Category Buyer - Perishables Hawaii Foodservice Alliance - 3.9 Honolulu, HI Job Details Full-time From $75,000 a year 11 hours ago Benefits Paid holidays Health insurance Dental insurance 401(k) Tuition reimbursement Paid time off Employee assistance program Vision insurance 401(k) matching Employee discount Gym membership Life insurance Referral program Pet insurance Qualifications Communication with suppliers Teamwork Data reporting Stock control methods Purchase order management Sales data analysis Analysis skills Historical sales data analysis Vendor relationship management Perishable goods management Purchasing Materials management in food and beverage Analytical thinking Cross-functional collaboration Cross-functional communication Full Job Description Category Buyer - Perishables Honolulu, Hawaiʻi Full-Time | Starting at $75,000/year DOE On-Site with Opportunity for Hybrid Flexibility Applicants must currently reside on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi to be considered. Who We Are At Hawaii Foodservice Alliance (HFA), we are Hawaiʻi's largest locally owned supplier of perishable foods and logistics, serving grocers, retailers, and communities across the islands. We are looking for an experienced Category Buyer - Perishables to manage purchasing and inventory for high-volume perishable categories, including dairy, eggs, refrigerated products, and other assigned items. About the Role This is a hands-on buying and replenishment role responsible for making daily purchasing decisions based on sales trends, inventory levels, product movement, forecasts, and supply chain timing. As a Category Buyer, you will own purchasing and replenishment decisions for assigned product categories. You will review inventory, place and manage purchase orders, monitor product performance, and adjust buying decisions to maintain product availability while minimizing excess inventory and spoilage. Direct buying experience is required for this position. Candidates should have experience personally managing purchase orders and making decisions around order quantities, timing, and inventory needs. This is not an entry-level procurement, purchasing support, or inventory-only position. What You'll Do Manage purchasing and replenishment for assigned perishable product categories Generate, place, and manage purchase orders based on sales history, inventory levels, forecasts, product movement, and lead times Review inventory and make daily ordering and replenishment decisions Determine appropriate order quantities and timing based on demand and inventory needs Maintain appropriate inventory levels while balancing product availability, shelf life, and spoilage risk Monitor slow-moving, aging, short-dated, and excess inventory and take action to reduce product loss Analyze sales trends, purchasing history, inventory turns, and product performance Adjust purchasing decisions based on demand changes, promotions, vendor availability, and supply chain timing Identify potential out-of-stocks, shortages, and inventory risks before they impact operations Communicate directly with vendors regarding product availability, purchase orders, and delivery expectations Partner with Warehouse, Transportation, Sales, and Operations teams to resolve inventory and product flow issues Support promotional planning and inventory allocation What We're Looking For 3+ years of direct buying or purchasing experience Experience personally managing purchase orders and making purchasing decisions Experience determining order quantities and replenishment needs Experience managing inventory levels and product movement Strong analytical skills with the ability to use sales and inventory data to make purchasing decisions Experience identifying inventory shortages, excess inventory, and changes in demand Strong Excel and reporting skills Ability to manage multiple priorities and make timely decisions in a fast-paced environment Strong vendor communication and cross-functional collaboration skills Candidates whose experience is primarily inventory control, purchasing administration, procurement support, or demand planning without direct purchasing responsibility may not meet the requirements of this role. Preferred Experience Food distribution, dairy, refrigerated, or other perishable product experience Experience managing products with expiration dates or limited shelf-life windows Forecasting or replenishment planning experience Wholesale, retail, food distribution, or consumer packaged goods experience Experience monitoring inventory turns, service levels, spoilage, shrink, or aging inventory Relevant Experience May Include Buyer, Category Buyer, Purchasing Buyer, Replenishment Buyer, Perishable Buyer, or similar roles involving direct purchasing and inventory decision-making. Why Join HFA Starting at $75,000 per year DOE Free healthcare coverage for Team Members Partial subsidy for family medical coverage 401(k) with company match Paid Time Off and holidays Weekly pay every Friday Monthly bus and rail reimbursement through the HOLO Card Employee Assistance Program Financial wellness and leadership development programs Employee discounts including gym memberships, pet insurance, and legal assistance plans Long-term growth opportunities within Purchasing, Category Management, and Supply Chain Operations Your purchasing decisions directly impact product availability across Hawaiʻi. If you have direct buying experience and enjoy using data to make inventory and purchasing decisions, we encourage you to apply and grow with

HFA. HFA

is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.

Job Type:

Full-time Pay:

From $75,000.00 per year

Benefits:

401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Employee assistance program Employee discount Health insurance Life insurance Paid time off Referral program Tuition reimbursement Vision insurance

Experience:

Purchasing:

2 years (Preferred) Ability to

Commute:

Honolulu, HI 96819 (Required)

Work Location:

In person