Hybrid Dairy Category Strategist: Profit & Growth

Unfi Company; Stillwater (MN); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

UNFI in Edina, MN is seeking a Dairy Category Manager to develop category strategies, pricing, promotions, and assortments while driving sales and profitability. The role requires strong merchandising and analytical skills and collaboration with procurement and store operations.

The position entails cross-functional coordination, vendor negotiations, and regular performance reviews to optimize inventory and profitability in a hybrid work setting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred; equivalent relevant work experience in food retail considered.
• Strong merchandising and financial management knowledge.
• Analytical and strategic thinking with project management skills.

Responsibilities

• Develops annual category business plans, including sales and gross profit projections based on performance and market trends.
• Creates pricing strategies, promotional calendars, and product assortments by category and zone.
• Manages vendor relationships: negotiations, new item authorizations, line discontinuations, and funding allocation.
• Designs schematics and adjacencies to strengthen category roles and departmental performance.
• Plans and coordinates ads, displays, and merchandising programs across stores.
• Conducts post-promotional and ongoing performance analysis with scorecards.
• collaborates cross-functionally with procurement, merchandising, store operations, and corporate teams to implement initiatives and meet inventory and service targets.
• Serves as primary point of contact for vendors within assigned categories and attends planning meetings.

Skills

Category management

Merchandising

Financial analysis

Negotiation

Data analysis

Supply chain

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

UNFI in Edina, MN is seeking a Dairy Category Manager to develop category strategies, pricing, promotions, and assortments while driving sales and profitability. The role requires strong merchandising and analytical skills and collaboration with procurement and store operations.

The position entails cross-functional coordination, vendor negotiations, and regular performance reviews to optimize inventory and profitability in a hybrid work setting.