Strategic Foodservice Category Lead

Flanagan; Kitchener; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Flanagan in Kitchener, ON is seeking a strategic Category Manager to drive profitable sales growth across assigned foodservice categories. You will develop category strategies, optimize assortments, build strong vendor partnerships and lead initiatives with Sales, Procurement, Supply Chain and Marketing.

The role requires a minimum of five years in foodservice distribution or category management, strong financial acumen, and travel up to 10%. Salary range is CAD 80,000 to 90,000 annually.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in foodservice distribution, category management, purchasing, vendor management, sales or marketing.
• Strong understanding of foodservice products, distribution, customer needs and market dynamics.
• Proven ability to develop category strategies, negotiate vendor agreements and deliver profitable growth.
• Strong financial acumen, including pricing, gross margin, vendor revenue and inventory management.
• Excellent analytical, negotiation, communication and relationship-building skills.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and influence cross-functional teams.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, and experience with business intelligence and reporting tools.
• Valid driver's license and access to a personal vehicle for business travel, as required.
• Strategic, results-oriented mindset with strong accountability and attention to detail.
• Ability to balance long-term planning with daily operational priorities.
• Strong initiative, adaptability and ability to work collaboratively across departments.
• Willingness to travel occasionally (up to 10%), including overnight stays as required.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategies to achieve sales and profitability targets.
• Analyze category performance and market conditions to identify growth opportunities.
• Manage product assortment, listings, pricing strategies and SKU productivity.
• Collaborate with Procurement, Pricing and Supply Chain to optimize margins.
• Address slow-moving inventory and support seasonal planning and product launches.
• Ensure product quality, shelf-life, and food safety considerations in decisions.
• Partner with Sales to identify new business opportunities and expand category penetration.
• Provide product knowledge and selling strategies to support growth.

Skills

Category management

Vendor negotiation

Sales growth analysis

Financial acumen

Analytical skills

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Project management

Travel readiness

Organizational skills

Tools

Excel

BI reporting tools

Office suite

Job description

Flanagan in Kitchener, ON is seeking a strategic Category Manager to drive profitable sales growth across assigned foodservice categories. You will develop category strategies, optimize assortments, build strong vendor partnerships and lead initiatives with Sales, Procurement, Supply Chain and Marketing.

The role requires a minimum of five years in foodservice distribution or category management, strong financial acumen, and travel up to 10%. Salary range is CAD 80,000 to 90,000 annually.