Category Manager - Pastry, Chocolate, & Pantry

Job Description

Job Description

Category Manager - Pastry, Chocolate & Pantry

Position Summary

Peterson is seeking a strategic and commercially minded Category Manager to lead our largest product portfolio across pastry, chocolate, and pantry categories . This role is responsible for developing and executing category strategies, driving product innovation, managing supplier partnerships, and delivering profitable growth. Working closely with Sales, Supplier Management, FP&A, and culinary teams, the Category Manager will ensure our assortment meets evolving customer needs while maintaining a competitive market position.

Key Responsibilities
Category Strategy & Portfolio Management

• Develop and execute category strategies that drive growth, profitability, and market leadership.
• Monitor industry trends, consumer preferences, competitive activity, and supply market developments.
• Identify assortment gaps and new product opportunities aligned with customer demand and business objectives.
• Present category performance, insights, and recommendations to leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.

Product Development & Assortment Optimization

• Lead new product development from concept through launch.
• Partner with suppliers to develop innovative and exclusive products.
• Collaborate with Sales to understand customer needs and category opportunities.
• Manage the product lifecycle, including SKU optimization and rationalization.
• Lead product evaluations, tastings, and quality assessments.

Financial & Commercial Performance

• Own category financial performance, including revenue, margin, and cost management.
• Analyze sales, profitability, pricing, and market data to identify growth opportunities.
• Support forecasting, budgeting, and business case development.
• Partner with Sales on customer opportunities, bids, and pricing strategies.

Supplier Relationship Management

• Build and maintain strategic supplier relationships across pastry, chocolate, and pantry categories.
• Negotiate commercial agreements and drive supplier performance.
• Identify and develop new supplier partnerships and sourcing opportunities.
• Establish contingency sourcing plans to ensure supply continuity.

Events & Customer Engagement

• Support trade shows, customer events, and product showcases.
• Develop engaging product presentations and tasting experiences.
• Leverage events to introduce new products and strengthen supplier and customer relationships.

What you bring:
Required

• 5+ years of experience in Category Management, Product Development, Procurement, or a related field.
• Direct experience within pastry, chocolate, bakery, or specialty food categories.
• Strong supplier management and negotiation experience.
• Proven analytical and financial acumen, including pricing and margin management.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment.

Preferred

• Knowledge of food safety and regulatory requirements.
• Experience working with culinary teams or product tasting evaluations.
• Trade show, customer presentation, or product showcase experience.
• Experience with ERP systems, category management tools, and analytics platforms.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.

What we bring:

• Compensation - In accordance with Washington state law, the anticipated annual salary for this position is expected to be between $75,000 to $85,000 , with the final rate determined by qualifications, skills, and experience.

• Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage - Comprehensive health insurance plans are available to eligible employees and their covered dependents.

• Life Insurance - Peterson Company provides $25,000 of employer-paid basic life insurance , with additional voluntary coverage options available.

• 401(k) Retirement Plan - Employees are eligible to participate after 30 days of employment. Peterson Company currently matches approximately $0.30 per dollar contributed, up to 6% of eligible compensation . A dedicated financial services partner is available to provide investment education and retirement planning support.