Category Development Manager

C&S Wholesale Grocers, LLC is an industry leader in supply chain solutions and wholesale grocery supply in the United States, servicing customers of all sizes with over 100,000 different products.

About the role

The Category Development Manager develops the overall shelf assortment strategy for a product category or categories. This position understands consumer and shopper needs, purchase behavior, new product vitality, and the importance of private, specialty, and regionally-relevant product options to drive sales and achieve performance targets. Success in this role requires a strong strategic and analytical orientation, exceptional communication skills, and a collaborative approach to driving sustainable category sales and profitability.

Responsibilities

• Own, create, manage, and deliver warehouse-specific category planograms, related mix options, variety, shopper selection, and output quality.
• Assimilate key corporate growth objectives into assortment planning imperatives, clear retail guidance, and in-store activation priorities.
• Determine assortment growth goals in line with the C&S growth plan.
• Monitor, track, and communicate assortment and execution KPIs versus results timelines.
• Synthesize data to identify growth and operational opportunities in all product categories.
• Analyze and incorporate key insights to determine industry and consumer trends, product market performance, and space-to-sales appropriation.
• Utilize shopper insights to recommend store macro-planning decisions regarding category placement, adjacencies, and flow.
• Employ shopper insights to make micro-planning decisions for product placement, visibility, and adjacencies.
• Lead manufacturer relationships focused on category mix, assortment, and best practices, incorporating key learnings into planning and activation plans.
• Own internal and external communication relating to cycle guidance and execution.
• Develop and recommend new product business cases.
• Collaborate with internal supply chain partners to recommend exit strategies for unsuccessful products.
• Collaborate with systems, product, and sales management to ensure realization of the growth agenda.
• Lead assortment planning standard operating procedures (SOP) and ensure process adherence and proper outputs.
• Ensure key information and asset management resources are fully engaged and current.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business (Master’s Degree preferred).
• 2-5 years of experience and knowledge in category management, marketing, and sales principles.
• Strong strategic and analytical orientation.
• Proven leadership, team-building, and resourceful problem-solving skills.
• Strong organization, project management, and stakeholder service skills.
• Exceptional presentation, communication, and storytelling skills.
• Self-motivated, action-focused mindset.
• Working knowledge of current technologies and products used in the industry.
• Strong commercial acumen.

Skills

• Category strategy and assortment planning.
• Data analysis and synthesis for identifying growth opportunities.
• Shopper insights and trend analysis.
• Manufacturer and internal stakeholder collaboration.
• Process leadership and adherence (SOP).

Environment

• Office-based role with a temperature-controlled environment (65°F to 75°F).
• No travel required.