We're a family-owned leader in the Produce industry with more than 90 years of experience delivering high-quality produce products and services. Our reputation is built on strong values, trusted relationships, and a commitment to excellence. As our wholesale & foodservice operations continue to expand, we are seeking a talented Purchasing Manager to support our growth and operational success.
Position Summary
The Purchasing Manager is a key contributor to our wholesale & foodservice business, responsible for leading procurement strategy, managing vendor relationships, and optimizing inventory and demand planning. This role demands proven expertise in cold chain management, perishable goods procurement, and supply chain operations. This high-visibility role directly impacts product availability, customer satisfaction, and company profitability.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Procurement Leadership
- Lead wholesale procurement strategy across multiple domestic and international regions for perishable and temperature-sensitive product categories.
- Manage vendor relationships from farm/origin through cold chain delivery ensuring quality, compliance with temperature requirements, pricing, and service expectations are consistently met.
- Partner cross-functionally with Wholesale Operations and sales team to identify new market opportunities and expand product offerings.
- Provide timely and accurate responses to product availability and pricing inquiries.
Demand Planning and Analytics
- Develop demand forecasts using market data, historical trends, and sales input.
- Create annual forecasts with weekly breakdowns, volume projections, and pricing models.
- Monitor inventory flow to minimize shrink and maximize profitability of purchased and company-grown products.
Commercial Excellence
- Negotiate vendor pricing, delivery schedules, and payment terms while maintaining quality standards.
- Conduct detailed cost analysis to support accurate gross margin calculations and pricing decisions.
- Manage end-to-end purchase order processes with a strong focus on accuracy and timeliness.
Required Qualifications
- 3-5 years of experience in procurement, purchasing, order management, or supply chain operations.
- Experience in fresh produce, perishables, refrigerated, or temperature-sensitive product categories (e.g., fresh produce, dairy, specialty foods, frozen goods, fresh-cut flowers, or similar).
- Demonstrated knowledge of cold chain logistics, including temperature compliance, shelf-life management, and shrink reduction strategies.
- Demonstrated success in cost control and achieving sales or profit targets.
- Advanced experience with inventory management and forecasting systems.
- Strong negotiation skills with a history of securing favorable commercial terms.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, age, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable laws or regulations.
GPAC (Growing People and Companies) is an award-winning search firm specializing in placing quality professionals within multiple industries across the United States since 1990. We are extremely competitive, client-focused and realize that our value is in our ability to deliver the right solutions at the right time.
