Buyer/Merchandiser Produce and Floral

Festival Foods • De Pere, WI

29d • Onsite

About The Position

We’re looking for an experienced Produce & Floral Buyer who understands the art and science behind fresh category purchasing. This role is ideal for someone who brings prior retail buying experience, category management, strong analytical skills, and a passion for fresh products. As the Produce & Floral Buyer, you will be responsible for developing product assortments, negotiating with vendors, planning promotions, and managing profitability across multiple store locations. Your decisions will directly influence product selection, pricing strategy, and overall department performance.

Requirements

• Previous buying experience in grocery, produce, floral, or related retail categories.
• Knowledge of merchandising, assortment planning, and vendor negotiations .
• Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, quantitative analysis, resource allocation, leadership techniques, and coordination of resources.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office; Excel, Word, Outlook.
• Ability to communicate information effectively.
• Ability to travel as needed for the position i.e. food shows, plant tours, store tours, etc.
• High degree of problem solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Manages every day and seasonal assortments of products for all store locations
• Create and utilizes a forecaster as a basis to create the weekly ads that work toward achieving the department Annual Operating Plan.
• Collaborates with vendors on ad item selection to ensure sufficient availability and best possible pricing
• Monitors and communicates quarter strategy, prior year sales and market projections and trends.
• Maintains a year vs prior year program that includes lead item/sales for easy comparison.
• Prepares for and attends all ad planning/proofing meetings.
• Compares weekly competition ads for pricing and content.
• Creates and maintains a detailed marketing and item analysis to ensure optimum profit levels and achieve the Annual Operating Plan.
• Develops key strategies in pricing to drive business sales, while analyzing market trends to drive new and existing items.
• Coordinates weekly produce competition checks and make adjustments accordingly.
• Maintains vendor price guides, adjusting retails based on cost changes.
• Prepares a category review and plan for respective categories.
• Performs SKU rationalization of all categories.
• Manages the departments overall profitability to ensure it aligns with annual operating plan and adjust as needed.
• Facilitate negotiations on all produce or floral product contracts.
• Examines, selects, orders and purchases at the most favorable price, merchandise consistent with quality, quantity, and specification requirements.
• Identify suppliers, select merchandise, and negotiate bills of sale for a business.
• Regular, timely attendance in compliance with the work schedule, and adequate notice to find a replacement for occasional absences.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Associate Discount: Enjoy an industry-leading 15% off your grocery purchases for you and your immediate household!.
• Weekly Pay & Premium Pay: Hourly associates are paid weekly, providing more frequent access to their funds. Part-time store associates are paid a $1 premium per hour on Sundays and select holidays. Hourly full-time store associates receive time and a half on Sundays and select holidays.
• Two-Week Advanced Scheduling: Better Planning. Better Balance. We provide our associates with their schedules two weeks in advance, offering greater predictability & flexibility.
• Vision & Dental Insurance: Part-time and full-time associates are eligible for vision insurance and two dental coverage options that are designed to fit your needs.
• Support: Our associates receive support for their total well-being; including 3 weeks of paid parental leave, a fitness reimbursement program offering savings off of fitness membership fees; our EAP (Employee Assistance Program) and LEAPCare Care Coaches, which provide associates confidential care related to hospital visitation, conflict resolution, stress management, marriage or divorce, family issues and depression or anxiety.
• Save for Your Future: Offering a 401(k), we’re proud to support our associates in planning for retirement. The 401(k) plan empowers associates to save a portion of their paychecks for retirement. Festival Foods has an annual discretionary match to help our associates reach their savings goals.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed