Category Manager, Produce

At Ferraro Foods, we are more than a distributor—we're a trusted partner to restaurants, pizzerias, retailers, and foodservice operators across the country. Through strong supplier partnerships, innovative product solutions, and an unwavering commitment to quality, we help our customers succeed every day.

About the role

We're looking for an experienced Category Manager in Produce to help manage and grow our fresh produce business. This is a great opportunity for someone with strong produce and category management experience who is ready to take greater ownership of a category and continue growing their career within a dynamic foodservice organization. If you're passionate about fresh produce, thrive in a fast-paced environment, and enjoy working with suppliers and cross-functional teams to drive category performance, we'd love to meet you.

Responsibilities

• Manage the day-to-day performance and development of Ferraro Foods' produce category, supporting strategies that drive sales growth, improve profitability, strengthen supplier partnerships, and enhance our competitive position.
• Manage supplier relationships, participate in sourcing initiatives and RFPs, negotiate pricing and vendor programs, and identify opportunities to improve cost, quality, service, and assortment.
• Conduct category reviews and analyze sales, margin, market, and customer data to identify opportunities for growth and assortment optimization.
• Partner closely with Sales and Marketing to support promotional programs, new product introductions, customer initiatives, and vendor-funded opportunities.
• Monitor produce market trends, commodity pricing, seasonality, availability, and consumer demand to help inform purchasing and category decisions.
• Work cross-functionally with Procurement, Sales, Marketing, and Operations to support product quality, inventory availability, forecasting, and supply chain continuity.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with growers, shippers, distributors, and other supplier partners.
• Serve as a produce resource for internal teams, providing category insights and supporting sales and customer needs.

Requirements

We're seeking a commercially minded category professional with strong knowledge of fresh produce and experience within foodservice, wholesale distribution, or a related environment. The ideal candidate has hands-on experience managing suppliers, analyzing category performance, supporting sourcing and negotiations, evaluating assortments, and working cross-functionally to drive results. This role is well suited for someone who has built a strong foundation in category management, procurement, merchandising, or sourcing and is ready to take on broader category responsibility with continued opportunity for professional growth.

Qualifications

• 5–7+ years of progressive experience in Category Management, Procurement, Merchandising, Buying, or Strategic Sourcing, preferably with a focus on fresh produce.
• Experience within foodservice distribution, wholesale produce, grocery distribution, or a closely related industry strongly preferred.
• Hands-on experience with supplier management, sourcing, RFPs, pricing negotiations, vendor programs, and/or contract management.
• Experience analyzing category performance, product assortments, sales, margins, and market trends.
• Strong understanding of produce sourcing, seasonality, commodity markets, forecasting, inventory planning, and supplier dynamics.
• Strong commercial mindset with the ability to identify opportunities to improve sales, margin, assortment, and overall category performance.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with Sales, Marketing, Procurement, Operations, and other cross-functional partners.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, analytical, and relationship-building skills.
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Food Science, Marketing, Finance, or a related field preferred.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision
• 401(k) with company contribution
• Paid Time Off
• Paid Holidays
• Additional voluntary benefits

Pay

$100K–$125K, commensurate with experience.

Schedule

• Location: Piscataway, NJ (On-site)
• Monday – Friday | Standard Business Hours (8:30 AM - 5:30 PM)
• Travel: Approximately 10–20% to support supplier relationships, customer meetings, regional teams, and industry events.