The Senior Category Manager establishes product assortment plan for our fresh and food service offerings. He/ She is responsible for enhancing the product portfolio to increase sales and profits. The Category Manager executes strategies that leverage company size, buying power and scope of operations to achieve lowest cost of goods as well as the best assortment and proprietary/exclusive products.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
- Manages categories listed above to establish optimal product assortment for Rocket stores.
- Works with Company management, DSD vendor partners, and other vendors to develop category plans and products which support the company vision, and meet financial budget, on a quarterly, monthly, and weekly basis.
- Develops seasonal schematics working with vendors and partners for all stores in the company
- Negotiates annual contracts with key vendors/suppliers
- Identify consumer opportunities through external/internal trends, customer feedback, and competitive insights/shops
- Manages product development process for his/her categories using defined set of tools and coordinating available resources
- Performs on-going verification of plans against budgeted sales and gross profit and develops plans to address any shortfalls.
- Develops pricing strategy based upon competitive marketplace environment and store profitability
- Develops and communicates information to all levels of the organization via various meetings including company weekly staff meetings and monthly planning meetings.
- Works with Merchandising department on local advertising/promotions and POP
- Frequent visits with partners on product development, quality of products, current and future assortment and cost. Conduct partner financial review on a quarterly basis.
- Ensures that all appropriate product information is completed and set up on the merchandising system, then distributed to field operations.
- Manages, evaluates and provides feedback/recommendations to Operations/Merchandising on tests of new products and equipment.
- Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned by management.