Buyer

Position Overview

Carmine’s Gourmet Market & Trattoria / Big Mamma Group is seeking an experienced Buyer Coordinator to manage day-to-day purchasing across our gourmet market, restaurant, prepared foods, and catering operations.

We are looking for a restaurant or food service purchasing professional with experience in local, domestic, and international food sourcing. This person will bring knowledge of fresh, specialty, and imported foods, along with the ability to negotiate pricing, manage vendor relationships, and coordinate purchasing to meet culinary needs and control food costs.

You will work closely with chefs, department managers, and management to maintain product quality, reliable supply, and accurate purchasing and inventory records.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate purchasing of fresh produce, meat, seafood, dairy, specialty and imported ingredients, beverages, and operating supplies across all operations.
• Identify and evaluate local, domestic, and international food sources based on quality, freshness, consistency, pricing, availability, and delivery reliability.
• Compare vendor quotes and negotiate pricing and purchasing terms, considering pack sizes, usable yield, freight, minimum orders, and total landed costs where applicable.
• Prepare, process, and track purchase orders; maintain accurate vendor records, approved product specifications, pack sizes, and pricing.
• Monitor inventory and coordinate replenishment based on sales, production needs, shelf life, seasonal demand, and catering commitments while minimizing spoilage and excess stock.
• Work with chefs and department managers to plan purchases around menus, recipes, daily service, seasonal specials, and catering events.
• Obtain culinary approval for substitutions that affect product quality, yield, allergens, or food cost.
• Coordinate deliveries and resolve shortages, quality concerns, returns, and supplier credits.
• Review invoices against purchase orders and receiving records; resolve pricing and quantity discrepancies with vendors and accounting.
• Track purchasing costs, price changes, and vendor performance; identify savings opportunities without compromising product standards.
• Coordinate imported-product purchases, including lead times, freight, product origin information, and required documentation.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years of purchasing, procurement, or buying experience, including restaurant, hospitality, food service, or food distribution purchasing.
• Experience sourcing and purchasing food from local, domestic, and international sources, including specialty distributors, importers, or overseas vendors.
• Knowledge of fresh, specialty, and imported foods, perishable inventory, purchasing practices, and food-cost controls.
• Demonstrated ability to compare vendor pricing, negotiate purchasing terms, and manage vendor relationships.
• Ability to translate menus, recipes, production plans, and catering requirements into accurate purchasing quantities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and familiarity with purchasing, inventory, or restaurant cost-management systems.
• Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, maintain accurate records, and meet ordering and delivery deadlines.
• Associate or Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Purchasing, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience will be considered.

Benefits

• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• 401(k) with employer matching
• Paid time off