Category Manager, Meat

Wakefern Food Corp. is the largest retailer‑owned cooperative in the United States and supports its co‑operative members' retail operations, trading under the Shop Rite®, Price Rite®, The Fresh Grocer®, Dearborn Markets®, and Gourmet Garage® banners.

Employing an innovative approach to wholesale business services, Wakefern focuses on helping the independent retailer compete in a big business world. Providing the tools entrepreneurs need to stay a step ahead of the competition, Wakefern’s co‑operative members benefit from the company’s extensive portfolio of services, including innovative technology, private label development, and best‑in‑class procurement practices.

The Category Manager supports the development and execution of category strategies that drive sales growth, profitability, and customer value for the cooperative. This role collaborates cross‑functionally with buying, marketing, merchandising, and analytics partners to deliver customer‑focused insights, optimize assortments, and support both short‑and long‑term category plans across a broad portfolio of products. The position is responsible for analyzing national and regional customer data, developing data‑driven recommendations, and supporting category initiatives related to assortment, pricing, promotions, forecasting, and ad planning.

Success in this role requires strong analytical capability, working knowledge of meat commodities and retail operations, and the ability to translate insights into actionable business strategies that support the cooperative.

The core functions of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Effectively navigates the organization and collaborates cross‑functionally to achieve category objectives
• Provides Wakefern Members with customer‑focused insights and guidance related to product performance and category strategy
• Develops and executes short and long‑term category plans and strategies
• Provides direction and guidance to analyst resources as needed to support category initiatives
• Leads category management projects to optimize assortments, merchandising, and overall category performance
• Manages a broad portfolio of products, developing tailored strategies to drive results across categories
• Builds and maintains strong working relationships with buying, marketing, and merchandising partners
• Actively drives sales growth and maximizes profitability for the cooperative
• Analyzes national and regional customer data to develop recommendations that support business growth
• Champion continuous improvement by identifying process efficiencies, leveraging technology and AI‑enabled insights, and adapting to evolving market trends
• Demonstrates proficiency in utilizing AI and digital technologies to analyze complex data, generate actionable insights, automate routine analytical tasks, and support fact‑based category strategies that improve operational efficiency and business results.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business or related field, or currently enrolled with a minimum of 60 college credits completed
• Working knowledge of procurement and product management across meat commodities, including beef, poultry, pork, lamb, veal, smoked, and frozen meats
• Strong analytical skills with a high aptitude for detail‑and data‑driven work; advanced computer proficiency required
• Prior inventory management and/or warehouse distribution experience strongly preferred
• 1–3 years of supermarket or related retail experience
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated leadership capability and strong customer service orientation
• Proven ability to analyze key data and draw accurate conclusions to support category and business decisions
• Solid understanding of retail insights and performance drivers
• Experience leading or supporting category strategies, including assortment/ranging, pricing, and promotional planning across customer channels
• Meat cutting experience preferred
• Experience with ad planning, forecasting, and promotional execution

• Ability to sit/stand in front of a computer for long periods of time
• Ability to participate in retail…