Category Manager

 

 

Category Manager

 

 

Location: Mississauga, ON

Reports to: Director of Merchandising

 

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About the Role

 

 

The Category Manager is responsible for owning the performance and strategy of an assigned product category across physical locations, ecommerce, and other business channels. This role drives category growth, margin performance, assortment planning, supplier partnerships, and promotional execution.

 

Working cross-functionally with operations, marketing, ecommerce, inventory planning, supply chain, and finance, the Category Manager plays a key role in delivering strong commercial performance and customer value.

 

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Category Scope

 

 

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 1,000 to 2,500 SKUs within assigned categories

• Influence assortment, pricing, and promotional strategies across multiple locations and ecommerce channels

• Manage relationships with domestic and international supplier partners

• Oversee vendor programs including pricing agreements, rebates, and promotional funding

 

 

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Key Responsibilities

 

 

 

Category Ownership & Strategy

 

 

• Own overall category performance including sales growth, margins, inventory health, and assortment strategy

• Develop and execute category strategies aligned with business objectives

• Identify opportunities for assortment expansion, SKU rationalization, and innovation

• Monitor market trends, competitor activity, and emerging opportunities

 

 

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Supplier Strategy & Negotiation

 

 

• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships

• Negotiate pricing, rebates, and promotional support

• Lead supplier business reviews and identify growth opportunities

• Source new suppliers and products both domestically and internationally

• Manage supplier onboarding and performance evaluation

 

 

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Pricing & Margin Management

 

 

• Develop and manage category pricing strategy to balance competitiveness and profitability

• Monitor margin performance at both category and SKU levels

• Analyze cost changes and adjust pricing accordingly

• Partner with finance to track rebates and vendor programs

 

 

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Assortment & Product Innovation

 

 

• Manage large SKU assortments (1,000–2,500 items)

• Identify underperforming products and optimize assortment

• Drive new product introductions and innovation initiatives

• Support development of private label programs, where applicable

 

 

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Promotions & Marketing Collaboration

 

 

• Partner with marketing and ecommerce to develop promotional plans

• Identify opportunities to drive category growth through promotions

• Support seasonal programs and product launches

 

 

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Data & Performance Analysis

 

 

• Analyze sales, margin, and inventory data to identify opportunities

• Track key metrics such as revenue growth, gross margin, inventory turns, and SKU productivity

• Provide insights and recommendations to improve performance

 

 

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Cross-Functional Collaboration

 

 

• Partner with operations to ensure strong in-store execution

• Work with supply chain and inventory planning to maintain availability

• Collaborate with marketing and ecommerce on growth initiatives

• Coordinate with finance on vendor funding and rebate tracking

 

 

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Strategic Impact

 

 

This role plays a key part in shaping category strategy, supplier partnerships, and product innovation. The Category Manager will help identify emerging trends, launch new products, and drive growth across both physical and digital channels.

 

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Decision Authority

 

 

• Category assortment decisions

• Supplier selection and negotiations

• Pricing strategy and execution

• Promotional planning

• Product innovation within the category

 

 

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Qualifications

 

 

 

Experience

 

 

• Minimum 5+ years in category management, merchandising, buying, or procurement

• Experience in foodservice distribution, grocery retail, or wholesale preferred

• Experience managing large SKU assortments

 

 

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Skills & Competencies

 

 

• Strong commercial and financial acumen

• Proven negotiation and supplier management skills

• Data-driven decision-making ability

• Ability to identify market opportunities and innovation

• Strong cross-functional collaboration and communication skills

• Bilingual (French & English) is an asset

 

 

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Technical Skills

 

 

• Advanced Excel and data analysis skills

• Experience with ERP systems (e.g., SAP) or merchandising platforms

• Ability to analyze large datasets

• Experience with business intelligence tools is an asset

 

 

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Ideal Background

 

 

Candidates may come from organizations such as major foodservice distributors, grocery retailers, or wholesale businesses.

 

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Working Environment

 

 

This role is primarily office-based in Mississauga, with occasional travel required to locations, supplier sites, and industry events.