Bulk Buyer

  • Full-time

Company Description

Company Description
At Linden Hills Co-op, we adhere to the following ends policies:

* Provide and promote healthful choices for our members and shoppers

* Provide, use and promote earth-friendly, sustainable products

* Encourage activism on sustainability, health and nutrition-related issues

* Build community within Linden Hills and neighboring communities.

The idea for a natural foods cooperative in the Linden Hills neighborhood of Minneapolis’s Lakes district was first considered in 1975, by a small group of neighborhood residents interested in having access to organic, local and natural food. After a series of planning meetings and initial fundraising, a small space was secured and the new co-op opened on March 12, 1976. At the end of Linden Hills Co-op’s first fiscal year, $101.69 in profit was divided among the twenty-four founding members.

In the nearly 40 years since then, Linden Hills Co-op has moved and expanded its offerings four times while remaining the neighborhood’s primary grocer—“big enough to meet your needs; small enough to meet your neighbors.” With a full service deli, great selection of locally made and locally raised foods, many choices for different dietary needs, and a sunny indoor dining area, the co-op serves as a community gathering place—-with groceries.

Job Description

This position is primarily responsible for selecting, purchasing and pricing
products for bulk and bread departments as assigned, and to oversee the work of
department staff in stocking and ordering to meet objectives for sales, margin,
inventory turns and customer service.

Qualifications

CUSTOMER SERVICE



  • Assist customers with questions, in prompt, friendly, courteous manner, referring them
    to others as necessary.

  • Offer suggestions for purchases and ways to prepare products.

  • Help customers place and fill special orders.


PURCHASING



  • Negotiate for bulk departments and products;  favorable prices, terms, quality and delivery.

  • Place orders to ensure steady supply of what customers want, and adequate supply for specials.

  • Evaluate vendors and investigate new sources of supply.  Present to Grocery Manager or Assistant Grocery Manager for approval.

  • Receive orders and obtain credits following established procedures.

  • Ensure current, accurate prices are in scanning system.

  • Participate in setting sales and margin goals for the department with Grocery Manager.

  • Review financial reports with Grocery Manager and take corrective action as needed.


STOCKING/MERCHANDISING



  • Set stocking priorities to ensure shelves are fully stocked and rotated for freshness. Stock as needed.

  • Maintain pricing guidelines to achieve margin goals.

  • Visit other stores for price comparisons, product and merchandising ideas. Read trade journals to keep abreast of developments in industry.

  • Ensure informational signs and price labels/shelf tags are accurate, uniform and up to
    date.

  • Plan all department promotions with input from the Grocery Manager and Assistant Grocery
    Manager.

  • Help to plan and build endcaps and displays.

  • Help with unloading deliveries, check-in orders, complete paperwork.

  • Maintain storage system in backroom and overstock areas for all backend departments.

  • Provide product information as needed for staff, customers, and newsletter.



DEPARTMENT MAINTENANCE



  • Ensure staff trained in process of checking in deliveries accurately and efficiently.

  • Ensure stocking is done accurately and efficiently.

  • Ensure that department areas are in clean, orderly condition, meeting health department standards.

  • Alert Floor Coordinator to potential shoplifters, disorderly customers or other emergencies.

  • Plan and coordinate inventories.

  • Maintain department equipment in working order.


OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES



  • Attends department meetings, storewide meetings, and training as scheduled.

  • Performs other tasks assigned by Grocery Manager


Qualifications:



  • Well-organized, pays attention to detail.

  • Experience purchasing retail natural foods.

  • Knowledge of trends in natural foods industry.

  • Demonstrated ability to follow through on commitments.

  • Communications skills-good listener, clear instructions

  • Demonstrated ability to handle multiple demands

  • Willingness to work one weekend day

  • Willingness to work in cold, damp environments

  • Ability to lift 50 lbs.


EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

High school diploma or general education degree (GED); or one to three months related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.


Environmental Conditions/Physical Requirements:



- The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.



- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to sit. The employee is frequently required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.



- The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Additional Information

We look forward to receiving your application!
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

 This application is intended for use in evaluating your qualifications for employment. This is not an employment contract. When you submit this application, you promise that the information is true, correct and complete.

 All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, membership in a local commission, the presence of disabilities, sexual orientation, age, or other characteristics protected by law. In addition to the application, other assessments, including, but not limited to, interview, job related skill testing, personality testing, background verification and reference verification may be required prior to employment. This application will be considered active for sixty days. If you wish to be considered for employment after sixty days, or for a different position, you may have to complete another application. If you are under 18 years of age, you may be required to provide additional documents to be eligible for work.