Category Manager - Fruits & Vegetables (F&V)

Picnic; Amsterdam; On-site; EUR 55,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fresh lunch, coffee, and snacks

Health insurance discount

Learning & development opportunities

Pension plan

25 holidays

Job summary

Picnic in Amsterdam is looking for a Category Manager - Fruits & Vegetables to oversee the F&V category. This role involves managing suppliers, optimizing supply chains, and leveraging data for better decision-making.

The ideal candidate holds a Master’s degree and has 2-7 years of relevant experience. You will thrive in a dynamic environment while making a significant impact on sustainability in the food industry.

Enjoy perks like fresh lunches, health insurance discounts, and ample development opportunities.

Qualifications

• 2-7 years of experience as a Category Manager or Buyer in fresh produce.
• Fluency in English is required; proficiency in Dutch preferred.
• Strong analytical skills to navigate large datasets.

Responsibilities

• Manage and optimize the Fruits & Vegetables category.
• Negotiate with growers and wholesalers for competitive terms.
• Collaborate to reduce food waste and improve sustainability.
• Analyze data to uncover trends and optimize pricing strategies.

Skills

Data-first mindset

Commercial negotiations

Analytical ability

Problem-solving

Sustainability understanding

Education

Master’s degree (MSc) in Business, Economics, Food Innovation, Supply Chain

Tools

Excel

SQL

Job description

Category Manager - Fruits & Vegetables (F&V)

Products are the heart of Picnic, and Fruits & Vegetables are the ultimate test of our promise to customers. In this role, you won’t just manage a category—you will own a dynamic, living ecosystem where freshness, seasonality, and razor-sharp pricing intersect. At Picnic, we differentiate ourselves through data. We don't rely on gut feelings; we build our strategies on state-of-the-art data infrastructure. As Category Manager for Fruits & Vegetables, your superpower will be marrying elite analytical insights with deep market knowledge and a robust supplier network. Together with your cross-functional team, you’ll take end-to-end accountability for building an irresistible assortment, optimizing complex supply chains, minimizing waste, and driving massive commercial growth.

Tricks of the trade

• Dive into Picnic’s data warehouses to track performance, predict trends, and uncover commercial opportunities that optimize assortment, pricing, and promotion strategies.
• Lead end-to-end negotiations with growers, importers, and wholesalers. Secure competitive commercial terms and long‑term volume commitments while building sustainable, trusting partnerships.
• Own the unique challenges of the F&V supply chain. Proactively mitigate risks like sudden weather impacts, harvest fluctuations, and import restrictions to guarantee maximum product availability and shelf‑life.
• Collaborate closely with Quality Assurance and Supply Chain teams to optimize transit times, rethink packaging for sustainability and freshness, and keep food waste to an absolute minimum.
• Spot upcoming food trends, drive local sourcing initiatives, and introduce eco‑friendly innovations that excite our customers and elevate Picnic’s sustainability profile.
• Act as the strategic bridge between analysts, supply chain planners, and operations teams to execute flawless daily execution and long‑term category goals.

Your superpowers

• Master’s degree (MSc) in Business, Economics, Food Innovation, Supply Chain, or a highly analytical field.
• 2-7 years of commercial experience, ideally as a Category Manager or Buyer within the fresh produce (Fruit & Vegetables) sector.
• A data‑first mindset. You are comfortable navigating large datasets to extract actionable insights and possess advanced Excel skills (SQL familiarity is a massive plus).
• Proven ability to hold your own in tough commercial negotiations while maintaining healthy, collaborative supplier relationships.
• High energy and a cool head. You thrive in a fast‑paced environment where operational hiccups (like a delayed shipment or sudden frost) require swift, creative problem‑solving.
• A genuine enthusiasm for agricultural dynamics, sustainability, and high‑quality food.
• Fluency in English is required; professional proficiency in Dutch is a strong advantage given the local supplier landscape.

Picnic perks

Fresh Lunch, coffee, and snacks

Our offices are equipped with fully‑fledged coffee bars and a kitchen and chefs. They prepare delicious fresh and warm lunches every day so you can keep your energy up.

Health insurance discount & bike plan

We have a partnership with CZ (a health insurance provider). Picnic employees get a discount on CZ insurance packages between 5% and 15%. Furthermore, through our partnership with Lease a Bike, you can rent‑to‑own a new (e)bike at a discounted rate.

Learning & development

You’ll get ample opportunity to work on yourself at Picnic. We offer personal development through Lepaya courses, Academy trainings, and more. Interested in improving your mental wellbeing? Through OpenUp you get free access to trained psychologists and many courses.

All the rest

At Picnic you get 25 holidays, we cover your travel expenses and offer a pension plan. And your phone and laptop are on us, as well.