Category Manager

Why work with American Foods?

American Foods Is an Inc500 high growth food distributor and exporter, working with some of the largest brands such as Kraft Heinz, Smithfield, Butterball and many more, with a mission to bring the best brands to countries around the world. We are looking for self-starters to join an environment that’s fast paced and rewarding. We are not a normal 8-5 type of company; we provide opportunities for growth, self-development, international travel, and involvement with management meetings and decisions. We want candidates who are hungry for growth.

Recently, American Foods has become a member of Topco, one of the world’s largest buying coops, to take their brands.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Category Manager to optimize our product assortment sourced from Topco and enhance category expertise for our retail partners across LATAM & the Caribbean. This role is responsible for developing the ideal category mix for our wholesale export business, providing insights to retailers on product positioning, and analyzing sales data to improve category performance. The Category Manager will also collaborate closely with Trade Marketing and in-country commercial teams to execute brand-building promotions and drive category growth.

Key Responsibilities

Category Strategy & Assortment Optimization

• Develop and refine category assortments for wholesale export, ensuring alignment with market demand and retailer needs.
• Analyze Topco-sourced product categories to identify growth opportunities and white space in the assortment.
• Work closely with procurement and sales teams to ensure optimal product selection and availability.
• Create category guidelines and best practices to support retailer success in LATAM & the Caribbean.

Retailer Category Expertise & Support

• Provide category insights to retail customers to enhance their merchandising and product positioning strategies.
• Share recommendations on shelf space allocation, pricing strategies, promotions, and planograms based on market trends and sales data.
• Develop sales tools, presentations, and training materials to help retailers optimize their assortments.
• Partner with Trade Marketing teams to deploy strategic brand-building promotions that drive category engagement and sales.
• Work closely with in-country commercial teams to ensure category strategies are tailored to local market dynamics and retailer needs.

Category Performance & Data Analytics

• Review category sales performance and void reports to identify gaps, slow movers, and high-growth opportunities.
• Provide actionable recommendations to retailers on assortment improvements, new product additions, and delistings to drive sales.
• Track market trends, competitor activity, and consumer preferences to refine category strategies.
• Collaborate with Trade Marketing to measure the effectiveness of promotions and adjust strategies accordingly.

Collaboration & Communication

• Work closely with cross-functional teams, including merchandising, marketing, sales, and supply chain, to ensure seamless execution of category strategies.
• Foster strong relationships with both internal teams and external retail partners, ensuring alignment on category goals and initiatives.

Problem Solving

• Identify and address challenges within the category, such as supply chain disruptions, low-performing SKUs, or shifting consumer demand.
• Analyze root causes of category performance issues and implement data-driven solutions to improve sales and efficiency.
• Adapt category strategies in response to changing market conditions or retailer feedback.

Qualifications & Experience

• 3 years of experience in category management, merchandising, or buying within CPG, food distribution, or retail.
• Strong knowledge of category management principles, assortment planning, and product lifecycle management.
• Experience working with wholesale/export businesses or international markets (LATAM & Caribbean preferred).
• Proficiency in data analysis, sales reporting, and category performance tracking.
• Ability to collaborate cross-functionally with procurement, sales, marketing, and commercial teams.
• Excellent communication skills to provide category expertise to external retail partners.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills to address category challenges and drive improvements.
• Proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, and category management tools; familiarity with planogram software is a plus.

Why Join Us?

• Be a key player in shaping category strategies for a growing export business.
• Work with leading retail partners across LATAM & the Caribbean.
• Influence product assortment decisions that drive sales and market success.
• Collaborate with Trade Marketing & commercial teams to bring brands to life in international markets.
• Solve real-world business challenges and make a tangible impact on category growth.

Please send your resume at careers@americanfoodsllc.com.