CATEGORY MANAGER – CANDY

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Category Manager to lead the planning, procurement, and performance of the candy category across national wholesale operations. This senior-level role combines analytics, vendor management, and merchandising expertise to drive sales, profitability, and customer satisfaction. The Category Manager will oversee assortment planning, pricing strategy, promotional execution, and vendor negotiations for all candy products—including confections, seasonal items, novelty candies, and impulse SKUs.
With a deep understanding of candy industry trends, consumer behavior, and supplier capabilities, this leader will own the category’s end-to-end lifecycle and play a pivotal role in its continued growth.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Supply Chain, or related field.
• 7+ years of experience in purchasing, category management, or merchandising within food, beverage, or CPG.
• Proven success managing a complex, fast-moving product category; candy or impulse snack experience strongly preferred.
• Strong vendor management and negotiation skills, with a history of improving margins and achieving cost savings.
• Advanced Excel skills required; ERP system experience (SAP, Oracle, etc.) a plus.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and leadership skills with the ability to influence cross-functional teams.
• Highly analytical and detail-oriented, with the ability to balance strategic priorities with tactical execution.

• Develop and manage the candy category strategy, including product assortment, vendor selection, pricing, and promotional planning.
• Analyze sales, margin, and inventory data to identify growth opportunities and optimize performance at both national and regional levels.
• Source and negotiate with manufacturers and distributors to secure competitive cost, terms, and service.
• Lead seasonal candy planning (e.g., Halloween, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Christmas), ensuring timely execution of promotions, allocations, and merchandising.
• Partner with marketing, merchandising, and store operations to create impactful in-store displays, signage, and pricing strategies.
• Utilize advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, data modeling) to evaluate SKU-level performance, forecast demand, and prepare executive-level reporting.
• Monitor market and consumer trends in confectionery; evaluate innovations and recommend new products.
• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships; manage vendor performance with scorecards and regular reviews.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, labeling, and procurement standards across all candy-related products.
• Collaborate with distribution, warehouse, and store teams to resolve pricing, delivery, or quality issues.
• Act as the internal subject matter expert for the candy category, providing insights to leadership and mentoring junior staff as needed.