Category Manager - Beef and Pork

If you’re someone who has a genuine desire to help people live better and healthier lives, join us as we work to be a trusted resource in our communities, offering real people, real food at real affordable prices across the Midwest. If you are ready to immerse yourself in an environment, that helps shoppers naturally, intuitively, and enjoyably find real, honest, affordable goodness to meet them wherever they are on their wellness journey, we’d like to hear from you.

Join us to begin YOUR journey and be a part of the Fresh Thyme Market Team!

Fresh Thyme Rewards Weekly pay Scheduling flexibility

Paid parental leave

Team member discount

Career growth opportunities

Are passionate about the retail grocery market and organic products? Are you a leader? Are you ready to join one of the fastest growing companies in the retail grocery market? If so, Fresh Thyme Farmers Market is the place for you! Our unique business model, fast paced and growing environment, promote from within culture, and excellent benefits make Fresh Thyme the best employer in the grocery market.

Careers have been blooming at Fresh Thyme since our inception in 2012 - yours should be no different!

The Category Manager - Beef and Pork is responsible for managing assigned categories with the objective to meet or exceed projected budgets for top line sales, total profit dollars, shrink and inventory management. The Category Manager will be the direct liaison between the stores and the vendors, including the DC, in addition to supporting the department managers with training/development, and implementation of new company programs and initiatives.

Position will follow our hybrid schedule:
Monday-Wednesday in Downer's Grove IL office, Thursday-Friday remote. 5-10% travel for store visits expected.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities
· Creates and implements pricing, promotion, assortment and shelf schematics for each assigned category, based on detailed analysis of past performance, results, industry best practices, and consumer trends.
· Creates yearly business plan and budgets by category based on department/company initiatives, consumer and market trends.
· Negotiates and collaborates with vendors on pricing, product assortment, promotion, ads, services, promotional calendars, and support; acts as primary contact with vendors in assigned categories.
· Reviews category and department financials (i.e. Profit & Loss Statement) monthly and reacts as necessary to ensure budgets are achieved; meets sales and margin budget expectations.
· Ensures store inventory levels are within company standards and reports inventory discrepancies.
· Manages shrink controls at a category level.
· Authorizes new items entering the market;
Researches new vendors for products, requests quotes, analyzes responses, selects products, and implements product placement.
· Researches, develops, and implements merchandising and ad plans to support category business plan and total department initiatives.
· Helps to ensure stores meet all company and health code standards.
· Attends key vendor company planning meetings.
· Manages and implements special items (i.e. local products, etc.) and seasonal items for new and existing stores.
· Designs schematics and recommends adjacencies that support the role of the category.
· Conducts post promotional analysis to track sales and profit results at end of each promotional timeframe.
· Maintains and reviews price files and competitive price checks to ensure we are priced competitively within each market we operate.
· Supports stores with special shelf and display decisions.
· Visits stores as necessary to observe results of merchandising programs.
· Communicates all pertinent information, including merchandising plans, ad plans, price…