Category Product Manager

The Category Product Manager- Food Service, Prepared Foods, and Convenience is responsible for driving sales and profit through category planning and execution of strategic product marketing plans, as well as gathering and prioritizing product and customer requirements, defining the Category VP’s vision and working closely with sales, procurement, and vendor partners to ensure customer satisfaction and corporate fiscal goals are met.

Responsibilities:

• •       Implementation of the shared category strategic vision

• •       Share in the responsibility of meeting budget requirements

• •        Manage key vendor relationships including but not limited to responding to customer request, vendor request, contract negotiations, pricing discrepancies, and troubleshooting any issues

• •        Plan and implement long-term development strategies for product categories and programs

• •        Research competitors and suggest appropriate pricing and promotional activities

• •        Research and analyze data, market insights, and understand customer/consumer needs

• •        Responsible for SKU count and SKU profitability

• •        Introduces new products and programs to drive sales within the category

• •        Design exit strategies for unsuccessful products

• •        Collaborate with the Marketing and Sales Team to execute strategies

Desired Requirements:

• •       Bachelor’s degree in Sales, Marketing, Business, or other related field preferred

• •       Three or more years’ previous experience in brand, product, or category management; Food Service, Prepared Foods, and Convenience Business Channel.

• •       In depth knowledge of marketing and sales operations and processes

• •       Hands on experience with analyzing big data and making forecast

• •       Analytical mind with strategic ability

• •       Ability to inject creativity, fresh thinking, and new perspectives and to generate new and imaginative ideas

• •       Excellent communication, presentation and interpersonal skills

• •       Strong verbal and written abilities

• •       Strong negotiation skills

• •       Ability to work effectively under pressure Ability to interact with multiple groups Multi-task oriented

• •       Excellent proficiency in Microsoft Office, Web Focus and Retalix-IDS System

About Lipari Foods 

Headquartered in Warren, Michigan, Lipari Foods is a leading independent distributor built around global and specialty foods. With a customer-first mindset, they serve customers through 67 depots across 32 states and growing. Lipari brings the world’s most craveable flavors to shelf with an end-to-end approach that combines exclusive and owned brands, retail services, innovative tools, and dependable delivery across 10 categories including deli, bakery, frozen/dairy, specialty grocery, international specialty, meat/seafood, packaging, confections, foodservice/prepared foods, and convenience.