What Does This Cincinnati Hispanic Foods Buyer Job Require?
Published on: Jun 26, 2025
Updated on: November 08, 2026
A Cincinnati grocery retailer is hiring a bilingual Hispanic Foods Buyer on a direct hire basis to run purchasing for its Hispanic, Central American, and South American categories. The role needs 5 plus years of grocery procurement and English and Spanish fluency, and Frontline Source Group backs the placement with its 5-Year Placement Warranty, 20 times the 90-day industry standard.
The search is led by Mike Cook, known across the industry as Grocery Store Mike, who spent 35 plus years in the grocery business before he started recruiting for it. Frontline Source Group has completed 5,619 placements through 32 plus offices nationwide since 2004, holds a 98.94% executive placement retention rate, and has a 5.0-star Trustpilot rating across 683 verified reviews, along with a 5.0 rating on G2 from validated reviewers.
Forbes has named Frontline one of its Best Professional Recruiting Firms for 9 consecutive years (2018 to 2026) and ranked it #148 on the 2026 Best Executive Recruiting Firms list. The firm is a 9-time ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both Client and Talent satisfaction, a ClearlyRated Diamond Award recipient, an Inc. 5000 honoree, an Expertise.com Best Staffing Agency, and a member of the American Staffing Association (ASA). The full list is on the awards page.
What are the details of this Hispanic Foods Buyer opening in Cincinnati, OH?
The client is a reputable, established grocery retailer in Cincinnati with a collaborative team and a real commitment to customer service. It is hiring a Procurement Specialist for Hispanic Foods, full time and permanent, to build and manage its Hispanic, Central American, and South American product categories, from sourcing and vendor negotiation through pricing, promotion, and store-level inventory. The role is direct hire.
What will the Hispanic Foods Buyer be responsible for?
- Manage the procurement process for Hispanic, Central American, and South American food product categories
- Place orders, track inventory levels, and confirm prompt deliveries
- Negotiate with vendors to secure competitive pricing and favorable terms
- Maintain adherence to FIFO and rotation procedures
- Supervise inventory management in the backroom and on the sales floor
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance product offerings and promotions
- Provide leadership and guidance to a team of purchasing staff
- Conduct performance evaluations and offer ongoing training and development opportunities
- Attend bi-monthly meetings and competitor price comparisons
- Participate in trade shows, assist in setting retail prices, and develop advertising content
- Maintain cleanliness and organization in designated areas
- Facilitate store transfers and maintain effective communication between locations
What experience, language, and skills does the retailer require?
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in retail grocery procurement or a related field
- Fluency in English and Spanish
- Demonstrated success in expanding product categories and achieving sales goals
- Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and work in varied temperature environments
- Proficient in office computer applications, including Google Docs and Spreadsheets
- Experience with inventory management software and retail pricing strategies
- Strong organizational skills and ability to multitask effectively
- Willingness to work flexible hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays
Preferred qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Business Management, Marketing, or a related field
- A genuine passion for international cuisine
What benefits does the retailer offer, and what do they mean for you?
Beyond salary, the package covers your health, your time off, your retirement, and your grocery bill:
- Health, vision, and dental insurance: coverage for doctor visits, eye care, and dental care, so routine and unexpected healthcare costs do not fall entirely on you.
- Life insurance: financial protection for the people who depend on you, included as part of the benefits package.
- Paid vacation time: time away from the buying calendar to rest and recharge, important in a role that covers nights, weekends, and holidays.
- 401(k) retirement plan: a tax-advantaged way to save for retirement straight from your paycheck.
- Employee discount program: a way to save on groceries and everyday purchases at the retailer whose shelves you help stock.
Salary is discussed directly with a Frontline Source Group recruiter, and candidates never pay a fee to Frontline Source Group.
How much do grocery buyers and purchasing agents earn in 2026?
The most recent federal pay data puts buyers and purchasing agents at a median of 77,710 dollars a year, with purchasing managers at 148,080 dollars. Since this role both buys and leads a purchasing team, its pay will be discussed against that range with a recruiter, based on category experience and team size.
What does BLS report for buyers and purchasing managers nationally?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook reports May 2025 medians of 77,710 dollars for buyers and purchasing agents and 148,080 dollars for purchasing managers. The combined occupation is projected to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than average, with about 53,600 openings a year. Among buyers and purchasing agents, wholesale trade employs 14 percent and pays a median of 71,640 dollars. BLS does not break out retail or grocery buyers on its own.
