KeHE Distributors

Assistant Category Manager

KeHE Distributors$76K — $111K *
Retail & Consumer Goods
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • College diploma or equivalent work experience required.
  • Minimum of one year experience in Category Management or related field in the food industry.
  • Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel (advanced), and PowerPoint.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills for diverse audiences.
  • Strong multitasking ability in a fast-paced environment.
  • Attention to detail and a sense of urgency in task completion.
  • Willingness to travel domestically about 10-15%.
  • Strong analytical skills, particularly with data platforms like Power BI.

Responsibilities

  • Analyze vendor, brand, and SKU performance to identify improvement opportunities.
  • Communicate profitability insights to Category Managers and Account Managers.
  • Manage reports on vendor updates, SKU productivity, and sales performance.
  • Assist with bottle deposits and beverage tax analysis.
  • Complete ad-hoc requests and special projects with accuracy and timeliness.
  • Update training manuals and guides for the Category Management team.
  • Collaborate on planning and implementation of projects like trade shows and vendor programs.

Benefits

  • Health and prescription drug insurance from day one.
  • Dental and vision coverage.
  • Flexible and health spending accounts (FSA/HSA) available.
  • Supplemental life insurance offered.
  • 401(k) plan available for retirement savings.
  • Paid time off, including sick leave.
  • Short-term and long-term disability coverage provided.
  • Employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) options.
  • Paid holidays for designated company holidays.
Full Job Description
  • Full-time
  • Pay Range: $76,230.00/Yr. - $111,744.00/Yr.
  • Shift Days: , Shift Time:
  • Benefits on Day 1
    • Health/Rx
    • Dental
    • Vision
    • Flexible and health spending accounts (FSA/HSA)
    • Supplemental life insurance
    • 401(k)
    • Paid time off
    • Paid sick time
    • Short term & long term disability coverage (STD/LTD)
    • Employee stock ownership (ESOP)
    • Holiday pay for company designated holidays
    Overview

    At KeHE, we’re obsessed with creating solutions, unboxing potential, and serving others – and it all starts with you. As an employee-owned distributor of natural and organic, specialty, and fresh products, we’re committed to making a positive impact and scaling our success together. With a culture that fosters development and opportunity, you’ll be embarking on a career that’s moving forward. When you join KeHE, you’re becoming part of a team that is a force for good.

    Primary Responsibilities

    The Assistant Category Manager is a key asset to KeHE’s Category Management Team.  This position is responsible for assisting the category management team in achieving their goals, and objectives and maintaining KeHE’s reputation as a best-in-class distributor.  The successful candidate will have strong analytical skills and will work with several data platforms including Power BI and KeHE Connect.  Reports can include information regarding sales, unit movement, margin, credits, points of distribution, etc. by vendor, brand and SKU, to assist Category Managers with their decisions.  This person will work collaboratively with various departments within KeHE to obtain needed information and provide needed output.  It is critically important that the Assistant Category Manager be quick and accurate in performing ad-hoc analyses and projects requested by the Category Managers or the Executive Director. This person should have exceptional time management and project management skills. As with all positions at KeHE, we expect that all actions will be consistent with KeHE’s Mission, Vision and Values.   

    Essential Functions
    • Analyze our vendor, brand, and SKU performance, promotional programs and identify opportunities for improvement
    • Communicate Vendor and Brand profitability information (based on the above analysis) to our CMs, and as needed to our Account Managers (AMs) so that their own assortment decisions maximize enterprise profit.
    • Manage and update reports regarding new vendors, SKU productivity, sales performance, roadmaps, past due inventory, etc.
    • Assist with bottle deposits, beverage taxes etc.
    • Complete ad-hoc requests and special projects in a timely and accurate fashion
    • Update training manuals and guides for category managers and vendors
    Minimum Requirements, Qualifications, Additional Skills, Aptitude

     

    • Work as a team player for all planning and implementation of collective projects such as: KeHE trade shows and pavilions, external trade shows (e.g. Expo West, Fancy Food), KeHE publications, webinars, and vendor programs.
    • Work collegially and productively with relevant headquarter teams [e.g., marketing, growth solutions, supply chain (replenishment), business analysis, sales enablement, and sales] to achieve quick traction for new products, programs, and continuous sales growth for existing product lines.
    • Manage administrative aspects of assigned tasks to assist Category Managers in achieving shared goals and objectives.
    • Seek opportunities to improve current processes and procedures
    • Follow established company policies and procedures in achieving the above accountabilities

    Education and Experience:

     

    • College Diploma or equivalent work experience.
    • Minimum one (1) years’ experience in Category Management, administration or sales management within the food industry.
    • Proficient with Word, Excel (advanced level), and PowerPoint software.
    • Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively communicate findings and recommendations in writing to internal audiences as well as external manufacturers, brokers and KeHE account managers.
    • Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced business environment.
    • Capacity to learn and process quickly.
    • Possess a sense of urgency and attention to accuracy and detail.
    • Ability to effectively manage a wide variety of tasks simultaneously and often with minimal direction or time conflicting pressures.
    • Willingness to travel domestically, occasionally over weekends (about 10-15%)

     

     

    Requisition ID2026-29681

About KeHE Distributors

KeHE Distributors is a food distribution company that provides natural and organic, specialty and fresh products to grocery and natural food stores. The company was founded in 1953 and is headquartered in Romeoville, Illinois. KeHE Distributors has over 16,000 products and serves over 30,000 customers.
Learn more about KeHE Distributors
Size
5,000 employees
Industry
Founded
1952

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