Category Manager (Retail Buyer)

What We Do At Applegreen, our mission is to delight customers in transit with passionate hospitality and brands they love. Applegreen is a leading roadside retailer operating high-quality travel plazas and service areas in the US, Ireland, and the UK. Founded on a commitment to innovation, operational excellence, and customer experience, Applegreen combines fuel, convenience retail, and a diverse portfolio of food and beverage offerings to create welcoming destinations for customers. In the U.S., Applegreen partners with major transportation authorities and operates more than 100 service plazas along some of the country’s busiest highways and turnpikes. The company is known for modern facilities, strong national and local food brands, and an emphasis on freshness, quality, and sustainability. At Applegreen, our people are at the heart of what we do. We foster a culture that values teamwork, development, and accountability, offering employees opportunities to grow their careers in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. Applegreen continues to expand while remaining focused on delivering exceptional service to customers and creating a great place to work. What We Do At Applegreen, our mission is to delight customers in transit with passionate hospitality and brands they love. Applegreen is a leading roadside retailer operating high-quality travel plazas and service areas in the US, Ireland, and the UK. Founded on a commitment to innovation, operational excellence, and customer experience, Applegreen combines fuel, convenience retail, and a diverse portfolio of food and beverage offerings to create welcoming destinations for customers. In the U.S., Applegreen partners with major transportation authorities and operates more than 100 service plazas along some of the country’s busiest highways and turnpikes. The company is known for modern facilities, strong national and local food brands, and an emphasis on freshness, quality, and sustainability. At Applegreen, our people are at the heart of what we do. We foster a culture that values teamwork, development, and accountability, offering employees opportunities to grow their careers in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. Applegreen continues to expand while remaining focused on delivering exceptional service to customers and creating a great place to work. Our Core Value Our core values define who we are and guide how we work every day. They shape our decisions, inspire our actions, and influence how we engage with our customers, suppliers, business partners, and one another. Our customers and communities are at the heart of everything we do. We value and develop our people. We are driven by pace, passion and performance. We seek opportunities and embrace change. Benefits You Receive Applegreen offers a competitive benefits package designed to support the health and financial well-being of our associates and families. Available benefits include a variety of company-sponsored and voluntary options such as: Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance Paid Time Off 401 (k) with Company Match 10% Annual Bonus Hybrid Work Arrangement Earned Wage Access – Pay on Demand Education Assistance Employee Referral Bonus Pet Insurance Please Note: Hybrid Role - 3 days per week in office (Glen Rock, NJ) required. Position Summary The Category Manager is responsible for developing and executing category strategies that drive sales growth, profitability, and an exceptional customer experience across Applegreen's retail business. This role will manage a portfolio of retail categories and oversee all aspects of product assortment, pricing, promotions, vendor partnerships, and category performance. Working closely with Operations, Marketing, Supply Chain, Finance, and vendor partners, the Category Manager will identify business opportunities, optimize product offerings, and deliver category plans that align with business objectives and evolving customer needs. The successful candidate will be a highly analytical, commercially driven professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment and has a passion for delivering results. Key Responsibilities As Applegreen continues to grow, the responsibilities of this role may evolve. Core responsibilities include: Category Management & Commercial Strategy Develop and execute category strategies that support sales growth, margin improvement, and overall business objectives. Manage product assortment, pricing, promotions, and merchandising plans for assigned categories. Analyze sales, margin, market, and customer data to identify trends, opportunities, and areas for improvement. Conduct category reviews and develop action plans to maximize category performance. Deliver accurate category forecasts, budgets, and performance reporting. Monitor product lifecycle performance and recommend additions, deletions, or assortment enhancements. Vendor & Supplier Management Build and maintain strong relationships with supplier partners. Lead annual vendor negotiations to secure competitive pricing, rebates, promotional funding, and favorable commercial terms. Develop and execute joint business plans with key suppliers. Monitor vendor performance and ensure compliance with contractual agreements. Maximize rebate opportunities and ensure achievement of annual rebate targets. Merchandising & Promotions Develop and implement effective planograms that maximize sales and enhance the customer experience. Partner with Operations and Marketing teams to deliver promotional calendars and seasonal programs. Ensure promotional execution is aligned with regional and seasonal business requirements. Evaluate promotional effectiveness and recommend future improvements. Cross-Functional Collaboration Partner with Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, Marketing, and Merchandising teams to ensure successful category execution. Support new product launches, category resets, and business initiatives. Act as a category subject matter expert and provide recommendations to leadership based on data and market insights. Leadership & Development Mentor and support junior members of the Commercial team. Foster collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement within the department. Contribute to a high-performance culture that aligns with Applegreen's values and growth objectives. Qualifications, Experience & Skills Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Merchandising, Supply Chain, or a related field preferred. Minimum 5 years of retail buying, category management, merchandising, or procurement experience within the convenience retail, grocery, FMCG, or retail industries. Strong experience negotiating supplier agreements and managing vendor relationships. Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Office Suite. Experience with PDI and retail reporting platforms preferred. Strong analytical, financial, and problem-solving skills. Demonstrated ability to interpret and leverage data to drive business decisions. Excellent planning, organization, and project management skills. Strong communication and presentation skills. Ability to build effective relationships with stakeholders at all levels of the organization. Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. Additional Skills & Attributes Commercially minded with a strong focus on sales growth, profitability, and customer satisfaction. Adaptable and comfortable working in a rapidly evolving and growing organization. Self-motivated, proactive, and results-oriented. Strong attention to detail and ability to execute with urgency. Proven ability to prioritize competing demands and meet deadlines. Positive, solution-focused mindset with a strong "can-do" attitude. Collaborative team player with the ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders. Sound judgment and effective decision-making skills. Resilient and calm under pressure. Demonstrated leadership capability and ability to develop others. Willingness to travel as needed to support business objectives. Applegreen is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status. Applegreen prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. We are committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination. #J-18808-Ljbffr