Category Manager I – Produce

About the job

Serve as the leader of a category of small to medium size and/or complexity and have the 4Ps accountability across all channels. Responsible for owning end-to-end assortment, financials, and overall category strategy with inputs from support teams to make data-driven decisions that reflect local needs. Demonstrate the company's core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion, and safety.

Responsibilities

• Develop formalized short and long-term category strategies and tactics that deliver a unified customer experience across all channels (brick & mortar, extended aisle, digital shelf)
• Stay ahead of and respond to industry/customer trends; understand market share and competition; escalate communication to relevant parties (i.e., Our Brands or Divisions) with changes and important initiatives
• Understand all available levers across 4Ps to drive category forward and achieve KPIs and goals; be proficient across all systems (NEXT, Stratum, etc.); drive and manage full product life-cycle, including add/deletes and relevant cross-functional meetings
• Build assortment after reviewing data from vendors, 84.51 and Our Brands; gather division input during feedback window, managing expectations and communication on segmentation and local assortment needs
• Oversee plan-o-gram process, including deadlines, placement, and flow, ensuring guidelines are met
• Track and monitor SKU performance and adjust assortment, as needed, to meet financial and strategic goals
• Maintain category budgets, forecasts, and plans; understand contribution to total enterprise and division goals
• Establish price and category architecture and provide input on trends for programs
• Review inclusion in pricing programs with an eye to item financial performance and category strategy
• Set base prices and use data to evaluate decisions to deviate from pricing algorithm recommendations
• Determine response to competitor price moves or cost change based on recommendation from Pricing team
• Oversee promotional strategy to engage customers and drive excitement
• Review past ad performance and define promo strategies & goals, including A/B strategies for major promos
• Select products for promotion, leveraging data on shelf capacity, number of stores selling, display locations
• Set starting promotional prices and define guardrails for promo planners as they tailor prices to divisions
• Understand timing of Test & Learns and how to properly manage process
• Oversee end-to-end product flow and provide direction for stores/replenishment when supply issues occur
• Manage strategic vendor relationships, including communicating priorities and assortment opportunities, identifying long-term supply changes, negotiating competitive prices, and staying ahead of industry trends
• Engage vendors, source promo offers, decide on awards; provide directional forecast needs
• Supervise and coach direct reports in the performance of their duties; complete performance reviews and provide feedback to direct reports
• Must be able to perform the essential job functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation

Qualifications

Minimum

• 3+ years of experience in one of the following areas: replenishment buying/procurement, merchandising, store management, operations, or brand management
• Proficient in Microsoft Office
• Strong organization and multi-tasking skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Demonstrated ability to coach and train
• Strong attention to detail
• Excellent oral/written communication skills

Desired

• Bachelor's Degree
• Any vendor negotiations or promo planning experience
• Any division sales manager, store coordinator, or store manager experience

Additional Information

• Job Identification: 243395
• Job Category: Category Management/Merchandising
• Posting Date: 2026-10-21
• Apply Before: 2026-11-04
• Job Schedule: Full time
• Locations: 1014 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH, 45202, US
• Line of Business: Corporate
• Banner Name: Kroger Corporate
• Hourly or Salaried: Salaried