Center Plate Buyer

Performance Food Group is seeking a Center of the Plate Buyer to manage procurement of beef, pork, poultry, and other protein items for our wholesale food service customers. This role sources, evaluates, and negotiates with suppliers, manages inventory levels, monitors market trends, and ensures product quality and safety standards. The Buyer collaborates closely with sales, category management, and logistics teams to align purchasing with customer demand and margin targets.

The ideal candidate brings strong negotiation skills, analytical ability, vendor management experience, and knowledge of center-of-the-plate protein categories in a fast-paced distribution environment.

Responsibilities

• Source and purchase beef, pork, poultry, and other center-of-the-plate items from approved and new suppliers
• Negotiate pricing, terms, and contracts to meet margin and service-level goals
• Monitor market trends, costs, and supply conditions to adjust buying strategies
• Manage inventory levels, turns, and fill rates to support customer demand and minimize waste
• Collaborate with sales and category management to align product mix and promotions with customer needs
• Ensure product quality, food safety, and compliance with company and regulatory standards
• Analyze purchasing and sales data to optimize assortments and profitability
• Maintain strong vendor relationships and resolve service or quality issues promptly
• Coordinate with logistics and operations to ensure on-time deliveries and accurate forecasts
• Prepare reports and recommendations for purchasing strategies and category performance

Required Skills

• Procurement
• Food service purchasing
• Vendor negotiation
• Center-of-the-plate protein knowledge
• Inventory management
• Demand forecasting
• Cost analysis and margin management
• Contract management
• Data analysis (Excel or similar)
• Supply chain coordination