BUYER

For over 111 years, Y. Hata has proudly supported Hawaiʻi’s foodservice industry as a trusted, locally owned, family-run business. Our legacy is built not only on excellence, but on lasting relationships, tradition, and a deep commitment to our community.

At Y. Hata, we’re dedicated to providing a purpose-driven workplace where every team member is embraced as part of our ʻOhana, and where dedication and heart are met with opportunity, support, and growth. As we continue to grow, our focus remains on cultivating a positive, engaging culture rooted in our Core Values — one where people feel valued, supported, and inspired to thrive.

If you’re looking to make a meaningful impact and grow with purpose, we invite you to become part of the next chapter in our legacy of heart and excellence.

Salary Range: $52,000 to $77,700

Position Summary Description:

The Buyer is a key contributor to the purchasing and inventory management process within the food service distribution supply chain, responsible for ensuring product availability through accurate forecasting, strategic ordering, and effective vendor management across assigned categories.

This role requires a strong understanding of supply chain dynamics and utilizes advanced analytical and decision-making skills to optimize inventory levels while considering cost, seasonality, customer demand, and logistical constraints. The Buyer proactively manages and strengthens vendor relationships, leads basic to intermediate negotiations, and resolves complex issues to support business continuity. Collaborating with cross-functional teams including Sales, Business Development, Logistics, and Operations, the Buyer plays a strategic role in driving efficiency, improving profitability, and minimizing financial risk. 

All activities are performed in alignment with the company’s Mission, Vision, Core Values, and Road to Haleiwa strategy.

Essential Duties:

General Expectations:

• Develops and manages department plans and budgets.
• Hires, coach, and evaluate supervisors or team leads.
• Analyzes data and drive continuous improvement.
• Aligns department priorities with organizational goals.
• Leads performance evaluations and workforce development

Specific Requirements:

• Understands supply chain as it relates to our industry and how purchasing fits into and impacts the end-to-end food service distribution process.

• Manages inventory in assigned categories/products with accuracy and efficiency. Has expertise in all tasks related to inventory management including, but not limited to, setting up a new item, forecasting, ordering the correct items in appropriate quantities, providing solutions for shortages, managing expiration dates, and managing the purchase order process.

• Serves as a subject matter expert in their assigned categories/products and vendors. Provides support to other departments as it relates to product/vendor knowledge. Researches and presents solutions to category/product challenges and proactively addresses potential problems in their assigned areas.

• Ensures integrity of perpetual inventory system through timely information update and accurate data entry/maintenance.

• Possesses strong analytical and decision-making skills to proactively manage our inventory levels taking into account various considerations such as customer need, cost, seasonality, purchasing patterns, logistical challenges, etc. Identifies areas of opportunity to better manage inventory and shares with management to make improvements.

• Develops positive and productive relationships with vendors and brokers. Troubleshoots vendor issues and handles complex negotiations, understanding the individual relationship of each vendor and taking appropriate action and risk as needed. Identifies opportunities within our vendor relationships and recommends improvement plans to prevent vendor issues.

• Assigns appropriate urgency to day-to-day tasks and issues and takes necessary action to resolve problems. Understands how to prevent problems by taking a proactive approach. Supports others on team with resolving complex problems.

• Is able to create reports as necessary to support processes or decisions, utilizes information from reporting appropriately and takes action as needed based on the needs and urgency of the business. Handles business in a timely and accurate manner.

• Aligns with Sales, Business Development, Logistics, and Operations to make strategic decisions and recommendations to improve efficiency, increase profitability, decrease cost, etc. Minimizes financial risk through item monitoring and collaboration with Inventory Control and Quality Assurance.

• Supports management with enterprise-wide or department initiatives, projects, process improvements.

• Uses the Company’s Mission/Vision Statements, Core Values, and Road to Haleiwa strategy as their guiding principles.

Qualifications:

Education/ Training

• Bachelor’s Degree; preferred or equivalent experience
• At least six years of related experience; including leadership

Other Skills:

• Budgeting
• Strategic planning
• HR oversight
• Operational Management

Physical Demands:

• Sit up or stand for extended periods
• Occasionally lift up to 15lbs
• Manual dexterity for computer use, phone use, and filing
• Visual acuity for reading printed and digital materials
• Repetitive hand and wrist motion for typing and data entry
• Use of standard office equipment
• Frequent walking between offices or departments
• Adequate hearing acuity for phone conversations, virtual meetings, and verbal instructions

Why You’ll Love Working at Y. Hata

We believe our employees deserve more than just a paycheck. Our comprehensive benefits package is designed to support your well-being, growth, and success — both on and off the job.

• Rewarding Compensation – Competitive pay, merit increases, and flexible pay options.
• Your Health Matters – Robust medical, vision, and life insurance; EAP support.
• Time to Recharge – PTO, paid holidays, and floating holidays.
• More Than Just Perks – Paid parking, safety gear, uniforms, celebrations, discounts.
• Investing in You – Tuition assistance and development opportunities.
• Plan for Tomorrow – 401(k), Roth 401(k), and After-Tax 401(k) with company match.

Y. Hata & Co., Limited is an equal opportunity employer. We believe in hiring a diverse workforce and people-first culture. We are committed to non-discrimination on any protected basis, including disability and veteran status, or any other basis covered under applicable law.

Salary : $52 - $78