Category Manager - Grocery - Sprouts Farmers Market

The Category Manager plans and directs all aspects of category product, pricing, promotion, and placement.  The Category Manager is responsible for the strategic management of product categories to achieve sales, margin, and profitability goals. This role focuses on understanding market trends, consumer needs, and supplier dynamics to optimize the product mix, pricing strategies, and promotions while ensuring alignment with company and department objectives.

Category Strategy & Planning:

• Develop and implement category strategies to meet sales, margin, and profitability targets.
• Analyze market trends, consumer behavior, and competitor activity to identify growth opportunities.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to set annual plans for assortment, pricing, and promotional strategies.

Supplier Relationship Management:

• Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers and negotiate favorable terms, including pricing, promotions, and delivery.
• Evaluate supplier performance and manage vendors to ensure optimal service and quality.
• Source new products and suppliers to enhance the product mix and meet emerging consumer demands.

Assortment & Merchandising:

• Optimize product assortment and shelf placement to maximize category performance.
• Work with the merchandising team to design planograms that drive customer engagement.
• Ensure consistent availability of all products while managing inventory levels effectively.

Pricing & Promotion:

• Develop competitive pricing strategies that balance profitability with value for customers.
• Plan and execute promotional campaigns to drive sales and increase category visibility.
• Monitor promotional effectiveness and adjust strategies as needed to achieve objectives.

Performance Analysis:

• Use data analytics tools to track category performance, including sales, margins, and inventory turnover.
• Prepare regular reports and present insights to senior management.
• Implement corrective actions based on performance insights to optimize category outcomes.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Partner with marketing, operations, and supply chain teams to ensure cohesive execution of category plans.
• Collaborate with cross-functional support teams and analysts to conduct category reviews, category presentations to leadership, and develop and execute category strategies.

#LI-CS1

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, marketing, or a related field; MBA is a plus.
• 3-5 years of experience in category management, merchandising, or procurement, preferably in the grocery or retail industry.

Skills & Competencies:

• Strong analytical skills with proficiency in data analysis tools and software.
• Excellent negotiation and relationship management abilities.
• Strong project management skills and the ability to handle multiple priorities.
• Complete understanding of P/L statements, general ledgers, and margins
• In-depth understanding of retail merchandising principles and category management processes.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite; experience with merchandising software is a plus.

Personal Attributes:

• Results-driven with a proactive and strategic mindset.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Detail-oriented and highly organized.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to preserve confidentiality of information, communicate with all levels of management and work within strict time frames and resolute deadlines

Please note that this position does require some travel, a few times a year for trade shows or other business demands. This is a full-time role that requires 3-5 days a week to be in-person at the Sprouts Support Office in Phoenix, AZ. The nature of the business does require regular in-person internal and external meetings and regularly testing product samples as part of an on-going product review process.

In addition to a rewarding career, Sprouts offers a comprehensive program to help support you and your family. These programs include:

• Competitive pay
• Sick time plan that you can use to support you or your immediate families health
• Vacation accrual plan
• Opportunities for career growth
• 15% discount for you and one other family member in your household on all purchases made at Sprouts
• Flexible schedules
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• 401(K) Retirement savings plan with a generous company match
• Company paid life insurance
• Contests and appreciation events throughout the year full of prizes, food and fun!

Eligibility requirements may apply for the following benefits:

• Bonus based on company and/or individual performance
• Affordable benefit coverage, including medical, dental and vision
• Health Savings Account with company match
• Pre-tax Flexible Spending Accounts for healthcare and dependent care
• Company paid short-term disability coverage
• Paid parental leave for both mothers and fathers
• Paid holidays

Get Paid Every Day!

Sprouts Farmers Market offers DailyPay - if you’re hired as an eligible employee, you’ll be able to transfer the money you’ve already earned at no extra cost, and get it the next business day, for free.  We offer DailyPay so you don’t have to wait for payday to access the money you’ve already worked for. With DailyPay, you can see how much you’ve made every day and you can transfer your money any time before payday.

 You can learn more by visiting https://www.dailypay.com/partners/sprouts-farmers-market/.

Grow with us!

If you have a passion for inspiring people and a flair for fresh food, consider applying for a job at Sprouts! With a focus on customer service, our neighborhood grocery stores offer high-quality, farm fresh produce, natural meats, plenty of scoop-your-own bulk goods and much more in a fun, friendly, old-fashioned farmer’s market setting.  Come grow your career in healthy living with a fast-paced, rapidly growing company and teams that pride themselves on empowering others along their journey.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by people assigned to this work. This is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and requirements. Sprouts’ management reserves the right to amend and change duties, responsibilities, and requirements to meet business and organizational needs as necessary.

California Residents: We collect information in accordance with California law, please see here for more information.

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, marketing, or a related field; MBA is a plus.
• 3-5 years of experience in category management, merchandising, or procurement, preferably in the grocery or retail industry.

Skills & Competencies:

• Strong analytical skills with proficiency in data analysis tools and software.
• Excellent negotiation and relationship management abilities.
• Strong project management skills and the ability to handle multiple priorities.
• Complete understanding of P/L statements, general ledgers, and margins
• In-depth understanding of retail merchandising principles and category management processes.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite; experience with merchandising software is a plus.

Personal Attributes:

• Results-driven with a proactive and strategic mindset.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Detail-oriented and highly organized.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to preserve confidentiality of information, communicate with all levels of management and work within strict time frames and resolute deadlines

Please note that this position does require some travel, a few times a year for trade shows or other business demands. This is a full-time role that requires 3-5 days a week to be in-person at the Sprouts Support Office in Phoenix, AZ. The nature of the business does require regular in-person internal and external meetings and regularly testing product samples as part of an on-going product review process.