Associate Category Manager (Specialty Foods)

Associate Category Manager (Specialty Foods) Full Time Hicksville, NY, US 3 days ago Requisition ID: 1399 Salary Range: $60,000.00 To $70,000.00 Annually Who We Are Nassau Candy is a premier importer, manufacturer, and distributor of specialty confections, fine foods, and promotional products. With decades of industry expertise, we take pride in providing high-quality products and exceptional service to retailers nationwide. Our commitment to innovation, integrity, and excellence has made us a leader in the industry. At Nassau Candy, we foster a collaborative and dynamic workplace where growth and teamwork are at the core of our success. What We Stand For and Where You'll Come In We are seeking a well-rounded Associate Category Manager to join our growing Gourmet Foods team at our Hicksville, NY office. This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to product selection, vendor negotiations, and strategic planning for our expanding gourmet food offerings. If you have a strong background in buying, purchasing, and category management within food manufacturing or distribution, we want to hear from you! Core Values You'll Embody: Innovation & Growth: Identify and introduce exciting new products to enhance our gourmet food offerings. Collaboration & Relationship Building: Work closely with vendors, sales teams, and internal stakeholders to develop strong partnerships and successful product launches. Strategic & Detail-Oriented Thinking: Analyze product viability, pricing, and market positioning to ensure we maintain a competitive edge. How You'll Make an Impact Product Sourcing & Category Expansion: Suggest new product lines for distribution and identify emerging trends in the gourmet food category. Contact manufacturers to obtain pricing, request samples, and assess product potential. Analyze new product lines based on competitive placement, key selling points, shelf life, warehouse logistics, and distributor networks. Schedule, manage, and participate in meetings and calls with vendors in the specialty foods category. Negotiate pricing, programs, and order minimums with new and existing vendors. Work closely with vendors and sales teams to coordinate product demonstrations, promotions, and trade show participation. Product Setup & Marketing Support: Gather and organize key vendor information, including UPC codes, pricing, packaging details, and lead times. Assist in the setup of new product assortments, including coordinating photography and marketing materials for "What's New" publications. Request and compile sell sheets and samples to support sales and marketing efforts. Promotional & Trade Show Coordination: Work with vendors and sales teams to develop account-specific promotions and sampling programs. Coordinate vendor participation for food and candy-related trade shows, ensuring optimal brand representation. Additional Responsibilities: Support various department projects and initiatives as needed. Assist in maintaining strong internal processes to enhance category performance. We're Excited About You Because You Have: Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Merchandising, or a related field. 2-4 years of buying or purchasing experience in a food manufacturing or distribution environment. Strong negotiation and relationship-building skills. Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint). Ability to handle multiple projects effectively and think strategically. Excellent communication and organizational skills. Detail-oriented mindset with strong analytical and problem-solving abilities. Physical ability to move/unpack boxes of product samples for review. Competitive Pay Comprehensive Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, AFLAC, Pet Insurance! Vacation & PTO 401(K) Retirement Plan Family-Oriented Company Culture - Business casual attire, team collaboration Employee Discounts on Products Promote-from-within culture with growth opportunities We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and value diversity in our workplace. #J-18808-Ljbffr Nassau Candy