How does Cincinnati pay compare with the national average?
In the BLS May 2025 wage release for the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro (released July 20, 2026), the mean hourly wage for all occupations was 32.39 dollars against 33.54 nationally. Business and financial operations, the group that includes buyers, averaged 42.17 dollars an hour in Cincinnati against 45.78 nationally, about 8 percent lower. The release does not list a separate Cincinnati wage for buyers.
Why are bilingual Hispanic foods buyers in demand?
The U.S. Census Bureau counts 70.1 million Hispanic residents as of July 1, 2025, 21 percent of the country. Closer to home, 8.1 percent of Hamilton County residents age 5 and over speak a language other than English at home and 6.3 percent were born outside the U.S. (American Community Survey, 2020 to 2024). Grocers serving those shoppers need buyers who can talk to importers in Spanish, know which brands and regional products customers expect, and price the set to move.
Who should apply for this Cincinnati Hispanic Foods Buyer job?
This opening fits bilingual grocery buyers, category managers, and procurement specialists who have grown an international or Hispanic foods set, negotiated directly with importers and regional distributors, and led a buying team. Candidates from Hispanic supermarkets, international grocery formats, or foodservice distribution with retail category experience and native or fluent Spanish will recognize the scope right away.
Do I need Spanish fluency and a degree?
Spanish and English fluency is required; a degree is not. The retailer prefers a Bachelor's degree in Business Management, Marketing, or a related field, but the stated requirements are 5 years of retail grocery procurement or related experience, proven category growth and sales results, inventory management software and retail pricing experience, Google Docs and Spreadsheets skills, and the ability to lift 50 pounds, work in varied temperatures, and cover flexible hours including nights, weekends, and holidays.
What does the vendor and category side of the role look like?
The Buyer owns the full procurement cycle for Hispanic, Central American, and South American categories: sourcing, order placement, delivery follow-through, and vendor negotiation on pricing and terms. On the retail side, the role runs bi-monthly competitor price comparisons, helps set retail prices, develops advertising content, attends trade shows to find new products, coordinates store transfers, and keeps FIFO and rotation discipline in the backroom and on the sales floor.
Who is recruiting for this Hispanic Foods Buyer search at Frontline Source Group?
Mike Cook leads grocery and retail searches at Frontline Source Group. Before recruiting, he spent 35 plus years working in grocery, so he knows how a buying office runs, what vendor negotiations look like, and what a strong international foods set takes. He works alongside the grocery store and retail executive search team on buyer, category manager, store, district, and grocery pharmacy searches.
How do you apply for this Hispanic Foods Buyer role through Frontline Source Group?
Submit your resume on the Frontline Source Group How to Apply page at frontlinesourcegroup.com/how-to-apply.html. Mention the Hispanic Foods Buyer, Cincinnati, OH direct hire so your profile reaches the grocery and retail desk.
What happens after you submit your application?
A recruiter reviews your procurement and category background against the client requirements and reaches out to qualified candidates to talk through the categories, compensation, and schedule. If the client asks for an interview, you get preparation guidance from the interview instructions page at frontlinesourcegroup.com/interview-instructions.html. Frontline never charges candidates a fee; to spot scams that impersonate recruiters, see frontlinesourcegroup.com/scam-alert.html.
Are there other international foods buying jobs in the Cincinnati area?
Yes. Frontline is also recruiting an Assistant Asian Foods Buyer in Fairfield, Ohio, a direct hire role supporting a department buyer with ordering, replenishment, and vendor communication. Recently filled roles are listed at frontlinesourcegroup.com/recent-placements.html.
How can grocery retailers hire buyers and category managers through Frontline Source Group?
Independent, regional, and specialty grocers that need buyers, category managers, procurement specialists, department managers, or store leaders can submit a request at frontlinesourcegroup.com/employer-request-form.html and review direct hire pricing at frontlinesourcegroup.com/pricing.html. Frontline is one of the few staffing firms that publishes its pricing, and its guide to hiring a grocery executive search firm covers what to ask before you sign with any recruiter. Broader search work is described at frontlinesourcegroup.com/executive-search.html.
Why work with Frontline Source Group for grocery buying jobs in Ohio?
