What Does the National Brands Grocery Buyer Job in Cincinnati Involve?
Published on: Feb 27, 2026
Frontline Source Group is recruiting a Grocery Buyer for National Brands for an established grocery retailer in Cincinnati, OH. The direct hire role owns buying, replenishment, and vendor negotiation for national brand categories across multiple stores. The placement is backed by a 5-Year Placement Warranty.
Table of contents
- What does the Grocery Buyer for National Brands do?
- What background does this Cincinnati grocery buyer role require?
- What is the company profile for this opportunity?
- What are the features and benefits of this grocery buyer job?
- What do buyers earn in Cincinnati?
- Who recruits grocery buyers at Frontline Source Group?
- How do you apply for this Grocery Buyer position in Cincinnati?
- How do grocery and retail employers hire through Frontline Source Group?
- Frequently Asked Questions: Grocery Buyer, National Brands Job in Cincinnati, OH
Frontline Source Group is a nationwide professional staffing and executive search firm headquartered in Dallas. Since 2004 it has completed 5,619 plus placements from 32 plus offices and holds a 98.94% executive placement retention rate against an industry average near 70 percent, with a 5.0-star Trustpilot rating across 683 plus verified reviews. The firm is a Forbes Best Professional Recruiting Firm for 9 consecutive years (2018 to 2026, ranked #158 in 2026), Forbes Best Executive Recruiting Firms #148 (2026), 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).
What does the Grocery Buyer for National Brands do?
The buyer drives procurement strategy for leading national grocery brands, with a focus on vendor negotiation, category management, and keeping inventory right across a high-volume, multi-store operation.
Buying and category management
- Manage product selection, purchasing, and replenishment of national brand grocery items in assigned categories
- Build and carry out buying strategies that hit sales goals, improve margins, and keep the assortment aligned with customer demand
- Analyze sales trends, inventory reports, and market data to find growth, cut slow-moving SKUs, and improve inventory turns
- Track industry trends, competitor activity, and customer preferences to guide buying decisions
Vendor partnerships and negotiation
- Build strong vendor relationships and negotiate pricing, freight, promotional programs, and distribution terms
- Drive cost efficiency and category growth through those vendor agreements
- Ensure compliance with company quality standards, vendor policies, and supply chain guidelines
Cross-functional work
- Work closely with merchandising, marketing, and operations on new item introductions, seasonal programs, and planogram execution
- Travel for vendor meetings and trade events as needed
What background does this Cincinnati grocery buyer role require?
- 5 plus years of experience in grocery buying, category management, or procurement of national brand products
- Strong negotiation and analytical skills with proven results in supplier management and cost control
- Proficiency in Power BI, Excel, and purchasing or inventory management systems
- Strong organization and communication skills, and comfort in a fast-paced retail environment
- Solid market awareness and a commitment to value for customers and stakeholders
- Willingness to travel for vendor meetings and trade events
Is a degree required?
A bachelor's degree in business, supply chain management, merchandising, or a related field is preferred but not listed as required. Relevant grocery buying and category management experience carries the most weight.
What is the company profile for this opportunity?
The client is an established grocery retail organization with a strong market presence, a collaborative, team-oriented culture, and a real focus on quality, service, and community.
What are the features and benefits of this grocery buyer job?
- Health, life, vision, and dental insurance
- Paid vacation and holidays
- 401(k) with company match
- Employee discount program
- Career development and advancement opportunities
What do buyers earn in Cincinnati?
The client has not published a salary range, and pay will depend on experience. For context, Bureau of Labor Statistics data for the Cincinnati metro shows a May 2025 median of $77,070 for buyers and purchasing agents, close to the national median of $77,710. Purchasing managers in the metro earned a median of $150,190.
| Occupation | Cincinnati metro median pay | Cincinnati metro jobs | U.S. median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buyers and purchasing agents | $77,070 | 4,240 | $77,710 |
| Purchasing managers | $150,190 | 1,070 | $148,080 |
Who recruits grocery buyers at Frontline Source Group?
