Associate Category Manager, F&B

Southwest Convenience Stores LLC•Farmers Branch, TX

11h

About The Position

The Associate Category Manager – Food & Beverage assist the Lead Category Manager in the strategic development and execution of category plans to drive sales, margin, and customer engagement across all subcategories of Food and Beverage as well as edible and non-edible grocery. This role is responsible for category ownership across Quick Service Restaurant (50%), Proprietary Food (25%), and Dispensed Beverages (25%), collaborating cross‑functionally with vendors, internal customers, operations, marketing, and supply chain to optimize assortment, pricing, promotions, and in‑store execution.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or related field
2+ years of experience in merchandising, category management, or retail analytics (food & beverage preferred)
Strong analytical skills with proficiency in Excel and data visualization tools
Excellent communication and negotiation skills
Ability to manage multiple projects and prioritize in a fast-paced environment
Passion for food trends and customer experience

Nice To Haves

Experience with convenience retail, grocery, or foodservice
Familiarity with planogram software and POS analytics
Understanding of supply chain and inventory management principles
Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred; not required.

Responsibilities

Contribute to the development and execution of category strategies that align with company objectives, consumer behavior, and market dynamics.
Analyze internal sales data, external market trends, and competitive benchmarks to identify assortment gaps, pricing opportunities, and innovation potential.
Support end-to-end product lifecycle management, including item introductions, seasonal transitions, and discontinuations, ensuring alignment with merchandising and operational timelines.
Develop, test, and enhance QSR concepts to optimize relevance, usability, and performance across defined use cases.
Partner with suppliers to negotiate cost structures, rebate programs, and promotional funding that enhance category profitability.
Coordinate product sampling, quality testing, and performance reviews to ensure alignment with brand standards and customer expectations.
Foster collaborative relationships with vendor partners to drive innovation, streamline execution, and resolve supply chain challenges.
Assist in the development and execution of promotional calendars, pricing strategies, and value propositions that drive traffic and margin.
Monitor promotional performance and provide actionable insights to optimize future campaigns and improve ROI.
Prepare and maintain item-level forecasts to support inventory planning and ensure optimal in-stock levels across all locations.
Manage new item setup requirements, coordinating with internal teams and external partners to ensure timely and accurate execution.
Collaborate with operations and supply chain teams to ensure product availability, execution consistency, and compliance with merchandising standards.
Support planogram development and visual merchandising initiatives to enhance customer experience and category performance.
Troubleshoot store-level issues related to product assortment, quality, or supply, and implement corrective actions as needed.
Develop and deliver training materials and in-person sessions to support store teams and ensure successful program execution.
Prepare weekly and monthly performance dashboards highlighting key metrics such as sales, margin, inventory turns, and promotional lift.
Conduct post-event analysis to evaluate the impact of pricing and promotional strategies, and present findings to senior leadership.
Translate data into actionable recommendations that inform strategic decisions and continuous improvement efforts.