Produce Category Manager — Value, Trends & Vendors

Trader Joe's Company; California; On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Trader Joe’s is seeking an experienced Category Manager - Produce to own the produce category, drive value in pricing and quality, and lead vendor negotiations from Monrovia, CA. The role requires a strong Produce background, excellent communication, and hands-on collaboration with Buyers and Product Developers.

The ideal candidate will have at least five years of exclusive Produce experience and a four-year degree, with a passion for Trader Joe’s value-driven approach and in-store engagement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent; strong preference for a Produce background.
• 5+ years of exclusive Produce experience required; strong negotiation skills welcome.

Responsibilities

• Deliver value to stores through quality and price optimization.
• Collaborate with Senior Category Manager and VP Merchandising on targets for sales, margin, and SKU counts.
• Stay informed on Produce trends and seasonality to offer WOW! selections.
• Manage vendors to ensure quality, capacity, and on-time fulfillment.
• Develop new products with Product Developers and expand broker-free vendor relationships.
• Actively travel to stores to observe customer responses and adjust tactics.

Skills

Negotiation

Vendor relations

Communication

Retail math

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor’s degree preferred

5+ years exclusive Produce experience

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Trader Joe’s is seeking an experienced Category Manager - Produce to own the produce category, drive value in pricing and quality, and lead vendor negotiations from Monrovia, CA. The role requires a strong Produce background, excellent communication, and hands-on collaboration with Buyers and Product Developers.

The ideal candidate will have at least five years of exclusive Produce experience and a four-year degree, with a passion for Trader Joe’s value-driven approach and in-store engagement.