Produce & Floral Category Manager

Description

At Mother’s Market, we are passionate about providing the freshest organic and natural products while helping our communities live healthier lives. As a Produce & Floral Category Manager, you will lead the strategy, merchandising, and financial performance of our Produce and Floral departments across all store locations. This is more than category management, it’s an opportunity to drive innovation, build supplier partnerships, and ensure our customers receive the highest quality fresh products every day.

Pay: $80,000-$100,00.00 annually, depending on experience and qualifications
Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, & in-store discounts

What You'll Do

Lead Category Strategy

• Develop and execute Produce and Floral category strategies to achieve sales, gross margin, shrink, and profitability goals
• Manage all Produce and Floral categories, including fruits and vegetables, packaged salads, fresh-cut produce, floral, and seasonal programs
• Monitor industry trends, seasonality, commodity markets, and customer preferences to optimize category performance

Drive Merchandising & Promotions

• Lead assortment planning, pricing strategies, promotional planning, and merchandising initiatives
• Partner with Marketing to execute seasonal promotions, product launches, and advertising campaigns
• Identify opportunities for new products, category growth, and customer engagement

Manage Vendor & Distribution Relationships

• Build and maintain strong relationships with growers, vendors, brokers, and supplier partners
• Negotiate costs, promotional support, quality standards, and supply agreements
• Collaborate with distribution partners to ensure product availability, service levels, and operational efficiencies

Ensure Quality & Operational Excellence

• Maintain the highest standards of freshness, quality, presentation, and food safety across all store locations
• Develop merchandising standards, operational procedures, and category guidelines
• Conduct regular store visits to evaluate product quality, inventory levels, department conditions, and execution

Analyze Performance

• Review sales trends, inventory movement, shrink, and category profitability to identify opportunities and improve results
• Prepare budgets, forecasts, financial reports, and performance analyses
• Support new store openings, remodels, and department enhancement initiatives

What You Bring

Experience & Knowledge

• Minimum 2 years of experience in Produce procurement, category management, buying, merchandising, or retail grocery operations
• Retail grocery experience required
• Multi-unit retail experience preferred
• Strong knowledge of Produce merchandising, seasonality, commodity markets, and retail food trends
• Understanding of food safety regulations and industry best practices

Leadership & Business Skills

• Proven experience managing category financial performance, including sales, margins, shrink, and profitability
• Strong vendor negotiation and supplier relationship management skills
• Experience with inventory management, forecasting, and distribution partnerships
• Excellent analytical, organizational, communication, and problem-solving abilities
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and retail reporting systems

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods during store visits
• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds occasionally
• Ability to travel regularly between store locations
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, and special events as needed
• Ability to attend industry conferences and trade shows as needed

Why Join Mother’s Market?

You’ll be part of a mission-driven company that values wellness, sustainability, and exceptional customer experiences. This role offers the opportunity to shape key product categories, build meaningful supplier partnerships, and contribute directly to the growth and success of Mother’s Market.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Mother’s Market is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, or any other protected status.

Help Shape the Fresh Experience—Apply Today!

If you're passionate about fresh food, category management, and delivering exceptional quality to customers, we'd love to hear from you.