Category Manager - Deli

Coastal Pacific Food Distributors•Stockton, CA

12d•$78,000 - $98,000•Onsite

About The Position

Coastal Pacific Food Distributors is seeking a highly organized and detail‑oriented Category Manager for Deli Operations. This position is responsible for leading strategic sourcing and category management for Deli and Prepared Foods. The role supports 16 commissaries located in Korea, Guam, Japan, and Okinawa. The Category Manager is responsible for market research, vendor management, product selection, and budgeting. This role implements pricing, promotion, and assortment strategies based on detailed analysis of past performance, industry best practices, and consumer trends. The Category Manager develops and implements marketing and training for all new programs and initiatives. This position demands a blend of strategic planning, data analysis, supplier negotiation, and operational coordination. Candidates should have at least 5 years of retail/commercial experience, strong analytical skills, and proven success in driving performance and profitability.

Requirements

Minimum of 5 years of relevant retail or commercial experience in category management, merchandising or buying.
Proven track record in driving sales growth, improving margins, supplier negotiations & relationship management.
Possesses basic retail math skills.
Previous store operations experience or similar experience where a strong understanding of operations and merchandising approaches has been achieved.
Strong focus on sales and understands how merchandising drives sales.
Must have knowledge and training in Food Safety & Sanitation, such as Serv-safe Certification and/or be able to obtain the Certified status, and HACCP Training/Certification.
Analytical expertise.
Strategic thinking.
Negotiation skills.
Leadership skills.
Adaptability.
Commercial acumen with operational knowledge.
Self-directed.
Strong decision-making skills.
Ability to work independently as well as a cross-functional team member.
Ability to perform detailed work and detect discrepancies on documents.
Effective oral and written communication skills.
Analytical skills.
Organizational skills.
Ability to multi-task and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Basic skills in MS Word and Outlook.
Advanced skills in Excel.
Detail-oriented & excellent follow-up required.
Must always maintain the highest level of customer service.
Must be able to travel domestically & internationally.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s Degree is preferred; experience that is equivalent and directly related may be substituted.

Responsibilities

Determines the appropriate product assortment based on the category strategies.
Seeks and selects new products/suppliers and negotiates costs. Authorizes new items entering the market and discontinues lines based on potential contribution to the category and department.
Creates and implements a promotional calendar by major category, which supports division merchandising strategy. Tracks results at end of each promotion in terms of sales, profit and share.
Develops merchandising and promotion plans.
Maintains and reviews product pricing and completes competitive price checks to ensure products are priced competitively.
Manages shrink controls at a category level to optimize sales vs. waste.
Creates yearly business plan and budgets by category based on department/company initiatives, consumer and market trends.
Reviews category and department financials (i.e. profit & loss statements) monthly and takes actions to ensure budgets are achieved; meets sales and margin budget expectations.
Ensures store inventory levels are within company standards and reports inventory discrepancies.
Conducts in-depth post-promotional analysis at the item and category level.
Communicates all pertinent information, including merchandising plans, promotion plans, price changes, projections, etc., to the stores, operations team, vendors, support offices and department.
Helps in the training and development of store-level Department Managers and Operations Coordinator.
Negotiates with vendors to ensure competitive pricing and collaborates with vendors on product assortment, promotion, services, and promotional calendars. Acts as primary contact with vendors in assigned categories.
Works closely with the procurement function. Communicates category and promotional plans to ensure desired service levels and optimum inventory position achieved.
Works in conjunction with warehouse and other departments across the company to facilitate implementation of programs.
Visits stores as necessary to observe results of merchandising programs.
Creates and maintains HACCP.