Category Manager na Prime Source Foods (Corp)

Description

Navis Food Partners, a leading foodservice company with annual revenues of $600 million, is currently seeking a highly qualified Category Manager for a dynamic, cross-functional role supporting our operations in the New England area. This position will be based in our West Haven, CT location.  

The Category Manager is responsible for the strategic direction, performance, and profitability of the Navis Food Partners non-Center of Plate (COP) product categories. This role manages the development of category strategies, vendor partnerships, pricing structures, and inventory management practices to ensure competitive positioning in the marketplace while meeting company financial objectives. The position collaborates across procurement, sales, marketing, operations, and finance to align category initiatives with overall business strategy. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute the category strategy for non-COP products, balancing growth, profitability, and customer value.
• Manage vendor negotiations, contract management, and supplier relationship development to secure optimal terms, quality, and service levels.
• Monitor industry trends, commodity markets, and customer demand to inform sourcing, pricing, and promotional strategies.
• Propose category pricing strategies that support both competitive positioning and company margin objectives.
• Partner with sales and marketing teams to develop programs that drive category penetration and customer loyalty.
• Manage inventory and supply chain planning for non-COP items, ensuring product availability, quality, and freshness while minimizing waste and obsolescence.
• Analyze category performance metrics, including sales, gross margin, inventory turns, and supplier performance, and take corrective actions as needed.
• Oversee compliance with food safety, quality assurance, and regulatory standards across all category activities.
• Collaborate with finance and senior leadership to build annual budgets, forecasts, and long-term plans for category performance.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, or related field required; MBA preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in category management, procurement, or merchandising.
• Proficiency with category management tools, ERP systems, and financial analysis software.
• Strong knowledge of USDA regulations, food safety, and quality assurance standards.
• Must be able to work full-time out of the City Line Distributors location in West Haven, CT.

 Core Competencies:

• Category Strategy & Business Acumen: Develops and executes category strategies that align with company financial goals, customer needs, and market opportunities. Understands P&L impacts, gross margin management, and category contribution to overall profitability.
• Analytical Thinking & Market Insight: Uses data and analytics to identify growth opportunities, track performance, and adjust strategies. Stays current on industry trends, customer preferences, and competitive activity in the foodservice sector.
• Vendor & Supplier Management: Negotiates pricing, programs, and rebates to optimize cost of goods and strengthen supplier partnerships. Builds supplier scorecards and manages vendor accountability for service, quality, and compliance.
• Merchandising & Assortment Optimization: Designs and manages the category assortment to balance breadth, depth, and profitability. Evaluates SKU performance to identify underperformers, gaps, and opportunities for innovation.
• Collaboration & Cross-Functional Leadership: Works with sales teams to develop promotions, pricing strategies, and customer programs. Partners with marketing, operations, and finance to ensure category initiatives are successfully executed.
• Negotiation & Influence: Leverages strong communication and influencing skills to achieve favorable terms with vendors and alignment with internal stakeholders. Navigates complex negotiations involving cost, freight, rebates, and service levels.
• Customer & Market Orientation: Keeps the end customer at the forefront when making category decisions. Translates customer insights into product, pricing, and merchandising strategies.
• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: Brings new product ideas, supplier programs, and process improvements that drive growth and efficiency. Continuously seeks ways to reduce costs, improve service levels, and increase category margins.