Job Title:

Protein Buyer Location:

Queen Foods -

Kansas City, MO Reports To:

General Manager, Queen Foods Job Summary:

The Protein Buyer is responsible for local replenishment purchasing and pricing of beef, pork, poultry, seafood, and complementary products for Queen Foods, ensuring consistent product availability and driving margin performance for foodservice and retail customers. [GM1] This role executes day-to-day purchase orders, manages inventory levels, and monitors fill rates within the vendor programs established by the Protein Category Manager, while owning weekly customer pricing and margin for protein items at Queen Foods. The Protein Buyer works closely with the local General Manager and sales team to set and adjust pricing, keep Queen Foods stocked and running smoothly. The Protein Buyer will escalate market shifts, supply constraints, and vendor performance issues to the Whetstone Category Managers as needed.

Key Responsibilities:

Pricing & Margin Management

• Establish a weekly cadence and regular touch points with the sales team to adjust pricing — daily or weekly as needed — for core protein items.
• Create and monitor weekly pricing for protein items, incorporating market conditions and sales team feedback to drive margin expansion while ensuring necessary movement and rotation of protein inventory.
• Own weekly protein margins for Queen Foods, monitoring performance and adjusting pricing strategy accordingly. Purchasing & Replenishment
• Generate and manage purchase orders for protein products in line with established par levels, reorder points, and vendor programs.
• Execute replenishment purchasing within the vendor terms negotiated by the Protein Category Manager.
• Assist with local, non-contracted spot buys as needed to fill gaps not covered under category-level vendor agreements. Inventory & Vendor Management
• Monitor daily inventory levels to prevent stockouts and minimize excess inventory.
• Track vendor fill rates, lead times, and delivery performance; follow up on shorts, quality issues, and delivery exceptions.
• Participate in slow-moving and obsolete inventory review, supporting clearance and rotation planning.
• Maintain accurate purchasing and inventory data in the Canopy ERP system, including PO status and receiving records. Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Coordinate with the local warehouse team on receiving schedules, put-away, and inventory accuracy.
• Support the local sales team with market updates, day-to-day product availability, substitution options, and lead-time questions.

Qualifications:

• Associate's degree preferred, or equivalent purchasing/replenishment experience; Bachelor's degree a plus.
• 2-5 years of experience in purchasing, replenishment, or inventory management, preferably in food distribution or protein products.
• Working knowledge of ERP and inventory management systems (Canopy experience preferred).
• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and comfort managing high transaction volume.
• Comfort setting and adjusting pricing based on market data, margin targets, and inventory position; basic P&L or margin analysis skills.
• Ability to work cross-functionally with warehouse, sales, and category management teams.
• Basic familiarity with protein markets and food safety/handling requirements helpful, but not required.
• Reliable, on-site presence at the Queen Foods facility.

Pay:

$60,000.00 - $72,000.00 per year

Benefits:

401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Employee assistance program Employee discount Flexible spending account Health insurance Health savings account Life insurance Paid time off Parental leave Referral program Vision insurance

Work Location:

In person