Produce Category Manager

Salary Range: $100k-$120k

Category Manager – Produce

Position Summary:

Processes to enable our Sales team to understand and have the best/most appropriate products available for the Produce Category  

What You’ll Do:

• Introducing successful New Products locally that are onboarded nationally when applicable.
• Support Sales Training and Food Show activities
• Identify successful single-region products to advance the growth of the category.
• Develop and coordinate monthly sales promotions in alignment with Marketing schedule, RVP, Purchasing team and Director of Produce sourcing
• Develop & implement local go to market strategy for growth acceleration of the Produce Category
• Evaluate inventory stock against forecast and shelf life, identify opportunities to reduce excess inventory through transfers within network, promotions and bulk sale opportunities.
• Develop and lead a team of Produce Specialists to assist our Sales team in growth initiatives.

Activities to ensure the development of Private Labels within this category to drive competitive advantage.

• Identify innovative products and potential local suppliers.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Director of Produce Sourcing to maximize value to the company.
• Rationalization of like/similar and special products within the company’s portfolio based on performance, velocity and customer interest.
• Regionally when applicable

Supplier Negotiations for the managed category in Partnership with the Director of Produce Sourcing:

• Achieving Target/Market-leading Costs  
• Developing Rebate and other program development
• Securing Supplier Promotional Support
• Improving Payment/Cash Cycle Term.

Supplier compliance activities for the managed category.

• Legal documentation.
• Specification sheets & supplier catalogs.
• Food Safety, etc.

Cross-Functional Collaboration with:

• Logistics & Purchasing Teams: Set strategies and tactics for inventory procurement and movements with individuals accountable for daily execution.
• Supply Chain Managers: Collaborate to incorporate regional and local strategies and tactics for inventory levels, product loss/expiration, product availability, new product introduction and product rationalization.

• Operations: Implement local go to market strategies to accelerate growth of the produce category from penetration opportunities to new business development, storage and handling training

About You:

Extensive experience with and knowledge of the category.

• Bachelor’s degree from accredited four-year college or university preferred.
• Previous food service distribution experience strongly preferred.
• Previous produce category management experience strongly preferred.
• Must be a team player with a positive attitude.
• Excellent verbal/written communication skills.
• Self-starter, professional, goal oriented and able to handle multiple tasks.
• Must have a sense of urgency and be able to work under pressure, be comfortable in a fast-paced, metrics-driven environment.

• Flexible with the ability to work well with all departments and levels of staff both internally & externally.

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