About this role
Balls Foods Stores is looking for a motivated and detail-oriented Assistant Produce Buyer to join our team at the Central Warehouse. In this role, you'll work closely with our Produce Buyer and leadership team to help ensure our stores have the right fresh fruits and vegetables at the right quality, quantity, and price.
This is a great opportunity for someone with produce industry experience who enjoys working with suppliers, analyzing markets and pricing, and being part of a fast-paced grocery operation.
What You'll Do
- Assist with the daily purchasing of fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Monitor produce markets, seasonal availability, pricing, and product trends.
- Build and maintain relationships with growers, suppliers, and distributors.
- Help evaluate product quality, freshness, grading, and shelf life.
- Monitor inventory levels and help prevent shortages, overstock, and product loss.
- Coordinate product orders, deliveries, and logistics with suppliers and the Central Warehouse.
- Work with store operations to understand product needs and support availability across our stores.
- Track and analyze purchasing, pricing, inventory, and product performance.
- Assist with supplier pricing and purchasing negotiations alongside the Produce Buyer and Director.
- Help resolve product quality, availability, pricing, and delivery issues.
- Communicate with Sales, Warehouse, Store Operations, and other internal teams to keep product moving efficiently.
- Maintain accurate purchasing and product information in company systems.
- Assist with reports and analysis that support purchasing decisions and Produce department performance.
What We're Looking For
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- At least 2 years of experience in the produce retail and/or wholesale industry.
- Knowledge of fresh produce, including product quality, grading, shelf life, and seasonal availability.
- Strong organizational and communication skills.
- Ability to analyze pricing, inventory, and purchasing information.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office, especially Excel.
- Experience with Produce Pro is a plus, but not required.
- Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to work early mornings, weekends, or other non-traditional hours as needed.
Why Join Balls Foods?
- Competitive salary
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) with company match
- Paid time off and holidays
- Teammate discounts on products