Category Analyst, Food

GoToFoods; Atlanta (GA); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

GoTo Foods is seeking a Category Analyst to support procurement categories across our 7 restaurant brands. The analyst drives product setup processes, analyzes the business, and collaborates with suppliers to implement supply chain solutions that improve pricing, item specifications, logistics, inventory, and distribution.

The Category Analyst will work with Category Management and internal stakeholders to source category products, facilitate RFPs, collaborate on product innovation and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in relevant field required.
• Experience in procurement/sourcing and data analysis.
• Strong Excel skills (modeling, VLOOKUP, pivot tables).
• Ability to work under pressure in a dynamic environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead monthly category analysis and reporting; develop dashboards and insights.
• Coordinate data accuracy for pricing, item specs, and supplier data across systems.
• Support supplier negotiations, RFIs/RFPs, and contract administration with cross-functional teams.
• Track supplier KPIs and drive cost savings within the supply chain.
• Collaborate with Category Manager, Legal, and Brand Marketing on new products and cost improvements.

Skills

Data analysis

Excel

Power BI

Tableau

Cross-functional teamwork

Communication skills

Vendor management

Procurement

Education

Bachelor's Degree, Supply Chain Management, Accounting or related field

Tools

Jira

ArrowStream

Job description

• Lead the monthly pricing and contract update process, including requesting updates from suppliers, reviewing data, working to fix errors, and providing a summary of cost change impacts
• Ensure all agreements are fully executed and loaded into Focus Brands contract management systems
• Work collaboratively with Category Manager and Legal to draft/execute agreements
• Maintain and improve data accuracy in our pricing systems
  • Coordinate accurate data entry and maintenance into GoTo Foods supply chain systems including suppliers, new prices, new price effective dates, product attributes, etc.
  • Ensure continued data integrity maintenance for all GoTo Foods systems
  • Maintain information tracking tools for supplier contacts, conference, & item fees
• Work with suppliers and cross-functional team to optimize line-of-supply and freight costs within the distribution network
  • Support GoTo Foods distribution transition initiatives
• Category Analysis & Reporting
  • Develop process improvements, dashboards, analytical methods, and reporting tools that provide clear business value for, and insights into, the identified category
    • Identify and recommend cost savings and value opportunities
    • Proactively identify improvement opportunities and create innovative win-win customer and supplier strategies that are regularly shared with Procurement leadership
    • Utilize existing reporting functions to gather cost/spend information, and summarize for impactful decision making
  • Maintain and improve data accuracy of product specifications, plant audits, and other QA requirements
    • Coordinate accurate data entry and maintenance of detailed item specifications, active production facilities, etc.
  • Manage and monitor supplier inventory and production, coordinate response to supply issues, and engage supplier and cross-functional team on solutions
  • Monitor value creation across the supply chain network
  • Track and report on key supplier KPI metrics
• Work directly with the Category Manager to launch new products and innovations with our suppliers, as well as Brand Marketing and Operations teams
• Manage new item information collection, pricing, contract management & approval for new item setup within internal and external systems.
• Manage and track commercialization projects through the onboarding process
• Identify, recommend, and commercialize product solutions that contribute to company-wide sustainability, cost-savings, and/or value creation goals
• Interact with suppliers and internal groups to collect data and improve our understanding of the identified category
  • Lead communications to suppliers for pricing renewals, procurement/transition updates, forecasts, and other widespread GoTo foods initiatives.
  • Communicate & help resolve supply security escalations, collaborating with internal teams to avoid product outages.
  • Analyze supplier reporting to help make category decisions, allocate inventory, etc.
• Provide recommendations on how to optimize our supplier partnerships/SKUs across all 7 brands.
• Assist Category Manager in planning and executing activities related to sourcing
  • Coordinate, develop, and conduct research and analysis of strategic sourcing activities
  • Perform cost and scenario analysis and benchmarking to ensure that Focus Brands has an excellent understanding of the supply market
  • Work directly with the Category Manager to administrate and analyze Requests for Information & Proposal (RFIs and RFPs), aiding in the negotiation of new business awards and contracts with vendors

Job Summary

GoTo Foods has an exciting opportunity for a Category Analyst. This position is responsible for supporting multiple Procurement categories across our 7 restaurant brands. The analyst is primarily responsible for driving product setup processes, analyzing the business, and collaborating with suppliers to implement supply chain solutions that improve pricing, item specification, logistics, inventory, and distribution. In addition, the Category Analyst will work collaboratively with Category Management and internal stakeholders to source select category products, facilitate RFPs, collaborate on product innovation and specification recommendations, build and improve category reporting, track supplier quality and savings, manage supplier relationships, maintain pricing contracts, data, and Legal agreements.

Workplace Type

Fixed Hybrid-Atlanta

Education

• Bachelor's Degree, Supply Chain Management, Accounting or related field, Required

Work Experience

• 1-2 years of experience in the procurement/sourcing, foodservice, packaging, supply chain, or equivalent industry (logistics, planning, food & beverage, etc)
• Experience with vendor management, sales, and/or customer service – any role that builds the communication and relational skills necessary for managing relationships with outside organizations, clients, and/or internal stakeholders
• A strong skillset with data analysis and critical thinking:
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Excel (modeling, goal seek, VLOOKUP, index (match), pivot tables, formulas, graphing)
• Demonstrated ability to work under pressure in an undefined, ever-changing environment

Skills & Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to navigate through the strategic sourcing process
• Knowledge of Supply Chain/Category Management/Foodservice Pricing
• Additional experience in strategic sourcing, purchasing, consulting, cost accounting, or finance
• Understanding of purchasing, accounts payable, work management and financial systems applications including a strong understanding of financial information, budgets, and program performance
• Process-oriented and experienced with project management, PMP certification even better
• Advanced proficiency with Excel, including data analysis, dashboards, and critical thinking (pivot tables, vlookup, formulas, graphing, modeling, index (match), goal seek)
• Proven proficiency with PowerPoint, Outlook, Word, ArrowStream, Jira, and/or other foodservice contract management technology
• Experience with large data sets to yield information that supports business needs/questions, even better if experience with pulling & formatting data from large ERP systems
• Strong critical thinking skills, ability to exercise judgment, manage complexity and ambiguity
• Ability to create reporting and dashboard tools via Microsoft Excel, Power BI, Tableau, or other visualization software
• Independently motivated and autonomous
• Ability to work cross-functionally in a collaborative manner
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Travel Requirements

• None

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