We are in search of a Senior Category Manager who can drive growth by developing and implementing fresh and exciting beverage concepts company-wide. This is a chance to not just rent, but own your category in this highly visible role. Opportunity to feed your passion and grow your career with a professional, well-established, fast growing retailer.

This position reports to a talented, experienced leader who is looking to re-energize the foodservice side. As the business owner for your category, you will be responsible for creating, building and developing plans that drive sales and profit.

Some qualifications include:

• 7 years’ category management with a range of experiences (beverage / coffee experience a plus).
• Researches, identifies and solicits products and brands based on current trends to maximize sales and profits in an assigned category.
• Strong understanding of customer needs and ability to establish vendor relationships.
• Will lead a team of 4 direct reports (direct team management experience required).
• Entrepreneurial person that can work in an evolving, growing company.

Exciting opportunity to utilize your creativity and leadership skills to drive the growth and influence the future direction of this growing company. Excellent compensation, benefits and relocation package. To be considered, please submit your resume to Melissa Kern at melissa@curtisfood.com or call 763-428-3888.

We’re looking for an innovative Director of Deli & Bakery who can develop creative and cutting-edge merchandising programs and products for a dynamic grocery retailer. Ideal candidates must possess insight into differentiating grocery strategies, culinary trends, and the ability to execute new programs. 

This role will communicate the vision and inspire a team. As a leader, this person must be capable of interfacing with all levels of management and understand the necessity of being a team player, yet be comfortable in an environment requiring a high degree of individual performance.

Some qualifications include:

• 8-10 years retail merchandising / category management experience, with 3+ years in deli or prepared foods.
• Overall responsibility for merchandising, pricing and program innovation for deli, bakery and prepared foods.
• Responsible for creating weekly and seasonal merchandising / promotional plans, negotiation strategies, and pricing to increase store sales and profitability.
• Experience identifying, developing, communicating and executing short and long-term business plans; including, market trends, sales forecasts, margin requirements to maximize profitable category sales, promotional initiatives, inventory turn goals, and vendor relationship management.
• Provide clear direction, support and coaching to merchandising, buying and pricing staff. (3 direct reports / 11 indirect)
• Reports directly to the VP of Deli & Bakery; an intelligent, high integrity, energetic and collaborative industry leader.

Our client is based south of Boston, MA. Fast-paced, fun, dynamic culture with a focus on personal development and future career opportunities, while meeting high performance expectations. Outstanding compensation package, bonus, benefits and full relocation package. If you or someone you know would be interested in discussing this opportunity, please contact Julie Curtis at 763-428-1888 or julie@curtisfood.com. 

We are searching for a Category Manager with Bakery or Deli experience to develop creative and innovative merchandising strategies for a dynamic major grocery retail brand. Fast-paced, fun, dynamic culture with a focus on personal development and future career opportunities while meeting high-performance expectations.

This is a chance to turn the category around and truly make it your own! As the business owner for your category, you will be responsible for creating, building and developing merchandising business plans that drive sales and profit.

This role will require:

• 5-10 years of category management, merchandising or buying experience.
• 3 plus years’ in bakery, deli or perishable areas.  
• Entrepreneurial, innovative with strong leadership skills: providing clear direction and support to their team.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred.

Offers excellent compensation, benefits and relocation package. If you would like to be considered for this role, please send your resume to melissa@curtisfood.com.

Incredible opportunity to build a fresh food program from the ground up. Our client is looking for a VP to develop and execute their fresh food and beverage programs across their entire convenience store operation.

You will be developing convenient, on-the-go, fresh food options for a large, profitable, growing retailer.

Some qualifications include:

• A strong background in developing C-store and QSR food programs.
• Proven experience developing executable programs that drive traffic, sales and margin.
• Strong category management, vendor negotiation, and pricing background.
• Ability to quickly develop rapport and foster relationships across the organization.
• Experience in Convenience / C-store, Grocery or QSR.

Strong analytical skills, data analytics and margin management experience.

Excellent compensation package; base, bonus, LTIP and retirement program. If you or someone you know would be interested in discussing this opportunity, please contact Julie Curtis at julie@curtisfood.com.

Key Words: Foodservice, HMR; Perishable, Fresh, Prepared Foods; Food Service; Deli; Fresh Food; Convenience Food; C-store, VP, Merchandising, Marketing, Category Management, Made to Order, Away From Home