Category Manager

Roles and Responsibilities

• Partners with the sales force to grow business, identify opportunities, and ensure the company has the correct product mix at the most competitive pricing to garner market share.
• Develops broker/vendor relations to ensure the best products, pricing, and quality are available to the sales force.
• Creates purchase orders and validates accuracy of pricing, freight, and expected delivery dates.
• Works with the Accounting department to verify invoice pricing.
• Solves any pricing discrepancies with the manufacturer or broker in a timely fashion.
• Reviews inventory status reports to help maintain inventory levels and turns according to budget goals for assigned vendors.
• Ensures service levels (stock levels with subs) maintained at budgeted levels.
• Makes decisions on slow moving and dead inventory by working with manufacturer reps/brokers and our sales team to solve issues.
• Works with Purchasing and Vendor Relations Managers to eliminate slow moving SKU’s and to drive business to our preferred vendor and buying group partners.
• Monitors and acts on slow moving and dead inventory by working with manufacturer reps/brokers and our sales team to solve issues.
• Works with our internal computer system to monitor goals and margins.
• Verifies order information, vendor/broker contact information, pricing, and item information for all assigned vendor lines.
• Reviews margin reports and investigates sales below acceptable levels with Purchasing Manager and Sales Team to determine cause and correct any identified issues if possible.
• Selects items from categories to participate in weekly fliers as well as seek promotional allowances from vendors to drive category sales and margins.
• Attends and participates in team meetings, & sales meetings/events as required.
• Reviews and updates Project & Plans worksheet with Purchasing Manager monthly.
• Initiates and schedules ride alongs with the Sales Team on a regular basis.
• Stays informed and up to date on markets/supply chain relevant to your categories/product line.
• Uses that information to update Palmer Sales Team and Weekly Market Information publication.
• Attends Industry trade shows as necessary which may require overnight travel.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of food related purchasing experience required.
• Previous food distribution experience preferred.
• Associates degree in business or related field, or equivalent field experience required.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Proven ability to manage multiple, time-sensitive projects and competing priorities simultaneously, work independently, and drive projects to completion with minimum guidance and high attention to detail.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Outlook, and Word.

Pay

$65,000- $83,000/ Yearly

Physical Demands

Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer. Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at a time. Maybe exposed to cold temperatures for extended periods of time.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Paid Benefit Time (PTO, Holiday and Sick)
• 401k Retirement Plan with Employer Matching
• Eligibility for Annual Profit-Sharing Bonus
• 15% Employee Discount on Retail Grocery Items (Includes Fresh Meat & Seafood)
• Associate Discounts on Warehouse Food Products
• Employee Appreciation Events