Buyer
Hammond, LA Purchasing
Description
About the Job!
Are you a highly analytical strategist who thrives on solving supply chain puzzles and building powerful vendor partnerships? Our Purchasing Team is vital to the overall success here at S&W Foods! We view inventory management as a balance of precision and foresight that fuels both our warehouse efficiency and our sales team's success out in the field. In this role, you will interface directly with key suppliers, agricultural partners, and our internal logistics teams. You will play a crucial part in maintaining product flow, safeguarding profit margins, and securing the high-quality items our customers count on. Join us to help elevate our supply chain operations to the next level!
What You'll Own as a Purchasing Buyer at S&W Foods
You will be the core point of contact for our supply chain lines and an essential part of keeping daily operations flawlessly stocked. You will combine proactive inventory tracking with strong negotiation, data management, and operational support.
Inventory Replenishment & Category Management: Sourcing and replenishing a wide matrix of food and non-food items to meet shifting regional demand. You will manage the entire lifecycle for assigned product categories, ensuring optimal stock levels and maximum product availability.
Pricing & Cost Integrity: Actively securing and maintaining accurate acquisition costs within our host replenishment software. You will evaluate cost sheets, correct discrepancies, and guarantee absolute pricing integrity to help our sales team protect profit margins.
Supplier Relationship Management: Cultivating and managing high-value relationships with major vendors. This entails negotiating terms, managing inventory allocation during market fluctuations, and coordinating closely with suppliers to capitalize on promotional opportunities.
Data Stewardship & Tracking: Keeping supplier and item data completely current within our host database. You will monitor service requirements, shelf life constraints, and key factors affecting inventory profitability, stepping in to troubleshoot logistics or stock friction immediately.
What Success Looks Like!
In this role, success means our distribution center maintains a perfect balance of optimal inventory turns with zero out-of-stocks—ensuring our operators get exactly what they ordered, on time - the S&W way!
To Achieve This, You Will Most Likely Have
Proven Food Procurement Experience: Minimum of 5 years of verified experience in food procurement, broadline distribution, or supply chain category management.
Strong Negotiation & Analytical Skills: Deep understanding of inventory profitability, turns, shelf life, and the key market forces that impact supplier pricing.
Excellent Commercial Communication: Strong verbal and written skills with an engaging communication style that allows you to work seamlessly with both warehouse teams and executive management.
Technical System Proficiency: Advanced comfort working inside inventory management/replenishment software and the complete Microsoft Office Suite (with heavy emphasis on complex Excel data).
Execution Under Pressure: High attention to detail and strong organizational skills to handle multiple shifting supplier deadlines autonomously in a fast-paced environment.
Bonus Skills!
If you have a strong background working specifically in regional foodservice supply chains, understand unique retail/promotional vendor needs, or have a culinary background, you're already one step ahead of the game!
Physical Demands and Work Environment
This role involves prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. You must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times. This is a full-time position that requires you to work in the office, Monday through Friday.
Benefits
At S&W Foods, we believe that taking care of our team is just as important as taking care of our customers. We are proud to offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, well-being, and long-term financial security. Our benefits package includes:
Medical Plans
Dental and Vision Insurance
An annual Birthday holiday!
Vacation and Paid Time Off (PTO)
Parental Leave
401(K) Plan with company matching
Employee Grocery Discounts
About S&W Foods
We are on the move! As the region's premier independent foodservice supplier, we combine a high-standard, professional work environment with the heart of a family-owned business. We proudly live by our core values every single day: Faith & Family, Genuine, and Our Promise. If you are looking for a collaborative team that treats each other with mutual respect and thrives on delivering excellence, you belong here!
We are an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are based on business needs and individual qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, family medical history or genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital status, past or present military service, family or parental status, or any other status protected by law.
Learn more about S&W Wholesale Foods by visiting our website at www.s-wfoods.com!