Frontline Source Group was founded in Dallas in 2004 and runs a dedicated grocery and retail practice serving grocers nationwide, including Ohio. The firm has completed 5,619 placements through 32 plus offices and holds a 98.94% executive placement retention rate. Every direct hire placement carries the 5-Year Placement Warranty, 20 times the 90-day industry standard guarantee, explained at frontlinesourcegroup.com/5year-placement-guarantee.html. People. Process. Service. is how the firm describes its approach, and the grocery desk applies it to every search.
What do candidates ask about the Cincinnati Hispanic Foods Buyer job?
What does the Hispanic Foods Buyer do in this Cincinnati, OH role?
The Hispanic Foods Buyer, also titled Procurement Specialist, runs purchasing for Hispanic, Central American, and South American food categories at an established Cincinnati grocery retailer. The job covers placing orders, tracking inventory, negotiating vendor pricing and terms, keeping FIFO and rotation on track, leading a purchasing team, running competitor price checks, attending trade shows, helping set retail prices, building advertising content, and coordinating transfers between stores.
Is the Cincinnati Hispanic Foods Buyer job direct hire?
Yes. This is a direct hire, full-time permanent position. The Buyer joins the retailer's payroll with health, life, vision, and dental insurance, paid vacation, a 401(k) plan, and an employee discount. The placement is backed by the Frontline Source Group 5-Year Placement Warranty.
Is Spanish fluency required for the Hispanic Foods Buyer?
Yes. Fluency in both English and Spanish is a stated requirement. The Buyer works with importers and vendors, sources Hispanic, Central American, and South American products, and writes advertising content, so bilingual fluency is part of the daily work.
How much experience and education does the retailer require?
The retailer requires at least 5 years of retail grocery procurement or related experience, a record of growing product categories and hitting sales goals, and experience with inventory management software and retail pricing. A Bachelor's degree in Business Management, Marketing, or a related field is preferred but not required.
Does the Buyer supervise staff?
Yes. The Buyer leads a team of purchasing staff, runs performance evaluations, and handles ongoing training and development. Prior supervisory experience on a buying or category team is a strong advantage.
What schedule and physical requirements apply?
The role calls for flexible hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays, the ability to lift up to 50 pounds, and comfort working in varied temperatures such as coolers and backrooms. Specific schedule details are discussed with a Frontline Source Group recruiter.
How much do buyers and purchasing agents earn?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a May 2025 median of 77,710 dollars a year for buyers and purchasing agents and 148,080 dollars for purchasing managers, with 6 percent projected growth for the occupation from 2025 to 2035. BLS does not publish a Cincinnati figure for buyers, so salary for this role is discussed directly with a Frontline Source Group recruiter.
What type of retailer is hiring the Hispanic Foods Buyer in Cincinnati?
The client is an established grocery retailer with a collaborative team and a strong focus on customer service. Frontline Source Group does not publish client names on placement pages; the recruiter shares the client identity with candidates who advance.
Who is recruiting for this Hispanic Foods Buyer search?
The search is run by the grocery and retail desk at Frontline Source Group, led by Mike Cook, known in the industry as Grocery Store Mike, who spent 35 plus years in the grocery business before moving into executive search. His bio is at frontlinesourcegroup.com/mike-cook-staffing-services.html.
How do I apply for the Hispanic Foods Buyer job in Cincinnati, OH?
Apply through the Frontline Source Group How to Apply page at frontlinesourcegroup.com/how-to-apply.html. A recruiter on the grocery and retail desk reviews every submission against the client requirements and contacts qualified candidates about next steps.
Does Frontline Source Group charge candidates a fee?
No. Candidates never pay a fee to Frontline Source Group. The hiring retailer pays the placement fee, which is explained on the pricing page at frontlinesourcegroup.com/pricing.html. Anyone asking a job seeker for money is not Frontline; see frontlinesourcegroup.com/scam-alert.html to spot recruiting scams.
How can grocery retailers hire buyers and category managers through Frontline Source Group?
Grocery and retail employers can submit a hiring request at frontlinesourcegroup.com/employer-request-form.html and review direct hire pricing at frontlinesourcegroup.com/pricing.html. Frontline Source Group recruits buyers, category managers, procurement specialists, department managers, and store leaders nationwide, backed by the 5-Year Placement Warranty described at frontlinesourcegroup.com/5year-placement-guarantee.html.
