Category Manager, Hot Foods

Circle K; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Circle K in Charlotte, NC is seeking a Category Manager – Foodservice to lead and grow assigned Foodservice categories through collaboration with business units, vendors, and cross-functional teams. You will own category performance across sales, margin, assortment, pricing, and in-store execution, while supporting innovation, promotions, and continuous improvement.

Travel up to 40% is required. You will partner with Operations and BUs to optimize planograms, pricing, and promotional planning,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, economics, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 3–5+ years of experience in category management, merchandising, foodservice, retail, or CPG.
• Strong analytical skills with ability to translate data into actionable insights.

Responsibilities

• Own day-to-day management and performance of assigned Foodservice categories.
• Analyze category sales, margin, and execution performance to identify opportunities and risks.
• Support development and execution of category strategies aligned to Foodservice objectives.
• Monitor industry trends and competitive activity to inform recommendations.
• Partner with Operations and BUs to drive in-store execution.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication

Collaboration

Multi-tasking

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, economics, or related field

Job description

Position Summary

The Category Manager – Foodservice is responsible for managing and growing assigned Foodservice categories through strong collaboration with Business Units, vendor partners, and cross-functional teams. This role owns category performance across sales, margin, assortment, pricing, and execution, while supporting innovation, promotional planning, and continuous improvement of in-store performance. The Category Manager serves as a key link between strategy and execution, translating category objectives into actionable plans that are simple, scalable, and executable in stores. Also, any additional duties as assigned.

Key Responsibilities

Category Strategy & Performance Management

• Own day-to-day management and performance of assigned Foodservice categories
• Analyze category sales, margin, and execution performance to identify opportunities and risks
• Support development and execution of category strategies aligned to Foodservice objectives
• Monitor industry trends and competitive activity to inform recommendations

Assortment, Pricing & Promotion

• Support assortment planning, product transitions, and lifecycle management
• Partner on pricing and promotional planning, including execution of vendor-funded programs including, but not limited to, national vendor rebate management
• Analyze planogram effectiveness and provide recommendations to improve performance

Vendor & Program Management

• Manage assigned vendor relationships including item setup, costs, in-stocks, and logistics
• Support negotiations, performance reviews, and issue resolution with vendor partners
• Plan, track, and execute vendor initiatives, incentives, and contests with Operations and BUs

Execution, Training & Field Support

• Partner with Operations, Training, and Field teams to support successful in-store execution
• Participate in field visits to observe execution and collaborate with stores and BU leaders
• Support development of tools, communications, and training materials that drive consistency

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with Head of Food, Directors, Marketing, Supply Chain, QA, Finance, and BUs
• Support innovation launches, pilots, and regional tests
• Contribute to team financial targets and annual business planning efforts

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, economics, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 3–5+ years of experience in category management, merchandising, foodservice, retail, or CPG
• Strong analytical skills with ability to translate data into actionable insights
• Understanding of retail execution and store-level operations
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Strong communication and collaboration skills
• Willingness to travel up to 40%

Preferred

• Foodservice or Fresh / Prepared Foods category experience
• Experience working with national or regional vendors
• Familiarity with promotional planning, planograms, and in-store execution models
• Exposure to Food Safety, QA, or regulated food environments

Circle K is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The Company complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (the ADA) and all state and local disability laws. Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation under the terms of the ADA and certain state or local laws as long as it does not impose an undue hardship on the Company. Please inform the Company’s Human Resources Representative if you need assistance completing any forms or to otherwise participate in the application process.