Category Manager - Pastry, Chocolate, & Pantry

Peterson Cheese; Auburn (WA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) retirement plan (matching)

Life insurance

Job summary

Peterson Cheese is seeking a strategic Category Manager to lead pastry, chocolate, and pantry across our largest product portfolio. You will develop category strategies, drive product innovation, manage supplier partnerships, and deliver profitable growth while collaborating with Sales, FP&A, and culinary teams.

You will own category performance, negotiate agreements, and coach cross-functional teams to optimize assortment and pricing in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in Category Management, Product Development, Procurement, or related field.
• Direct experience within pastry, chocolate, bakery, or specialty food categories.
• Strong supplier management and negotiation experience.
• Proven analytical and financial acumen, including pricing and margin management.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategies that drive growth, profitability, and market leadership.
• Monitor trends, consumer preferences, and competitive activity.
• Identify assortment gaps and new product opportunities.
• Lead new product development from concept through launch.
• Partner with suppliers to develop innovative products and exclusive offerings.
• Collaborate with Sales to understand customer needs and opportunities.

Skills

Category Management

Product Development

Procurement

Financial analysis

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Presentation

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

ERP systems

Category management tools

Analytics platforms

Job description

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Category Manager - Pastry, Chocolate, & Pantry

Full Time Regular Auburn, WA, US

2 days ago Requisition ID: 1168

Salary Range: $75,000.00 To $85,000.00 Annually

Position Summary

Peterson is seeking a strategic and commercially minded Category Manager to lead our largest product portfolio across pastry, chocolate, and pantry categories. This role is responsible for developing and executing category strategies, driving product innovation, managing supplier partnerships, and delivering profitable growth. Working closely with Sales, Supplier Management, FP&A, and culinary teams, the Category Manager will ensure our assortment meets evolving customer needs while maintaining a competitive market position.

Key Responsibilities

Category Strategy & Portfolio Management

• Develop and execute category strategies that drive growth, profitability, and market leadership.
• Monitor industry trends, consumer preferences, competitive activity, and supply market developments.
• Identify assortment gaps and new product opportunities aligned with customer demand and business objectives.
• Present category performance, insights, and recommendations to leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.

Product Development & Assortment Optimization

• Lead new product development from concept through launch.
• Partner with suppliers to develop innovative and exclusive products.
• Collaborate with Sales to understand customer needs and category opportunities.
• Manage the product lifecycle, including SKU optimization and rationalization.
• Lead product evaluations, tastings, and quality assessments.
• Own category financial performance, including revenue, margin, and cost management.
• Analyze sales, profitability, pricing, and market data to identify growth opportunities.
• Support forecasting, budgeting, and business case development.
• Partner with Sales on customer opportunities, bids, and pricing strategies.
• Build and maintain strategic supplier relationships across pastry, chocolate, and pantry categories.
• Negotiate commercial agreements and drive supplier performance.
• Identify and develop new supplier partnerships and sourcing opportunities.
• Establish contingency sourcing plans to ensure supply continuity.
• Support trade shows, customer events, and product showcases.
• Develop engaging product presentations and tasting experiences.
• Leverage events to introduce new products and strengthen supplier and customer relationships.

What you bring:

Required

• 5+ years of experience in Category Management, Product Development, Procurement, or a related field.
• Direct experience within pastry, chocolate, bakery, or specialty food categories.
• Strong supplier management and negotiation experience.
• Proven analytical and financial acumen, including pricing and margin management.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment.

Preferred

• Knowledge of food safety and regulatory requirements.
• Experience working with culinary teams or product tasting evaluations.
• Trade show, customer presentation, or product showcase experience.
• Experience with ERP systems, category management tools, and analytics platforms.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.

What we bring:

Compensation - In accordance with Washington state law, the anticipated annual salary for this position is expected to be between $75,000 to $85,000, with the final rate determined by qualifications, skills, and experience.

Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage - Comprehensive health insurance plans are available to eligible employees and their covered dependents.

Life Insurance - Peterson Company provides $25,000 of employer-paid basic life insurance, with additional voluntary coverage options available.

401(k) Retirement Plan - Employees are eligible to participate after 30 days of employment. Peterson Company currently matches approximately $0.30 per dollar contributed, up to 6% of eligible compensation. A dedicated financial services partner is available to provide investment education and retirement planning support.