MacDonald Search Group is supporting a leading Western Canadian grocery retailer in the search for a Category Manager to join their team. This role plays a key part in shaping one of the store’s most important departments, driving profitable growth, innovation, and in-store execution across multiple retail banners. The role is ideal for someone who understands both commercial category strategy and operational realities within QSR / Hospitality environments.

Some of what you will do in this role includes:

• Own category performance across sales, margin, assortment, and promotional strategy for products, including packaged, service counters, prepared foods, and grab-and-go programs
• Develop assortment plans including new listings, SKU rationalization, replenishment strategy, and category resets
• Build and maintain planograms and merchandising layouts that drive sales and improve in-store execution at counter
• Manage pricing architecture, promotional planning, marketing both digital, in-store and traditional, and feature strategies to drive traffic while protecting margin
• Monitor inventory, product movement, and shrink performance, adjusting strategies to optimize profitability
• Develop and maintain strong supplier partnerships, negotiating pricing, funding, delivery, and promotional agreements
• Source innovative products and trends aligned with evolving consumer demand for fresh solutions
• Collaborate closely with operations, QA, food safety, and cross-functional teams to ensure programs are executable at each door
• Manage price files, rebate programs, and vendor funding processes while ensuring data accuracy across systems

You should have the following in your background to be successful:

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in food service, hospitality, grocery retail, category management, or foodservice operations leadership
• Strong understanding of fresh department operations and fresh food
• Experience managing budgets, P&L targets, and margin performance
• Demonstrated ability to work with suppliers and negotiate commercial agreements
• Strong analytical capability with experience reviewing movement, inventory, and performance data
• Leadership capability with experience supporting or coaching teams
• Strong communication and collaboration skills across cross-functional teams
• Solid knowledge of food safety and quality standards in fresh food environments
• Comfort working with category management systems and data tools
• Ability to travel within market as required

What’s in it for me?

• Opportunity to lead and influence a high performing team
• Exposure to strategic category strategy and supplier partnerships with opportunity to put your fingerprints on the organization
• Competitive compensation in the range of $85,000 – $110,000 annually plus a very strong comprehensive benefits program

If this role sounds like one where you can make a difference, apply today! MacDonald Search Group works with our clients to build diverse, high performing teams. All applications are considered.