Are you a strategic thinker with a passion for the food industry and a proven track record in category management? Crossamerica Partners is seeking a dynamic and experienced Food Category Manager to optimize our food category within our extensive network of convenience stores. This pivotal role is responsible for driving profitability, enhancing sales growth, and ensuring exceptional customer satisfaction across our locations.
As the Food Category Manager at Crossamerica Partners, you will be instrumental in developing and executing category strategies that align seamlessly with our overarching business objectives. Your expertise will be crucial in identifying emerging food trends and understanding evolving consumer preferences, allowing us to continuously refine and enhance our product offerings. You will be tasked with curating and maintaining an optimal product mix that not only maximizes sales and profitability but also delights our diverse customer base. Managing the entire product lifecycle, from new product introductions to strategic promotions and necessary discontinuations, will be a key aspect of your responsibilities at Crossamerica Partners.
A significant part of your role will involve supplier relationship management. You will identify, evaluate, and negotiate with suppliers to secure the most competitive pricing and favorable terms, ensuring that Crossamerica Partners maintains a cost-effective and high-quality supply chain. Building and nurturing strong relationships with key suppliers is essential to guarantee consistent product availability and uphold stringent quality standards. Furthermore, you will be responsible for diligently monitoring supplier performance and ensuring full compliance with contractual agreements, safeguarding Crossamerica Partners’ interests and operational efficiency.
Data-driven decision-making is at the heart of this role. You will analyze sales data, stay abreast of market trends, and actively gather customer feedback to continuously optimize category performance. Monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs) such as sales figures, profit margins, inventory turnover, and market share will be crucial for assessing category health and identifying areas for improvement. Developing effective pricing strategies and promotional plans to boost revenue and profitability will also fall under your purview. Collaboration is key at Crossamerica Partners, and you will work closely with merchandising teams to ensure impactful in-store product placement and visually appealing displays. You will also partner with marketing teams to develop and implement promotional campaigns that amplify category visibility and drive sales, aligning with broader advertising and digital marketing initiatives.
To ensure seamless execution of category plans, you will collaborate closely with store operations teams. Effective inventory management is vital, and you will work in tandem with supply chain teams to minimize waste and prevent stockouts, ensuring our stores are always well-stocked with the products our customers love. Finally, maintaining the highest standards of food safety is paramount. You will be responsible for ensuring full compliance with all relevant food safety regulations and quality standards across the food category at Crossamerica Partners.
Skills
To excel in this role, you should possess:
- Proficiency in interpreting and communicating complex business and financial documents.
- Exceptional problem-solving skills to identify and resolve category-related challenges effectively.
- Strong analytical abilities to dissect detailed data and information from reports and derive meaningful insights.
- Expertise in root-cause analysis and developing actionable operational plans to address emerging issues.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills to effectively convey information to various stakeholders, from leadership to vendors.
- Proven ability to multitask efficiently and manage responsibilities effectively in a fast-paced environment.
Education and Experience
- A Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, or a related field is highly preferred.
- 3-5 years of demonstrable experience in category management, merchandising, or buying, ideally within the convenience store or retail food industry.
- In-depth knowledge of current food industry trends, consumer behavior patterns, and competitive market dynamics.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills to interact effectively with all levels of personnel and management.
- Outstanding organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail.
- Strong problem-solving abilities to handle practical challenges and adapt to varying situations.
- Self-motivation and the ability to work independently with minimal supervision are essential.
- Proficiency in analyzing business needs and translating them into relevant category and industry data.
- Experience in managing teams of 3-5 members is advantageous.
- Advanced user skills in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint).
Interested in shaping the future of the food category at Crossamerica Partners? We invite you to apply and contribute your expertise to our dynamic team! Send your resume through our corporate link today.
