Buyer/Merchandiser Produce and Floral
Festival FoodsLocation : Name
Position Type
Company Overview
ABOUT FESTIVAL FOODS:
We are a Wisconsin grocer that is committed to giving back to the communities it serves and providing guests with exceptional service and value. We operate +40 full-service supermarkets across the state of Wisconsin.
At Festival, people are at the top of our list. You’ll see it in everything from our daily interactions to how we treat our guests – even in our extensive associate benefits and programs.
Job Summary
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.
External Job Description
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
As a Produce & Floral Buyer at Festival Foods, you will play a key role in managing product assortments, promotions, and profitability across all locations.
- 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.
QUALIFICATIONS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- 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.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT
The physical demands and work environment described below are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
- Spends the majority of the day in the office/sitting at a desk.
- Fine finger and broad manual dexterity.
WORK SCHEDULE
The Produce and Floral Buyer is a full-time position. The work schedule will include mornings, afternoons, evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Benefits Overview
WHY YOU'LL LOVE IT HERE:
At Festival Foods we are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We are dedicated to building a top-notch team of skilled, experienced and service-oriented associates. Festival Foods believes that an inclusive environment for teammates of all backgrounds and perspectives strengthens our ability to serve our guests and communities, as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people.