Job Description
Category managers drive profitable sales of grocery categories by making item decisions on mix, costing, promotions, and procurement for AWG and members, collaborating with vendors and teams for optimal quality and growth. They impact retail by securing quality products at best costs, supporting over $12 billion in annual sales nationwide.
Associated Wholesale Grocers provides wholesale operations to over 1,100 member companies and 3,400 locations across 33 states through divisions. The cooperative offers real estate, development, and pharmaceutical services with 2024 consolidated sales exceeding $12 billion.
Tasks include developing strategies, maintaining category knowledge, managing sales programs, brands, vendor funding, conducting reviews, handling promotions, updating files accurately, and interacting with inventory, sales, accounting, brands, and divisions. Supervisors oversee assistants. A mild travel constraint involves minimal visits to markets, locations, and events.
The job requires a college degree or experience in consumer products goods, with knowledge in retail or wholesale operations and Microsoft Office. Work is hybrid at the 5000 Kansas Avenue hub. Benefits encompass medical, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, paid time off, 401(k) 4% match plus contributions, tuition reimbursement, life insurance, disability programs, wellness incentives, and yearly bonuses.
Responsibilities
- Develop and implement key category initiatives and strategies
- Develop and maintain complete product and category knowledge
- Develop sales growth programs that allow market flexibility
- Develop and manage the AWG Brands assortment including product development to drive category sales and achieve targeted profitability
- Manage vendor funding to maximize sales and profitability
- Conduct regular category reviews to maximize category assortment and set category strategies
- Responsible for managing event schedules and promotions
- Responsible for overseeing input of all file maintenance is timely and accurate
- Responsible for all vendor programs, allowances, performance funds, incentive funds, marketing funds, direct plant ship options, and maintaining efficiency incentives to gain a competitive advantage in our markets
- Communicates and interacts with all cross functional departments (eg. Inventory Management, Center Store, Accounting, AWG Brands, and divisional sales teams.)
- Work with Corporate Promotions Planner and Sales Coordinators in each division to implement sales programs, communicating categories and consumer trends
- Visit key markets regularly to stay informed of competitiveness and market trends
- Create joint business plans and conduct quarterly business reviews
- Assist in supervising one or more Category Assistants, if applicable
Requirements
- College degree preferred
- Minimum 3 years’ Consumer Products Goods or related industry experience
- Working knowledge of sourcing, procurement, supply chain management, retail/wholesale/warehouse operations, category business planning, marketing, consumer research, and financial management
- Minimal travel required: primary travel is to AWG members’ retail locations and distribution centers, vendor partner locations and trade-related events and shows
- Intermediate knowledge of business applications (eg. Microsoft Office and G Suites)