Category Manager

Manager Of Category Management

The Manager of Category Management is responsible for managing and executing category initiatives within assigned product categories, with a focus on driving profitable sales growth, increasing exclusive brand penetration, and optimizing product offerings. This role will partner closely with sales, merchandising, division leadership, and supplier partners to execute targeted strategies for assigned product lines while supporting the overall goals of Category Management within the foodservice distribution business.

Essential Job Functions

• Manage assigned product categories and execute strategies designed to drive profitable sales growth and increase category penetration.
• Increase exclusive brand penetration by identifying product opportunities and supporting conversion of customer accounts.
• Collaborate with sales and margin management teams to identify opportunities for profitable sales growth within assigned categories.
• Coordinate regional sales blitzes focused on assigned category product lines in partnership with local sales teams.
• Develop and execute promotional activities within assigned categories in collaboration with division leadership.
• Support brand strategy initiatives by working closely with merchandising to enhance product offerings.
• Identify product voids and opportunities to expand product lines within existing and prospective customer accounts.
• Develop and provide category-specific product training and resources to local sales teams and leadership.
• Track category performance and communicate results, opportunities, and recommendations to Category Management leadership.
• Partner with sales leadership to support customer retention and penetration efforts within assigned categories.
• Support the onboarding and integration of new suppliers within assigned categories.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers to support competitive pricing, product availability, and category growth.
• Negotiate marketing programs with key suppliers in collaboration with merchandising leadership.
• Participate in RFP processes for assigned categories to support competitive supplier agreements.
• Monitor market, supplier, product, and competitive trends and recommend opportunities to improve category performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive sales growth within assigned categories.
• Increase exclusive brand penetration by identifying product voids and supporting customer conversions.
• Improve marketing income through supplier programs and expansion of exclusive brand lines.
• Increase cases per drop and lines per drop for street accounts.
• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships to support competitive pricing and product availability.
• Monitor category performance and identify opportunities for sales, margin, and product assortment improvement.
• Execute category initiatives established by Category Management leadership.

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Bachelor's Degree required.
• 5+ years of progressive experience in merchandising, category management, purchasing, or a related function, preferably within foodservice distribution.
• Demonstrated experience managing product categories and working with suppliers.
• Experience with private or exclusive brand products preferred.
• Experience with product sourcing and supplier negotiations preferred.
• Strong analytical and business acumen with the ability to execute against sales and financial targets.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to effectively communicate across departments and levels of the organization.
• Ability to build effective working relationships with sales teams, merchandising, suppliers, and division leadership.
• Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Tableau.
• Willingness to travel as needed to support regional sales teams, category initiatives, and supplier meetings.

Salary is commensurate with experience.

Ferraro Foods is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

Mon - Fri | 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM