Assistant Category Manager (Non-Perishable)

Hulsing Enterprises • Asheville, NC

16h

About The Position

Assistant Category Manager (Generalist) Be the Behind-the-Scenes Hero Driving Natural & Organic Growth at Earth Fare! Are you passionate about clean, sustainable food and love turning data into decisions that make healthier choices more accessible? Earth Fare, the trusted leader in natural and organic grocery retail, is seeking a sharp, energetic Assistant Category Manager (Generalist) to support our Category Management team. In this fast-paced, hands-on role, you'll help manage promotions, crunch numbers, strengthen vendor partnerships, and keep our shelves stocked with the best wellness and natural products—contributing directly to sales growth, profitability, and our mission of nourishing families and the planet. If you thrive in a collaborative environment, excel at multitasking, and have 2-4 years of experience in grocery merchandising, category support, or CPG (especially in Wellness or Beer & Wine), this is your opportunity to make a real impact at a values-driven company. What You'll Do Own the promotional lifecycle from planning and setup in our systems (like ECRS) to execution, tracking, and analyzing results—delivering measurable sales lifts and strong ROI. Handle vendor cost changes: review submissions, update pricing, model margin impacts in Excel, and ensure smooth, timely rollouts to stay competitive. Build and nurture relationships with brokers, vendors, and distributors—coordinating programs, resolving issues, and supporting onboarding, with special focus on high-growth categories like Wellness and Beer & Wine. Provide analytical and operational support: run reports, dive into trends (think natural/organic innovations and consumer insights), forecast demand, optimize inventory to reduce waste, and assist with assortment planning and category reviews. Collaborate across teams (procurement, marketing, store ops) to align on strategies, prepare presentations, ensure compliance with our strict ingredient and sustainability standards, and help bring exciting new products to life. Jump on ad hoc requests, market research, and administrative tasks to keep category operations running efficiently in our dynamic multi-unit environment. What We're Looking For Education : Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Supply Chain, or a related field preferred. Experience : 2-4 years in merchandising, category support, or related roles in natural/organic grocery or CPG—hands-on with promotions, data analysis, and vendor coordination. Experience in Wellness or Beer & Wine is a big plus. Equivalent combinations of education and experience considered. Skills : Advanced Excel mastery (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, data modeling), strong Microsoft Suite proficiency; familiarity with retail systems like ECRS or similar; excellent communication for vendor and internal stakeholder interactions; solid understanding of retail merchandising, cost management, and promotional processes. Personal Attributes : Detail-oriented yet adaptable; proactive problem-solver who thrives under pressure and pivots quickly; team player with outstanding organization and prioritization skills. Passion & Values : Genuine enthusiasm for natural/organic products, sustainability, and health-focused living—fully aligned with Earth Fare's commitment to clean ingredients and positive impact. Why Join Earth Fare? Work for a purpose-driven company that's all about healthier communities and a sustainable future. Competitive compensation Opportunities for growth into Category Manager or other leadership roles. Collaborative, supportive culture where your ideas matter and teamwork drives success. Be part of a team that values work-life balance, professional development, and making a difference every day. Ready to Help Shape the Future of Natural Grocery? If this sounds like your next challenge, we'd love to hear from you! Apply today and bring your energy, analytics skills, and passion for natural foods to Earth Fare. Earth Fare is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. Note: This position is exempt, reports to the Director of Category Management, and may involve occasional travel (10-20%) to stores or vendors.

Requirements

• 2-4 years in merchandising, category support, or related roles in natural/organic grocery or CPG—hands-on with promotions, data analysis, and vendor coordination.
• Advanced Excel mastery (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, data modeling), strong Microsoft Suite proficiency
• Familiarity with retail systems like ECRS or similar
• Excellent communication for vendor and internal stakeholder interactions
• Solid understanding of retail merchandising, cost management, and promotional processes
• Detail-oriented yet adaptable
• Proactive problem-solver who thrives under pressure and pivots quickly
• Team player with outstanding organization and prioritization skills
• Genuine enthusiasm for natural/organic products, sustainability, and health-focused living—fully aligned with Earth Fare's commitment to clean ingredients and positive impact.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in Wellness or Beer & Wine is a big plus.
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Supply Chain, or a related field preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own the promotional lifecycle from planning and setup in our systems (like ECRS) to execution, tracking, and analyzing results—delivering measurable sales lifts and strong ROI.
• Handle vendor cost changes: review submissions, update pricing, model margin impacts in Excel, and ensure smooth, timely rollouts to stay competitive.
• Build and nurture relationships with brokers, vendors, and distributors—coordinating programs, resolving issues, and supporting onboarding, with special focus on high-growth categories like Wellness and Beer & Wine.
• Provide analytical and operational support: run reports, dive into trends (think natural/organic innovations and consumer insights), forecast demand, optimize inventory to reduce waste, and assist with assortment planning and category reviews.
• Collaborate across teams (procurement, marketing, store ops) to align on strategies, prepare presentations, ensure compliance with our strict ingredient and sustainability standards, and help bring exciting new products to life.
• Jump on ad hoc requests, market research, and administrative tasks to keep category operations running efficiently in our dynamic multi-unit environment.

Benefits

• Work for a purpose-driven company that's all about healthier communities and a sustainable future.
• Competitive compensation
• Opportunities for growth into Category Manager or other leadership roles.
• Collaborative, supportive culture where your ideas matter and teamwork drives success.
• Be part of a team that values work-life balance, professional development, and making a difference every day.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level