Seafood Category Manager

Palmer Food Service•Rochester, NY

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Seafood Category Manager partners with the sales force to grow business, identify opportunities, and ensure the company has the correct product mix at the most competitive pricing to garner market share. This role involves developing broker/vendor relations to ensure the best products, pricing, and quality are available to the sales force. The Category Manager will monitor and analyze commodity markets, providing weekly updates and insights to the purchasing and sales teams. They will leverage market and commodity data to develop strategic buying and pricing plans, optimizing inventory positions and maximizing margin opportunities. This role also includes creating and managing purchase orders, verifying invoice pricing, and resolving discrepancies. The Category Manager will review inventory status reports to maintain inventory levels and turns according to budget goals, ensure service levels are maintained, and monitor and act on slow-moving inventory. They will work with management to eliminate slow-moving SKUs and drive business to preferred partners. The role requires working with the internal computer system to monitor goals and margins, verifying order information, and reviewing margin reports. The Category Manager will select items for weekly fliers and seek promotional allowances from vendors. They will attend team and sales meetings, update project plans, and schedule ride-alongs with the Sales Team. Staying informed on markets and supply chains relevant to their categories is crucial, as is updating the sales team and publications. Attendance at industry trade shows may be required, potentially involving overnight travel.

Requirements

Strong expertise and in-depth knowledge of seafood markets and commodities or 3+ years of food related purchasing experience.
Associates degree in business or related field, or equivalent field experience required.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Outlook, and Word.

Nice To Haves

Previous food distribution experience preferred.
Bachelor’s degree preferred.
Proven ability to manage multiple, time-sensitive projects and competing priorities simultaneously, work independently, and drive projects to completion with minimum guidance and high attention to detail.

Responsibilities

Partners with the sales force to grow business, identify opportunities, and ensure that the company has the correct product mix at the most competitive pricing to garner market share.
Develops broker/vendor relations to ensure the best products, pricing, and quality are available to the sales force.
Monitor and analyze commodity markets, providing weekly updates and insights to the purchasing and sales teams.
Leverage market and commodity data to develop strategic buying and pricing plans, optimizing inventory positions and maximizing margin opportunities.
Create and manage purchase orders using up-to-date market data, ensuring accuracy in pricing, freight costs, and delivery schedules. Work with the Accounting department to verify invoice pricing. Resolves any pricing discrepancies with the manufacturer or broker in a timely fashion.
Reviews inventory status reports to help maintain inventory levels and turns according to budget goals for assigned vendors.
Ensures service levels (stock levels with subs) maintained at budgeted levels.
Monitors and acts on slow moving and dead inventory by working with manufacturer reps/brokers and our sales team to solve issues.
Works with Purchasing and Vendor Relations Managers to eliminate slow moving SKU’s and to drive business to our preferred vendor and buying group partners.
Works with our internal computer system to monitor goals and margins.
Verifies order information, vendor/broker contact information, pricing, and item information for all assigned vendor lines.
Reviews margin reports and investigates sales below acceptable levels with Purchasing Manager and Sales Team to determine cause and correct any identified issues if possible.
Selects items from categories to participate in weekly fliers as well as seek promotional allowances from vendors to drive category sales and margins.
Attends and participates in team meetings, & sales meetings/events as required.
Reviews and updates Project & Plans worksheet with Purchasing Manager monthly.
Initiates and schedules ride alongs with the Sales Team on a regular basis.
Stays informed and up to date on markets/supply chain relevant to your categories/product line. Uses that information to update Palmer Sales Team and Weekly Market Information publication.
Attends Industry trade shows as necessary and with approval from purchasing manager which may require overnight travel.