Category Manager - Kroger

Job Description Summary

The Category Manager plays a vital role in advancing GoGo squeeZ’s category vision by driving household penetration, increasing consumption, and expanding our retail footprint—all in support of purposeful snacking. This position is responsible for delivering best-in-class assortment and shelving strategies that meet both consumer needs and retailer objectives. Collaborating closely with Sales, Category, and Marketing teams, the Category Manager analyzes performance, identifies growth opportunities, and recommends actionable strategies to achieve measurable success.

Success in this role requires balancing multiple high-impact projects with composure and efficiency, adapting seamlessly to shifting priorities and a dynamic workload. By supporting GoGo squeeZ’s leadership in the pouch segment and contributing to our ongoing category development, this role strengthens our position as a partner of choice for purposeful snacking at retail.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Category Insights & Recommendations

• Build and deliver customer category reviews with actionable recommendations to support both retailer and organizational growth objectives.
• Provide compelling, data-driven insights—using robust analysis—to drive GoGo squeeZ’s distribution and category leadership across key customers.
• Conduct in-depth assortment analyses to inform recommendations, and actively scorecard and monitor category performance, proactively identifying and addressing opportunities for improvement.

Strategy, Tools Development & Process Improvement

• Develop and commercialize assortment and shelving guidelines, category 101 materials, and new item sell stories, ensuring best practices are implemented.
• Create tools and templates that enhance analysis efficiency and continuously improve the team’s insight capabilities.
• Collaborate across teams to identify process improvements, streamline workflows, and support the adoption of more effective practices.

Data Analysis, Reporting & Issue Resolution

• Leverage syndicated databases (e.g., Circana, 84.51, Numerator) to generate insights that inform both internal teams and external customer recommendations.
• Provide timely, ad-hoc business reporting to address urgent needs and support quick decision-making.
• Monitor performance drivers using scorecards, quickly identifying potential issues and leading corrective actions to optimize results.

Project Management, Prioritization & Adaptability

• Effectively manage multiple projects and competing priorities, consistently delivering high-quality work and actionable recommendations—even when under tight deadlines.
• Demonstrate strong organizational skills and adaptability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Use creativity and a solution-oriented approach to navigate challenges, adapt to changing business needs, and ensure the most pressing priorities are addressed efficiently.

Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required, with 3–6 years of category management experience in consumer-packaged goods, preferably working with major food or mass retailers.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional projects, build collaborative relationships, and influence others without authority.
• Strong strategic and analytical skills; able to synthesize data from multiple sources and translate insights into clear, visually compelling recommendations.
• Excellent communication skills, including verbal, written, and presentation abilities, with experience tailoring messages to diverse audiences.
• Solid understanding of retail dynamics, shopper behavior, and new product launches.
• Highly organized and resourceful, comfortable managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, especially Excel and PowerPoint; familiarity with data visualization tools (such as Tableau or Power BI) is a plus.

Working Conditions

Work is performed largely in a home office environment. Hours of work will generally be during regular business hours with at least 40 hours a week. At times there will be some variation in work hours due to special projects, deadlines and other concerns. Up to 20% business travel may be required.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Acknowledgement

This job description describes the general nature and level of work performed by the employee assigned to this position. It does not state or imply that these are the only duties and responsibilities assigned to the job. The employee may be required to perform other job-related duties as requested management. All requirements are subject to change over time and to possible modifications to reasonably accommodate individuals with a disability.

Total Rewards

• Base Salary: $110,000 - $140,000
• Bonus Opportunity: 15%
• 20 days PTO
• 4% match on 401k
• Health care by Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Dental by Delta Dental
• Vision by EyeMed
• Lifestyle Reimbursement, HSA and more