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A leading food distribution organization is on the hunt for a Merchandising Manager to oversee their Protein category
About Us:
Blue Shock Executive Search, established in 2003, is a renowned executive search firm excelling in recruiting top-tier candidates across restaurant, hospitality, and food service-related sectors. As industry leaders, we specialize in forging connections between exceptional talent and leading employers in Canada and the US.
Client Summary:
One of North America's largest family-owned food distribution companies, serving restaurants, healthcare providers, hospitality groups, and institutions across Canada and the U.S. The company specializes in delivering high-quality food products, equipment, and supply solutions, with a strong focus on customer relationships, operational excellence, and long-term partnerships. Its model blends large-scale distribution with a people-first culture, emphasizing innovation, service, and local market expertise.
Job Title: Division Merchandising Manager - Protein Specialist
Job Description: We're searching for a strategic and detail-driven Merchandising Manager to lead product and vendor initiatives within the protein category (beef, poultry, pork, seafood). This role supports divisional goals for sales growth, margin optimization, and brand leadership by aligning internal teams and supplier networks toward shared objectives.
Offer:
- Competitive Compensation: They offer a competitive base salary package, ensuring your skills and contributions are duly recognized. Ranging from $90,000 to $110,000.
- Vacation and Leave: Enjoy a generous vacation policy, allowing you the flexibility to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
- Comprehensive Benefits: The benefits package includes dental coverage, health insurance, and other wellness perks.
Communication & Collaboration
- Partner with national category, marketing, and sales teams to align on goals, product strategies, and key performance indicators.
- Act as the communication bridge between category management and divisional sales teams.
- Deliver timely product updates, including new items, discontinuations, and supply changes.
- Collaborate cross-functionally to identify market opportunities and deliver customer-focused solutions.
Category Management
- Execute North American category strategies at the divisional level.
- Provide analysis and insights on local market conditions and competitive activity.
- Support product lifecycle management—from sourcing and market introduction to discontinuation.
- Develop strategies to achieve volume, margin, and market share targets across all categories.
- Serve as the key liaison for all regional vendor and broker communications.
- Build strong partnerships that support divisional growth and long-term strategy.
- Conduct regular business reviews to measure performance and align mutual objectives.
- Manage vendor activity and contact data within CRM systems.
- Provide feedback on costs and market conditions to category and revenue management teams.
- Monitor and adjust divisional pricing to align with market shifts and profitability goals.
- Communicate supply chain disruptions and collaborate on solutions.
- Support inventory optimization and liquidation of aging stock.
- Ensure division remains within slot allocations and manages inventory efficiently.
- Execute sourcing plans for protein categories that drive growth and profitability.
- Maintain a competitive and market-relevant product mix through national and regional sourcing.
- Manage high-risk inventory and make time-sensitive purchasing decisions.
- Negotiate contracts with new suppliers in partnership with procurement and category teams.
- Provide insights on protein trends, market pricing, and new product opportunities.
- Strong knowledge of protein markets, sourcing, and category management.
- Experience in foodservice distribution, wholesale, or protein merchandising.
- Solid analytical skills and proficiency with Excel or similar tools.
- Financial acumen, with an understanding of margin, pricing, and freight metrics.
- Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
- Highly organized, with the ability to multitask and thrive in a fast-paced environment.
- Collaborative, positive, and solutions-oriented mindset.
Out-of-Country Applicants: We appreciate your interest in our organization. Regrettably, we are unable to provide sponsorship or assistance with international relocation. To be considered for this position, we kindly request that applicants presently reside in Canada. ‹ Back
