Category Manager - Deli

Coastal Pacific Food Distributors is seeking a highly organized and detail‑oriented Category Manager for Deli Operations. Position is responsible for leading strategic sourcing and category management for Deli and Prepared Foods.   Locations supported include 16 commissaries located in Korea, Guam, Japan and Okinawa.  Category manager is responsible for market research, vendor management, product selection and budgeting.  This role implements pricing, promotion and assortment, based on detailed analysis of past performance, industry’s best practices, and consumer trends. The Category Manager develops and implements marketing and training for all new programs and initiatives.

This position demands a blend of strategic planning, data analysis, supplier negotiation, and operational coordination. Candidates should have at least 5 years of retail/commercial experience, strong analytical skills, and proven success in driving performance and profitability.

Pay and Benefits:

• Job Salary Range:  $78,000/yr. to $98,000/yr.
• Yearly annual increases
• Annual Management Discretionary Bonus
• Competitive Benefit Package; 401K; Medical, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance

Roles & Responsibilities:

• Determines the appropriate product assortment based on the category strategies. 
• Seek and select new products/suppliers and negotiate costs.  Authorizes new items entering the market and discontinues lines based on potential contribution to the category and department.
• Creates and implements a promotional calendar by major category, which supports division merchandising strategy.  Tracks results at end of each promotion in terms of sales, profit and share.
• Develop merchandising and promotion plans 
• Maintains and reviews product pricing and completes competitive price checks to ensure products are priced competitively
• Manages shrink controls at a category level to optimize sales vs. waste.
• Creates yearly business plan and budgets by category based on department/company initiatives, consumer and market trends.
• Reviews category and department financials (i.e. profit & loss statements) monthly and takes actions to ensure budgets are achieved; meets sales and margin budget expectations.
• Ensure store inventory levels are within company standards and reports inventory discrepancies.
• Conducts in depth post-promotional analysis at the item and category level.
• Communicates all pertinent information, including merchandising plans, promotion plans, price changes, projections, etc., to the stores, operations team, vendors, support offices and department.
• Helps in the training and development of store levels Department Managers and Operations Coordinator.
• Negotiates with vendors to ensure competitive pricing and collaborates with vendors on product assortment, promotion, services, promotional calendars.  Acts as primary contact with vendors in assigned categories.
• Works closely with procurement function.  Communicates category and promotional plans to ensure desired service levels and optimum inventory position achieved.
• Works in conjunction with warehouse and other departments across the company to facilitate implementation of programs.
• Visits stores as necessary to observe results of merchandising programs.
• Creates and maintains HACCP.      

Job Requirements:

Education: Bachelor’s Degree is preferred; experience that is equivalent and directly related may be substituted.

Experience: Minimum of 5 years of relevant retail or commercial experience in category management, merchandising or buying.   Proven track record in driving sales growth, improving margins, supplier negotiations & relationship management.  Possesses basic retail math skills.

Knowledge: Previous store operations experience or similar experience where a strong understanding of operations and merchandizing approaches has been achieved.  Strong focus on sales and understands how merchandising drives sales.  Must have knowledge and training in Food Safety & Sanitation, such as Serv-safe Certification and/or be able to obtain the Certified status, and HACCP Training/Certification

Skills and Abilities: Key skills include analytical expertise, strategic thinking, negotiation, leadership, and adaptability. A successful Category Manager combines commercial acumen with operational knowledge to drive category growth, optimize product performance, and maintain strong supplier relationships    Must be self-directed and possess strong decision-making skills.  Ability to work independently as well as a cross-functional team member.  Must possess the ability to perform detailed work and detect discrepancies on documents.  Effective oral and written communication skills as well as analytical and organizational skills required.  Must have ability to multi-task and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.  Must have basic skills in MS Word and Outlook and advanced skills in Excel.    Details oriented & excellent follow-up required.   Must always maintain the highest level of customer service.  Must be able to travel domestically & internationally.