Frontline's grocery and retail executive search practice is led by Mike Cook, known across the industry as Grocery Store Mike. Mike spent more than 35 years in the grocery business before moving into executive search, so he knows what a buyer actually does with a vendor, a planogram, and a slow-moving SKU.
How do you apply for this Grocery Buyer position in Cincinnati?
Apply through frontlinesourcegroup.com/how-to-apply.html.
What happens after you apply?
You may get a call from Lexi Reed, Frontline's AI recruiter, who conducts an initial phone interview and passes notes to our grocery and retail recruiters. Candidates never pay a fee. You can see the kinds of roles we fill at frontlinesourcegroup.com/recent-placements.html.
How do grocery and retail employers hire through Frontline Source Group?
Grocery and retail employers can start a search at frontlinesourcegroup.com/employer-request-form.html or reach a recruiter at frontlinesourcegroup.com/contact.html. Our fees are published at frontlinesourcegroup.com/pricing.html, which is rare in staffing. Every direct hire is backed by the 5-Year Placement Warranty, 20 times the 90-day industry standard guarantee, with terms at frontlinesourcegroup.com/5year-placement-guarantee.html. It all comes back to our registered service mark, People. Process. Service.
Frequently Asked Questions: Grocery Buyer, National Brands Job in Cincinnati, OH
What is the Grocery Buyer for National Brands job in Cincinnati, OH?
It is a direct hire position with an established grocery retailer in Cincinnati, OH, recruited by Frontline Source Group. The buyer owns purchasing, replenishment, and vendor negotiation for national brand grocery categories across multiple stores.
What does a national brands grocery buyer do?
A national brands grocery buyer selects and purchases national brand products, negotiates pricing, freight, and promotions with vendors, manages replenishment and inventory, analyzes sales data to improve margins and turns, and works with merchandising and marketing on new items and planograms.
What experience is required for this grocery buyer role?
The client wants 5 plus years of experience in grocery buying, category management, or national brand procurement, with proven results in supplier negotiation and cost control.
Is a degree required for this Cincinnati grocery buyer job?
A bachelor's degree in business, supply chain management, merchandising, or a related field is preferred but not listed as required. Relevant grocery buying and category management experience carries the most weight.
What software skills does this role need?
The client wants proficiency in Power BI, Excel, and purchasing or inventory management systems, used to analyze sales trends, inventory, and category performance.
Does this grocery buyer job require travel?
Yes. The role involves travel for vendor meetings and trade events as needed.
What benefits come with this grocery buyer job?
Benefits include health, life, vision, and dental insurance, paid vacation and holidays, a 401(k) with company match, an employee discount program, and career development and advancement opportunities.
How much do buyers make in Cincinnati?
The client has not published a range for this role. For context, Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows a May 2025 median of $77,070 for buyers and purchasing agents in the Cincinnati metro and $150,190 for purchasing managers.
Who recruits grocery buyers at Frontline Source Group?
Frontline's grocery and retail executive search practice is led by Mike Cook, known as Grocery Store Mike, who spent more than 35 years in the grocery industry before moving into executive search.
How do I apply for this grocery buyer job?
Apply at frontlinesourcegroup.com/how-to-apply.html. You may get a call from Lexi Reed, Frontline's AI recruiter, for an initial phone interview, and a grocery and retail recruiter will follow up if your background fits. Candidates never pay a fee.
Who is recruiting for this Cincinnati position?
Frontline Source Group, a nationwide professional staffing and executive search firm founded in Dallas in 2004, is recruiting on behalf of the client. The firm has completed 5,619 plus placements from 32 plus offices.
What is the 5-Year Placement Warranty?
The 5-Year Placement Warranty backs every Frontline Source Group direct hire for five years, which is 20 times longer than the 90-day industry standard guarantee. It is supported by a 98.94% executive placement retention rate. Terms are at frontlinesourcegroup.com/5year-placement-guarantee.html.
