Job Description:
A strong sense of urgency and hands-on experience with promotional planning are essential.
Key Responsibilities:
L’OCA Quality Market is an emerging specialty grocer and gourmet food retailer in Canada whose purpose is to “Spread the Love” by delivering a world-class food experience. Our core values are Quality, Scratch, Theatre, Service, and Love. Each location is comprised of a full artisanal market experience, including full-service restaurant(s), where traditional artisanal craftsmanship and service on the front end meets new world technology and innovation on the back end. A revolutionary purchasing and org structure, supported by custom technology, allows us to leverage efficiency across the business unit to drive scratch perishable production, massive prepared foods selection, full carcass meat programs, and world class service in a cost-effective format. There is also a special place in our hearts for quality local and Canadian products and we aim to deliver positive change to the food chain through a focus on local sourcing and private label partnerships. We are currently laying the groundwork for a national chain focused initially on western Canada. Our first location is 48k square feet, and located in Sherwood Park, Alberta.
We are seeking a results-driven Grocery Category Manager with a deep understanding of the grocery retail landscape and promotional dynamics. This role is critical in shaping the strategy, execution, and performance of assigned grocery categories. The ideal candidate brings strong analytical skills, vendor negotiation experience, and a proactive mindset to drive profitable growth and exceed customer expectations.
A strong sense of urgency and hands-on experience with promotional planning are essential.
Key Responsibilities:
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Category Strategy & Planning
- Develop and implement data-driven category strategies that align with business goals and consumer needs.
- Plan and optimize product assortments based on customer demand, seasonality, and industry trends.
- Manage product lifecycle, including new item introductions and end-of-life markdowns.\
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Promotional Management
- Lead end-to-end promotional planning including item selection, pricing strategy, ad flyer coordination, and in-store display execution.
- Collaborate with vendors and internal teams to develop impactful ad campaigns and promotional events.
- Monitor promo effectiveness and adjust future plans based on performance data.
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Vendor & Pricing Management
- Build and maintain strong vendor relationships to negotiate pricing, promotions, and terms.
- Ensure accurate and timely updates of regular, promotional, and markdown pricing across systems.
- Oversee the new item setup process from vendor onboarding to pricing and coding.
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Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Work closely with marketing, supply chain, and store operations teams to ensure flawless execution of category plans.
- Act as the category expert, providing insight and recommendations to internal stakeholders.
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Analytics & Reporting
- Analyze sales, margin, turnover, and market data to drive category performance.
- Monitor industry and consumer trends to stay ahead of the competition and spot new opportunities.
Qualifications:
- Proven experience as a Category Manager, Buyer, or similar role within the grocery or FMCG industry.
- Strong understanding of retail promotions, pricing strategies, and category performance metrics.
- Excellent negotiation and vendor management skills.
- Highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of managing multiple priorities with urgency.
L’OCA Quality Market is an emerging specialty grocer and gourmet food retailer in Canada whose purpose is to “Spread the Love” by delivering a world-class food experience. Our core values are Quality, Scratch, Theatre, Service, and Love. Each location is comprised of a full artisanal market experience, including full-service restaurant(s), where traditional artisanal craftsmanship and service on the front end meets new world technology and innovation on the back end. A revolutionary purchasing and org structure, supported by custom technology, allows us to leverage efficiency across the business unit to drive scratch perishable production, massive prepared foods selection, full carcass meat programs, and world class service in a cost-effective format. There is also a special place in our hearts for quality local and Canadian products and we aim to deliver positive change to the food chain through a focus on local sourcing and private label partnerships. We are currently laying the groundwork for a national chain focused initially on western Canada. Our first location is 48k square feet, and located in Sherwood Park, Alberta.
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