Reuben Solano

Experience

• 

  Safeway

  Jan 1996 - Jan 1999

  Buying Team Leader, Inventory Management Department

  Managed staff up to 20 buyers – for 240+ stores• Trained staff on Company’s superior customer service• Developed dept. policies on warehouse inventories and elevated critical vendor relations• Served as intermediary between Northern California Division and Distribution Center • Active in all seasonal buying decisions and delegating duties to buying team• Interviewed and conducted performance reviews• Managed warehouse vendors• Procured, analyzed and replenished CPG’s - dry, frozen, HBC and general merchandiseSafeway Retail Stores, 12 years, NorCal Region Show less

• 

  Webvan.com

  Jan 1999 - Jan 2001

  Lead Area Buyer / Area Merchandising Department

  Managed Buying Team in all categories grocery; replenishment, forecasting, category management, maintaining e-commerce business standards.

• 

  Victory Wholesale Grocers (Albertsons Northern California Region Account)

  Jan 2001 - Jan 2005

  Alternate Source Buyer, Account Manager

  Managed Albertsons NorCal account, 3 warehouses and 175+ retail stores involving procurement and sales of alternate-sourced goods (diverting).• Built long-term business relationships between Albertsons and VWG. • Negotiated alternate-sourced products; met company standards of profit percentages and inventory levels• Consistently surpassed quarterly goals in procurement and sales

• 

  Whole Foods Market

  Mar 2006 - now

  Project/Account Management, responsible for equipment budgets/specifications/procurement - leading our green initiatives, for new store projects, remodels, for the Construction Operations Group - WEST (Regions: NorCal, SoPac, Pacific Northwest & Southwest)• Project Manage equipment related projects for the West COG.• Develop and maintain equipment budgets• Assist in negotiating prices, building strong vendor relationships, implementing new programs, and communicating with regional construction teams• Project Manage store security (CCTV and intrusion) upgrades, retrofits and new store systems• Prepare equipment specification files for architects, engineers and contractors• Develop and communicate delivery schedules• Review MEP drawings and confirm infrastructure requirements• Project Manage all smallwares orders and scheduling• Make on-site inspections and attend conferences and shows in developing innovative equipment ideas Show less

  • Senior Equipment Buyer | Global Store Development | Major Projects Team

    Apr 2022 - now

  • Sr. Equipment Buyer, Construction Operations Group - WEST

    Mar 2006 - now