Category Manager - Foodservice

Core-Mark; Illinois; On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Performance Foodservice in Illinois seeks a Category Manager to lead customer relations, purchasing, and pricing strategies for a key product category. You will coordinate supplier negotiations, optimize assortment, and drive profitability.

The role requires COP knowledge, a Bachelor’s degree, and several years in foodservice category management, plus supervisory experience. You will analyze data, prepare reports, and partner with accounts payable to resolve discrepancies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree required.
• Center of the Plate COP knowledge: 2 years minimum.
• 5 years related experience in category.
• 6 months to 1 year supervisory or management experience.
• Strong presentation skills.
• MS Office proficiency (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Responsibilities

• Supplier and Vendor Management - Develop and execute category strategies aligned with company objectives. Manage category business plans and annual targets. Analyze market trends, customer demands and competitor activity to identify growth opportunities and category gaps.
• Negotiate buy brackets, inbound freight rates, backhaul dollars, cash discounts, extended terms, and earned income.
• Ensure costing and pricing accuracy, with special attention to changes, discrepancies, and customer audits. Review over-committed items, buyer's outs, stock adjustments, receiving discrepancies, and sales below cost reports. Process returns to vendors including entering vendor bill backs before merchandise leaves our buildings.
• Product Management - Optimize product assortment and SKU Rationalization. Conduct Assortment reviews to eliminate underperforming items.
• Introduce new products and category innovations. Manage products from launch to discontinuation.
• Pricing and Profitability - Develop strategies to balance margin and competitiveness. Manage category profitability and gross margin performance.
• Data analysis and reporting - Analyze sales, margin, market share and customer behavior to driver assortment and pricing decisions. Develop KPIs and reporting to share or progress and enable decision making for results.
• Be responsible for knowing your products and for product knowledge training for customers.
• Work with Accounts Payable to negotiate, approve, and resolve all billing vs. receiving discrepancies, vendor bill back issues, lost cash discount negotiations, etc.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Complies with all policies and standards.

Job description

Company Description

Performance Foodservice, PFG's broadline distributor, maintains a unique relationship with a variety of local customers, including independent restaurants and hotels, healthcare facilities, schools, and quick-service eateries. A team of sales reps, chefs, consultants, and other experts builds close relationships with customers - providing advice on improving operations, menu development, product selection, and operational strategies. The Performance team delivers delicious food but also goes above and beyond to help independent restaurant owners achieve their dreams.

Job Description

We Deliver the Goods:

• Competitive pay and benefits, including Day 1 Health & Wellness Benefits, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, 401K Employer Matching, Education Assistance, Paid Time Off, and much more
• Growth opportunities performing essential work to support America's food distribution system
• Safe and inclusive working environment, including culture of rewards, recognition, and respect

Position Summary

To manage the customer relations, purchasing, and financial management functions related to your product category in order to achieve maximum profits and customer satisfaction. To coordinate the buying, selling, and merchandising efforts of the vendor and distributor, resulting in satisfied customers, profitable sales and above average in-stock percentages, inventory turns, and days accounts payable outstanding.

Position Responsibilities

• Supplier and Vendor Management - Develop and execute category strategies aligned with company objectives. Manage category business plans and annual targets. Analyze market trends, customer demands and competitor activity to identify growth opportunities and category gaps.
• Negotiate buy brackets, inbound freight rates, backhaul dollars, cash discounts, extended terms, and earned income.
• Ensure costing and pricing accuracy, with special attention to changes, discrepancies, and customer audits. Review over-committed, urgent items, buyer's outs, stock adjustments, receiving discrepancies, and sales below cost reports. Process returns to vendors including entering vendor bill backs before merchandise leaves our buildings.
• Product Management- Optimize product assortment and SKU Rationalization. Conduct Assortment reviews to eliminate underperforming items.
• Introduce new products and category innovations. Manage products from launch to discontinuation.
• Pricing and Profitability - Develop strategies to balance margin and competitiveness. Manage category profitability and gross margin performance.
• Analyze cost changes and implement pricing adjustments. Manage promotional pricing programs.
• Sales and marketing collaboration on POS materials, sell sheets and promotions. Support customer presentations and category reviews.
• Data analysis and reporting - Analyze sales, margin, market share and customer behavior to driver assortment and pricing decisions. Develop KPIs and reporting to share orogress and enable decision marking for results.
• Keep your product knowledge up to date by attending and participating in special events such as food shows, buying shows, and seminars.
• Be responsible for knowing your products and for product knowledge training for customers.
• Work with Accounts Payable to negotiate, approve, and resolve all billing vs. receiving discrepancies, vendor bill back issues, lost cash discount negotiations, etc.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Complies with all policies and standards.

Benefits

Click Here for Benefits Information

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree
• Center of the Plate - 2 years COP knowledge
• 5 Years related experience in category
• 6 months - 1 year supervisory or management experience
• Presentation
• MS Office proficiency in Word, Excel and PowerPoint for presentations

Preferred qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree
• Center of the Plate - 3+ years COP knowledge
• 5+ Years related experience with Foodservice Sales teams
• 1+ year supervisory or management experience
• MS Office proficiency in Word, Excel and PowerPoint for presentations

EEO Statement

Performance Food Group and/or its subsidiaries (individually or collectively, the "Company") provides equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all applicants and employees, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state and federal laws and regulations. Please click on the following links to review: (1) our EEO Policy; (2) the "EEO is the Law" poster and supplement; and (3) the Pay Transparency Policy Statement.