Category Manager - Fresh Foods

RaceTrac; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

RaceTrac in Atlanta is seeking a Category Manager, Fresh Foods to lead strategy, development, and execution of fresh food products, programs, and initiatives that drive sales and margin growth.

The role requires hands-on experience in fresh food product development, strong financial ownership, and FSQA knowledge; up to 25% travel may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, supply chain, or a related field.
• 2–5 years of hands‑on experience in fresh foods category management and product development.
• Strong financial acumen with category P&L ownership and pricing experience.
• Knowledge of FSQA, food safety regulations, and recall processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the fresh foods category strategy and team development.
• Own pricing, margins, and assortment decisions with data‑driven insights.
• Partner with FSQA, Operations, Marketing, and suppliers to execute initiatives.
• Manage vendor negotiations and monitor supplier performance.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and food safety across products.

Skills

Category management

P&L ownership

Data analysis

Vendor negotiations

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

MS Excel

Job description

Category Manager, Fresh Foods is responsible for leading the strategy, development, and execution of fresh food products, programs, and initiatives that drive sales, margin growth, and overall category performance. This role requires hands‑on experience in fresh food product development, strong financial ownership, and deep understanding of food safety and regulatory requirements. Up to 25% travel may be required.

What You’ll Do

Category Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop the fresh foods category team, ensuring they have the tools, knowledge, and support needed to drive category growth.
• Prioritize and manage daily team activities, ensuring alignment with business goals.

Fresh Food Product Development

• Lead hands‑on development of fresh food items, including formulation, testing, packaging, quality evaluation, and commercialization.
• Partner with FSQA to ensure all products meet food safety standards, regulatory requirements, and operational feasibility.
• Support and manage recall processes, quality concerns, and compliance‑related initiatives.

Category Strategy, Pricing & Financial Ownership

• Own the category P&L, including pricing strategy, margin management, cost‑of‑goods structure, and promotional planning.
• Build and manage product assortments that align with consumer trends, operational capabilities, and financial targets.
• Analyze internal and external data to identify trends, refine strategies, and drive continuous improvement.

Vendor & Supplier Management

• Lead vendor negotiations, contract development, and supplier performance management.
• Resolve pricing discrepancies, manage rebates, and troubleshoot supplier issues.
• Build strong relationships with suppliers to drive innovation, cost optimization, and product quality.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Operations, Marketing, Accounting, Business Analysis, FSQA, and other internal teams to execute category initiatives.
• Represent the category in cross‑functional meetings and lead ad‑hoc projects as needed.

Compliance & Industry Awareness

• Stay current on legislation, regulatory changes, and food safety requirements that impact fresh food products.
• Develop cost‑reduction strategies and savings plans in partnership with leadership.

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 2–5 years of direct experience in fresh foods category management, including hands‑on product development and assortment strategy.
• Demonstrated ownership of category‑level P&L, including pricing, margin strategy, and cost‑of‑goods management.
• Working knowledge of FSQA standards, food safety regulations, and recall processes within a fresh food environment.
• Experience negotiating vendor contracts and managing supplier relationships in fresh or perishable goods.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex financial and operational data.
• Experience managing and developing others preferred.
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite; intermediate to advanced Excel skills preferred.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment with RaceTrac without regard to their race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations.