Buyer- Fresh Meat

At Food LionAssociates are the most important assets to our organization. We want associates to have meaningful careers full of variety and challenges. Each associate contributes to the overall success of Food Lion and in return we strive to provide all associates with a fulfilling work experience and reward performance and commitment. We are committed to the professional development of our associates through on-the-job learning opportunities and training.

Position Summary

Responsible for negotiating cost and procuring items for specific grouping of categories. Provide guidance and direction to central sourcing teams regarding product attributes and specifications to ensure brand needs are met.

Principle Duties and Responsibilities

Negotiate costs with approved vendors
Develop strong business relationships with vendors to deliver quality needs at best cost
Meet established procurement goals such as service levels merchandise force outs buyer adjust accounts buyer/DC loss turns and inventory dollars
Develop accurate projected costs and item movement to pricing to support margin projections
Support promotional planning to drive sales
Analyze and create recommendations regarding item trends seasonal updates and product supply issues
Procure fresh commodities that meet defined food safety and quality expectations.
Based on respective area of responsibility negotiate costs with approved vendors.
Meet established procurement goals such as service levels merchandise force outs buyer adjust accounts buyer/DC loss turns and inventory dollars.
Partners with the Demand Planning Analyst sharing their extensive product knowledge to enable appropriate demand management system enhancements.
Develop strong business relationships with vendors to deliver quality needs at best cost.
Provide accurate projected costs and item movement to pricing to support margin projections.
Be an expert on specifications and sourcing for all products within portfolio.
Support Category Manager in developing promotional plans that drive banner sales.
Support promotional planning by recommending items that meet banner promotion strategies.
Maintain solid communication with business partners (Merchandising Pricing Item Lifecycle and Replenishment) to support Banner needs.
Communicate item trends seasonal updates and product supply issues to appropriate business partners in a proactive timely manner.
Resolve any Accounts Payable issues using invoice matching system.
Resolve vendor accuracy and other issues/exceptions.
Work with Buyer Assistant to ensure accurate item maintenance.

Basic Qualifications

Bachelors Degree
Microsoft Office

Preferred Qualifications

Retail Experience
Procurement experience
Retail Experience
Basic professional level of knowledge of company business and industry practices
General understanding of Pre-sell Application Forward Buy system Warehouse Management System (WMS) Computer Assisted Ordering (CAO) Logistics and Banner Strategies.
Solid understanding of Perishable Forecasting Tool (PFT) SEGA INFOREM Merchandising Sales Plan (MSP) Product Feedback Control D Item and Vendor Set Up.

Education

Bachelors Degree or equivalent combination of education and related work experience.

Experience

3 years
2 or more years procurement experience in perishable food commodities

Skills and Abilities (Skills needed to execute job duties)

Strong communication skills
Strong negotiation Skills
Strong analytical skills
Ability to influence without authority
Ability to work as part of a team
Ability to think innovatively
Excellent organizational planning influence communication and presentation skills
Self-motivated and persuasive in presenting and selling ideas and executing their implementation

Food Lion provides equal employment opportunities to all associates and applicants for employment without regard to race color religion sex (including pregnancy childbirth and related conditions) national origin age disability sexual orientation veteran status gender identity or gender expression or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you have a disability and require assistance in the application process please contact our Recruiting Department