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Alex Lee

Grocery retail and wholesale distributor

Bilingual Buyer

Full-TimeDeadline 10/6/27
No salary listed
Mid
Bachelor's
Lawrenceville, GA, USA
In Person
Operations & LogisticsProcurement & Sourcing

About the job

Requirements
  • Three to five years of retail experience.
  • A bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Supply Chain Management, or another related field is required.
  • Solid communication and negotiating skills.
  • Comprehensive understanding of Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, and industry-standard purchase order software platforms.
  • Impeccable attention to detail.
  • Ability to work well with a team.
  • Ability to thrive in a high-stress and fast-paced environment.
  • Willingness to take initiative and exercise independent judgment.
  • Bilingual proficiency in Spanish and English.
Responsibilities
  • Oversee inventory levels for an entire product line and conduct buying in assigned categories in collaboration with management, procurement, and administration.
  • Identify customer needs to find possible new product offerings.
  • Negotiate prices and consider company profitability before placing orders.
  • Build and maintain professional relationships with vendors and partners.
  • Maintain proper inventory levels and uninterrupted product supply through inventory control and proper ordering procedures.
  • Process and create purchase orders in the system.
  • Strategize with management to develop promotional product lines or special offerings based on item availability.
  • Partner with vendors to maintain a constant supply of popular inventory items throughout the year at prices within the company budget.
  • Plan pricing strategies across product lines and reach agreements with suppliers that allow for optimal pricing.
  • Establish reliable lines of contact with the management team as orders are filled and invoices are issued.
  • Anticipate possible supply shortages based on unpredictable variables and devise strategies to address inventory supply problems.
  • Publish inventory and ordering reports so upper management and other departments can understand progress or challenges.
  • Work with the Warehouse Supervisor and Operations Manager to ensure deliveries satisfy assigned purchase orders and report back-ordered or missing products.
  • Make purchase decisions in accordance with company procedures, FSMA regulations, and the Company Food Safety Plan.
  • Collaborate with department managers to clarify purchase requisitions, identify departmental needs, and refine specifications for future purchase orders.
Desired Qualifications
  • Previous buying experience is strongly preferred.
  • Experience in the manufacturing industry and a strong understanding of supply chain management concepts are preferred.

About the company

Alex Lee, Inc. is a privately held grocery group in the southeastern United States that runs both wholesale distribution and retail banners. It owns wholesale subsidiaries Merchants Distributors, Souto Foods, W. Lee Flowers, and Import Mex, and operates retail banners Lowes Foods and Kj’s Market, serving about 2,000 wholesale stores and more than 140 retail locations across 13 states. The company supports both wholesale and retail sales and follows a philosophy that customer and supplier success drives its own success, along with programs for employee development and innovation. Its goal is to grow profitability and reach by helping customers and suppliers succeed, while providing a place where people can build lifelong careers.

Company Size

501-1,000

Company Stage

Debt Financing

Total Funding

$400M

Headquarters

Hickory, North Carolina

Founded

1931

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Lowes Foods opened Lyman on August 20, 2026, showing active expansion despite closures.
  • Alex Lee won FMI's 2026 Sidney R. Rabb statesmanship award, reinforcing industry credibility.
  • Revelio shows 1,278 2026 job postings, suggesting hiring momentum after headcount stabilized.

What critics are saying

  • July 2026 closures at Conway IGA and three stores signal portfolio strain and shrinking demand.
  • Rebranding KJ's locations into Lowes Foods risks customer churn and integration costs through 2026.
  • A failed retail turnaround or margin compression could force asset sales and break Alex Lee's empire.

What makes Alex Lee unique

  • Alex Lee spans wholesale, retail, and ethnic distribution across Southeast grocery markets.
  • Lowes Foods and KJ's Market let Alex Lee rebrand stores without losing local reach.
  • Merchants Distributors signed Swiftly in March 2026, modernizing circulars across its network.

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Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • Paid Vacation
  • Tuition Reimbursement

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

18%

1 year growth

20%

2 year growth

20%
PR Newswire
Aug 23rd, 2023
First Citizens Bank Serves As Syndication Agent, Joint Lead Arranger And Joint Bookrunner On $400 Million Financing For Alex Lee Inc.

RALEIGH, N.C., Aug. 23, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- First Citizens Bank today announced that it served as syndication agent, joint lead arranger and joint bookrunner on a $400 million senior credit facility for Alex Lee Inc. The five-year revolving credit facility refinanced existing debt and increased the facility size to support the company's continued business growth.Alex Lee Inc. is a family-owned and operated company based in Hickory, North Carolina whose portfolio of wholesale food distribution and retail grocery store brands includes Merchants Distributors, Souto Foods, Lowes Foods and W. Lee Flowers & Company. The company has completed several acquisitions and expansions in recent years, widening its distribution network and retail footprint."We appreciate the role that First Citizens played in arranging financing to support our continued growth in the grocery wholesale and supermarket industries," said Brian George, president & CEO at Alex Lee Inc

Daily Union
May 13th, 2022
Alex Lee, Inc. recognized as winner in the “Large Employer” category

Alex Lee, Inc. was declared the winner in the “Large Employer” category, and Cleveland County Government in the “Small/Midsize Employer” category.