Category Manager, Foods

Position: Category Manager, Hot Foods
Position Summary The Category Manager – Food service is responsible for managing and growing assigned Food service categories through strong collaboration with Business Units, vendor partners, and cross-functional teams. This role owns category performance across sales, margin, assortment, pricing, and execution, while supporting innovation, promotional planning, and continuous improvement of in-store performance.

The Category Manager serves as a key link between strategy and execution, translating category objectives into actionable plans that are simple, scalable, and executable in stores. Also, any additional duties as assigned.

Key Responsibilities Category Strategy & Performance Management Own day-to-day management and performance of assigned Food service categories

Analyze category sales, margin, and execution performance to identify opportunities and risks

Support development and execution of category strategies aligned to Food service objectives

Monitor industry trends and competitive activity to inform recommendations

Assortment, Pricing & Promotion Support assortment planning, product transitions, and lifecycle management

Partner on pricing and promotional planning, including execution of vendor-funded programs including, but not limited to, national vendor rebate management

Analyze planogram effectiveness and provide recommendations to improve performance

Vendor & Program Management Manage assigned vendor relationships including item setup, costs, in-stocks, and logistics

Support negotiations, performance reviews, and issue resolution with vendor partners

Plan, track, and execute vendor initiatives, incentives, and contests with Operations and BUsExecution, Training & Field Support Partner with Operations, Training, and Field teams to support successful in-store execution

Participate in field visits to observe execution and collaborate with stores and BU leaders

Support development of tools, communications, and training materials that drive consistency

Cross-Functional Collaboration Collaborate with Head of Food, Directors, Marketing, Supply Chain, QA, Finance, and BUsSupport innovation launches, pilots, and regional tests

Contribute to team financial targets and annual business planning efforts

Qualifications Required Bachelor ’s degree in business, finance, economics, or related field (or equivalent experience)3–5+ years of experience in category management, merchandising, food service, retail, or CPGStrong analytical skills with ability to translate data into actionable insights

Understanding of retail execution and store-level operations

Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment

Strong communication and collaboration skills

Willingness to travel up to 40%
Preferred Food service or Fresh / Prepared Foods category experience

Experience working with national or regional vendors

Familiarity with promotional planning, planograms, and in-store execution models

Exposure to Food Safety, QA, or regulated food environments#LI-CQ1

Circle K is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The Company complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (the ADA) and all state and local disability laws.  Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation under the terms of the ADA and certain state or local laws as long as it does not impose an undue hardship on the Company. Please inform the Company’s Human Resources Representative if you need assistance completing any forms or to otherwise participate in the application process.

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Job Summary Job number: R622956

Profession:
Marketing/Merchandising