Category Manager, Berries

Grow our tomorrow.Oppy is a leading grower, marketer, and distributor of fresh produce from around the world. As one of North America’s top produce companies for nearly 165 years, we bring over 100 varieties of produce from 27 countries to 1,300+ retailers in North America and throughout the world. As much as agriculture has shaped the past for humankind, Oppy’s efforts shape its future by sustainably providing families with healthy, safe, and fresh produce to create a better quality of life for all.

Our progressive team is called to a higher purpose that raises the economic wellbeing of families and communities who work the land.

Recognized as one Canada’s Best Managed Companies (for the last 20 years!) and a Top 100 Employer, our diverse team of dedicated professionals collaborate and make connections across our locations throughout North and South America. We owe our success to our adaptability, innovative and entrepreneurial approach, our commitment to our people, and the incredible relationships we build. We are looking for talented people who love a fast-paced, dynamic environment where you can grow your skills and career in a sector with abundant opportunity.

Grow
your
tomorrow with us, today.

Overview

Do you have experience in produce category management and are a highly collaborative and organized team player who excels at building productive cross-functional relationships? Do you have an ability to think of your feet, problem-solve and have been recognized for being highly responsive, resilient and proactive? If so, The Oppenheimer Group (Oppy to our friends), has an exciting opportunity for a Category Manager for our dynamic and growing Berry Category.

If you are self-motivated, an excellent communicator and a highly dependable team player, then come join a dedicated team of professionals with a role that offers a variety of responsibilities in a dynamic and rewarding industry.

The Category Manager plays a key role in connecting our grower partners with the Oppy Sales team, driving the Berry Category’s commercial success through strong grower relationships, disciplined contracting, market and supply intelligence, and close collaboration with Sales on customer-facing execution. Acting as a key communication link between growers and internal teams, the Category Manager manages grower relations, ensures partners receive timely and relevant information, and supports category growth by prospecting and acquiring new growers in alignment with Oppy’s growth strategy and business requirements.

Providing both strategic leadership and tactical support, this role develops and executes grower and category initiatives, analyzes sales, forecast, supply, and market data, and works closely with internal and external partners to execute category plans. The Category Manager contributes to the strategic direction of the Berry Category, identifying opportunities to maximize sales and revenue while working to deliver the strongest possible returns to growers based on prevailing market conditions.

Success in this role requires strong commercial judgement, effective cross-functional collaboration, and the ability to build and maintain positive grower relationships while managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced, rapidly changing environment.

Accountabilities

Grower Relations & Network Development

• Identify, recruit, and onboard new high-quality growers to expand production and increase market share.
• Serve as the trusted link between our grower partners and the Oppy Sales team.
• Deliver tough news (e.g., market drops, quality rejections, allocation cuts) swiftly, directly, and with respect.
• Build and leverage an extensive industry network to stay ahead of supply and demand shifts.
• Negotiate grower contracts, pricing, and volume commitments that drive farm profitability while keeping our programs competitive.
• Ensure grower returns remain competitive against market benchmarks to maintain long-term loyalty.
• Oversee prompt, accurate, and transparent grower settlements to build operational trust.

Market Analysis & Supply Planning

• Call supply and demand trends accurately to optimize daily, weekly, and seasonal market…