Category Manager

Category Manager

Location: Los Angeles, CA 90058 (On-Site)

A fast-growing food service distribution company is seeking a Category Manager to help drive the expansion of several high-impact product categories across its California distribution network. This is a newly created role due to growth and offers the opportunity to build, optimize, and scale product categories while partnering closely with executive leadership.

The ideal candidate brings deep experience in category management, merchandising, or procurement within food service distribution and thrives in a hands‑on environment where strategic sourcing, vendor negotiations, and category growth are key priorities.

• Own the strategy, profitability, and growth of assigned product categories
• Develop sourcing strategies and build strong vendor partnerships
• Lead pricing negotiations, rebate programs, and supplier agreements
• Evaluate supplier performance and hold vendors accountable to service, quality, and pricing standards
• Analyze category performance, margins, inventory turns, and market trends
• Conduct SKU rationalization and assortment optimization initiatives
• Identify growth opportunities through new products, market trends, and customer demand
• Partner closely with sales, operations, and warehouse teams to drive category success
• Create and deliver product presentations, business reviews, and category recommendations to leadership

Required Qualifications

• 8+ years of category management, purchasing, merchandising, or procurement experience within food service distribution
• Strong expertise in at least one major category such as frozen, dry grocery, dairy, refrigerated, deli, protein, or specialty food products
• Advanced Excel skills including Pivot Tables and VLOOKUPs
• Proven track record of vendor negotiations, category growth, and strategic sourcing
• Strong analytical, presentation, and communication skills
• Competitive, results‑driven mindset with the ability to influence vendors and stakeholders

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Power BI
• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Supply Chain, or related field
• Existing supplier relationships and strong market knowledge
• Experience growing categories within independent or regional distributors

This opportunity is especially attractive for candidates who have:

• Built and expanded categories from the ground up
• Strong supplier networks and product expertise
• Merchandising experience rather than pure replenishment experience
• A history of increasing profitability through pricing, negotiations, and assortment strategy
• Experience working within entrepreneurial, privately held, or regional distribution environments

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco/Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to the individual’s skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, office location and other geographic considerations, as well as other business and organizational needs. With that said, as required by local law in geographies that require salary range disclosure, Vaco/Highspring notes the salary range for the role is noted in this job posting.

The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, and can participate in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company’s 401(k) retirement plan.