Merchandising Category Manager / Food Service and Fountain

Job Purpose

The Merchandising Category Manager is responsible for driving growth through the development of merchandising and sales strategies in the Food Service and Fountain category(ies). This role includes actively coordinating with vendors and cross-department collaboration to gather market and sales trend information that meets the needs of our customers.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Accountable for development of initiatives based on P&L, budgeting, and established revenue and margin KPIs for assigned categories
• Researches and presents competitive market data for decision-making activities that strengthen assigned category management activities
• Performs and provides analysis to predict trends in product positioning, selection, pricing and distribution logistics
• Develops long term sales strategies for core categories, contracts, programs, and product selection
• Develops optimal product assortment, merchandising and pricing strategies, and creates promotions and planograms.
• Conducts vendor and contract negotiations.
• Manages and conducts price book, rebate analysis and dead-net costing
• Performs project lead activities for contests and promotional combos, facilitating work across category management and the food service team as well as interactions with Marketing
• Manages duties related to third-party distribution and the general supply chain/out of stocks including weekly "Stores Not Selling" reporting for operational use.
• Monitors operational opportunities and communicates with operations team on action plans for improvement of waste, and expenses.
• Collaborates with IT team and 3rd party data vendors to ensure data flows and integrates seamlessly.
• Possess the ability to create and present promotional plans in companywide meetings

NOTE: Duties and responsibilities, as required by business necessity may be added, deleted, or changed at any time at the discretion of management, formally or informally, either verbally or in writing. Scheduling and shift assignments and work location may be changed at any time, as required by business necessity.

Skills and Education Requirements

• Bachelor Degree in Marketing, Business or related field, preferred
• 1-2 years of product marketing, category buying, procurement, merchandising or related experience required.
• Solid knowledge of category management, marketing, and sales principles
• Understanding of data analysis and forecasting methods
• Operational experience in retail preferred
• Advanced skill with MS Office Suite products including Excel and PowerPoint
• Experience leveraging internal and external resources appropriately
• Ability to anticipate customer needs while giving high priority to customer satisfaction and service
• Must have an excellent command of the English language verbally, and in written communication
• Excellent listening skills
• Willingness to voluntarily take the initiative to identify and address existing and potential obstacles, issues, and opportunities
• The ability to support employees in their efforts to achieve job goals by providing resources, removing obstacles, and acting as a buffer