Specialty Foods Category Manager

Mothers Market•Newport Beach, CA

8h•Onsite

About The Position

Mother’s Market & Kitchen is seeking a strategic, food- and beverage-savvy leader to drive growth and innovation in our Specialty Foods, Cheese, Beer, and Wine categories. The Specialty Foods Category Manager owns category strategy, financial performance, vendor partnerships, and promotional planning, ensuring exceptional customer experience while upholding our high-quality, sustainably minded brand values. This is an opportunity to blend commercial insight, culinary knowledge, and operational collaboration to deliver a differentiated assortment that delights customers and drives profitability.

Requirements

2+ years of experience in category management, buying, or merchandising (grocery, specialty foods, or beverage preferred).
Experience managing financial performance and negotiating vendor contracts.
Proficiency in data analysis, forecasting, and category management systems.
Strong communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
Ability to travel as required.

Nice To Haves

Expertise in specialty cheese, beer, and/or wine categories.
Experience in natural, organic, or specialty retail environments.
Cross-functional leadership experience in merchandising or operations.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute category strategies that align with corporate financial goals and brand positioning.
Define assortment architecture, balancing core, seasonal, innovative, and local offerings.
Analyze sales performance, market trends, and customer insights to optimize assortment and space allocation.
Lead category reviews, new item launches, and product transitions.
Manage category-level P&L including sales, gross margin, shrink, and inventory productivity.
Establish pricing strategies aligned with competitive benchmarks and margin objectives.
Forecast demand, manage inventory levels, and implement strategies to reduce waste while maintaining service levels.
Build strong relationships with vendors and suppliers, including negotiations on pricing, terms, and promotional funding.
Evaluate vendor performance and enforce adherence to company standards, sustainability goals, and compliance requirements.
Identify new suppliers and products to expand the assortment and drive category growth.
Develop promotional calendars in partnership with Marketing and Operations teams.
Ensure flawless execution of seasonal programs, in-store events, and product launches.
Measure promotional performance and adjust strategies based on results and insights.
Partner with Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing, Finance, and Quality Assurance to ensure seamless execution.
Support store teams with planograms, merchandising standards, and category-specific guidance.
Contribute to process improvements and best practices across category management.
Maintain full compliance with federal, state, and local regulations governing alcohol sales and distribution.
Uphold food safety, ingredient integrity, labeling, and documentation standards.
Champion responsible alcohol retailing and adherence to company policies.