Category Manager - Private Label Packaged Food

Buc-ee's, Ltd.•Pearland, TX

1d•$130,000 - $500,000•Onsite

About The Position

Buc-ee’s is hiring a Category Manager, Private Label Packaged Food, to own and grow Buc-ee’s private label packaged food categories. This role sits at the intersection of category strategy, analytics, pricing, merchandising, supplier relationships, and commercialization for private label packaged food categories. You will not just analyze performance. You will own category outcomes and drive decisions that materially impact revenue, margin, product quality, customer experience, and brand standards.

Requirements

Advanced Excel skills (non-negotiable)
Strong experience working with large retail or operational datasets
Experience building pricing, assortment, or category strategy
Data visualization experience (Tableau, MicroStrategy, or similar)
Strong written and verbal communication
Ability to manage complex projects and multiple priorities
BA/BS + 2–4 years relevant experience or Master’s degree + 1–2 years relevant experience

Nice To Haves

Relevant experience in packaged food categories, private label, and product development is strongly preferred.
Category experience is valuable, but high capability operators who learn quickly can succeed here.
Experience in packaged food categories, private label, product development, or related consumable product categories
Strong understanding of private label food product development, including commercialization, packaging, supplier engagement, product lifecycle management, and project execution.
Strong judgment in assessing product quality, sensory attributes, customer appeal, value, packaging, brand fit, and category relevance.
Ability to translate customer insights, category performance, sales trends, competitive analysis, supplier capabilities, and financial objectives into actionable private label priorities.
Practical understanding of food safety, quality standards, product specifications, packaging and labeling requirements, demand planning, and compliant commercialization.

Responsibilities

Serve as the product owner and subject matter expert for assigned private label packaged food categories, with accountability for product lifecycle management, product quality, brand standards, and ongoing performance.
Creating and developing a long-term plan and ongoing strategy for private label packaged food categories
Own category performance: sales, margin, pricing, assortment, product development, brand standards, and execution
Build long-term private label category strategy and annual operating plans
Lead pricing strategy, competitive positioning, assortment planning, and private label portfolio optimization
Identify and close category opportunity gaps across assortment, pricing, product development, and portfolio performance
Facilitate product evaluation and approval processes, including competitive and category reviews, supplier submissions, taste testing, focus group sessions, packaging reviews, and product approvals.
Lead SKU rationalization and promotion strategy
Develop and manage supplier relationships and negotiations that support private label product development, product specifications, packaging requirements, and commercialization expectations
Hold suppliers accountable to product specifications, quality standards, cost expectations, packaging requirements, timeline commitments, supply expectations, and execution standards
Lead cross-functional initiatives with merchandising, operations, IT, Quality Assurance, Legal, Graphic Design, suppliers, and distributors to support private label product launch readiness, in-store execution, and post-launch performance
Project management which will include developing project plans, processes, timelines, and launch milestones for private label packaged food initiatives
Translate data into clear operational decisions
Conduct field visits to improve store-level execution
Build executive-level reporting and decision support