Alex Lee, Inc.

Senior Buyer - Produce

Alex Lee, Inc.  •  $400k/yr  •  Hickory, NC (Onsite)  •  6 days ago
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Job Description

Major Functions:

Responsible for the procurement strategy and execution of assigned produce categories, ensuring alignment with MDI’s profitability, service level, quality, and customer growth objectives.

This role operates with broad decision-making authority across sourcing, pricing, inventory management, supplier relationships, and customer collaboration.

Responsibilities

  • Own end‑to‑end buying responsibility for assigned produce categories, including sourcing strategy, vendor selection, pricing, and procurement execution.
  • Deliver gross profit, inventory investment, and shrink performance in line with annual budgets and service level expectations.
  • Manage inventory levels, turns, and freshness, balancing customer demand, seasonality, and market volatility.
  • Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned customer groups, partnering with retail merchandisers to develop and execute ad strategies, promotional calendars, and item launches.
  • Analyze and respond to market conditions (availability, weather, freight, pricing trends) and proactively adjust buying strategies to mitigate risk and capitalize on opportunity.
  • Lead supplier relationships, including negotiation of pricing, programs, quality expectations, and corrective action when standards are not met.
  • Establish and maintain item standards, including PLUs, UPCs, pack specifications, and quality parameters for all assigned items.
  • Collaborate closely with warehouse operations and quality control to ensure optimal inbound quality, rotation, and distribution execution.
  • Execute structured sourcing processes, including RFP development, evaluation, and supplier negotiations to optimize cost, quality, and service.
  • Requires periodic travel to industry events, supplier and grower operations, and retail customer locations to support relationship development, store-level execution, collaborative planning, and validation of merchandising, promotional, and program performance.
  • Drive sales growth initiatives, including new item introductions, category expansion, and assortment optimization to increase customer competitiveness.
  • Provide guidance and informal mentoring to Associate Buyers, supporting skill development, problem-solving, and adherence to best practices.
  • Participate in cross-functional initiatives, food shows, customer meetings, and departmental projects as a subject matter expert.
  • Build and improve procurement tools, reporting, and analytics, including leveraging AI-enabled solutions to enhance decision-making and efficiency.
  • Effectively utilize demand planning systems and insights to anticipate customer needs, align procurement strategies with forecasted demand, and proactively manage supply, inventory levels, and in-stock position across assigned categories.

    • Qualifications

    Desirable Qualifications:

    • Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Agriculture, or related field preferred.
    • 5–8 years of progressive experience in produce buying, merchandising, or produce operations, including full-line buying responsibility with broad experience procuring across all primary produce commodities (fruits, vegetables, value-added, and seasonal categories).
    • Demonstrated experience in FOB procurement and vendor negotiations.
    • Strong understanding of USDA standards, produce specifications, and quality assurance requirements.
    • Proven ability to manage complex portfolios in fast-paced, high‑volume environments.
    • Advanced analytical, negotiation, and decision-making skills.
    • Strong communication and relationship management skills with both internal and external stakeholders.
    • Proficiency with Microsoft Office and purchasing/inventory systems.
    • Ability to perform effectively under pressure and manage competing priorities.

    Dimensions:

    • Manages a portfolio of approximately 300 – 400 active SKUs across assigned produce commodities, including both commodity and value-added items.
    • Responsible for inventory positions typically ranging between $400K – 1M in on hand value, depending on seasonality and category mix.
    • Supports procurement and replenishment activity for 500+ customer locations, including independent retailers and multi-unit operators.
    • Interfaces with 60+ active suppliers, including direct growers, shippers, importers, and distribution partners.
    • Influences annual category revenue of approximately $50 – 60M+ across assigned commodities.
    • No direct reports; provides functional leadership and day-to-day guidance to 6 Associate Buyers or support roles.
    • Utilizes enterprise systems, including purchasing, inventory management, and forecasting platforms.

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    Alex Lee, Inc.

    About Alex Lee, Inc.

    Who We Are

    Alex Lee, Inc., is one of the largest grocery retail and wholesale distribution companies in the southeastern United States. We are the parent company of wholesale distributors Merchants Distributors (MDI), Souto Foods, W. Lee Flowers, and Import Mex, as well as grocery banners Lowes Foods and Kj’s Market. In total, we operate in 13 states; own over 140 retail stores; serve over 1,960 stores in wholesale; and count close to 15,000 people as part of the Alex Lee family. Alex Lee employees are a unifying force for our companies, guiding and supporting the entirety of the organization.

    Why We’re Different

    Alex Lee has remained privately held for over 90 years and now spans four generations. We continue to be a profitable and growing company because of our unique combination of full-service wholesale and retail, and our unwavering dedication to our founding philosophy: “If your customers are successful and your suppliers are successful, then you will be successful.” We stand the test of time because we do what is right for our customers and the communities in which we operate.

    We strive to always be a progressive company, which is why innovation is a long-held tradition at Alex Lee. We offer employees opportunities to showcase their ideas and creativity through our nationally recognized innovation programs and challenges. We are a team of talented people who thrive on putting our heads together and creating new and better ways of doing business.

    Growth is our only option – this applies to our business, our customers, and our people. We want Alex Lee to be a place where people want to stay and grow their careers, which is why we offer numerous tools and resources for learning and development, and pathways for advancement. This is why Alex Lee is recognized by our employees as being a place where they see themselves crafting a lifelong career.

    Industry
    Retail & Ecommerce
    Company Size
    501-1,000 employees
    Headquarters
    Hickory, North Carolina
    Year Founded
    Unknown
    Website
    alexlee.com
    Social Media