Director of Category Management, Produce
About The Position
At Ferraro Foods, we are more than a distributor. We help customers across the food industry succeed by delivering quality ingredients and building strong partnerships. We are seeking an experienced Director of Produce to lead the strategy, procurement, merchandising, and growth of our fresh produce category. This role will be responsible for shaping our produce program across fruits, vegetables, organic, and seasonal offerings while ensuring quality, consistency, profitability, and customer satisfaction. The Director of Produce will partner closely with Procurement, Sales, Operations, Merchandising, and supplier partners to drive category performance, strengthen supplier relationships, identify market opportunities, and position Ferraro Foods as a leader in fresh produce distribution.
Requirements
- 10+ years of experience in procurement, merchandising, or category management with a focus on fresh produce
- Experience within foodservice distribution strongly preferred
- Deep knowledge of produce sourcing, seasonality, market trends, and supplier networks
- Strong negotiation skills and demonstrated success managing supplier relationships
- Experience developing merchandising, pricing, and promotional strategies that drive category growth
- Strong analytical, communication, and leadership skills
- Experience presenting business results and recommendations to executive leadership
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
- Ability to travel approximately 10–20% as needed
Nice To Haves
- Experience with Tableau or similar business intelligence and reporting tools preferred
Responsibilities
- Lead the overall strategy and direction of the produce category across the organization
- Develop and manage category plans that balance quality, profitability, customer demand, and market trends
- Build and maintain strong relationships with produce growers, suppliers, and distributors
- Negotiate contracts, pricing programs, and supplier agreements to support company objectives
- Drive new product development and category innovation based on customer demand and industry trends
- Collaborate with Sales, Merchandising, and Marketing teams to develop programs that increase produce sales and customer penetration
- Develop pricing strategies that maintain competitive positioning while protecting margin objectives
- Monitor category performance and analyze sales, margin, and market data to identify growth opportunities
- Conduct market research on industry trends, consumer preferences, seasonality, and competitive activity
- Partner with Operations to ensure inventory availability, product quality, traceability, and efficient supply chain execution
- Present category strategies, market insights, and performance results to executive leadership
- Support sales teams through category expertise, product education, and participation in customer and regional sales meetings
- Lead supplier onboarding, sourcing initiatives, and continuous improvement efforts across the produce category
Benefits
- Medical
- Dental
- Vision
- 401(k) with company contribution
- Paid Time Off
- Paid Holidays
- additional voluntary benefits
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
