, dental, and vision plans, short & long-term disability, life insurance and ancillary packages.
Liberty Fruit Company, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer
EEO Minorities/Women/Disabled/Veterans/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity
Come grow with us at Liberty Fruit Company. Let’s cultivate a greener future together!
