Category Manager, Procurement (Produce)

Company Description

Eataly is the world’s largest artisanal Italian food and beverage marketplace! Eataly is not a chain; each Eataly is different, with its own character and own theme – but all with the same aim... for our guests to:

• EAT authentic Italian food at our restaurants, cafés and to-go counters
• SHOP a selection of high-quality Italian, local and homemade products
• LEARN through our classes and our team’s product knowledge

Job Description

The Category Manager, Procurement is a strategic and detail-oriented role responsible for overseeing procurement processes with a focus on data and catalogue management for multiple product categories, including fruit and vegetables. This position involves managing purchase order (PO) creation, vendor relationships, and coordinating the delivery and invoicing of products across and for Eataly’s stores. The Category Manager will play a critical role in optimizing costs, ensuring product quality, and supporting operational efficiency in the food industry. 

Reports to the Head of Fresh Products. This position is based in New York. 

•  Fresh Produce Buying: Assist in the sourcing and procurement of fresh fruit and vegetables, ensuring high quality, seasonality, and competitive pricing across multiple store locations. Maintain strong relationships with farms and local suppliers to support freshness and sustainability goals.

• Data and Catalogue Management: Maintain and update product databases, internal spreadsheets, and category-specific catalogues to ensure accuracy and organization for fruit and vegetable categories, as well as other assigned product categories. 

• Costing and Marginality Analysis: Conduct cost analyses, set pricing benchmarks, and perform marginality analysis to optimize profitability while maintaining quality standards. 

• Purchase Order (PO) Creation and Management: Create, manage, and track POs across multiple stores and vendors, ensuring timely and accurate order placement and fulfillment using systems like D365 and ECRS POS. 

• Vendor Relationship Management: Build and maintain strong relationships with vendors, negotiate terms, monitor delivery schedules, and ensure compliance with agreed-upon quality and pricing standards. 

• Coordination of Needs, Delivery, and Invoicing: Collaborate with store managers and corporate teams to assess product needs, coordinate delivery schedules, and ensure accurate invoicing and inventory alignment. 

• Performance Monitoring: Analyze vendor and product performance, monitor sales data, and forecast purchasing plans to support both local and overseas vendors. 

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with the Product and Operations Teams to streamline buying, merchandising, and sales processes, maintaining constant communication with store managers and key corporate personnel to align with business objectives. 

• Additional Duties: Perform any other duties as assigned to support the procurement team and overall business objectives. 

Qualifications

• Associate or Bachelor Degree  

• 3+ years of experience in procurement, category management, or supply chain roles, with a strong preference for experience in the food industry. 

• Strong analytical skills with experience in costing, marginality analysis, and data management. 

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and data review software for complex data analysis and reporting. 

• Experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365 (D365) and ECRS POS systems is preferred. 

• Knowledge of fruit and vegetable procurement is a plus. 

• Excellent organizational and communication skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders. 

• Proven ability to build and maintain vendor relationships and negotiate favorable terms. 

• Detail-oriented with a proactive, problem-solving mindset. 

JOB REQUIREMENTS 

• Up to 20% travel to all Eataly North America locations 

• Ability to stand for extended periods in front of computers during data management and analysis tasks. 

• Capability to lift and move boxes weighing up to 35 pounds as part of inventory or material handling. 

The annual salary for this position is: $75,000-$90,000

Additional Information

Benefits and Perks

• Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance
• Paid Time Off
• Paid Parental Leave
• 401K with match or RRSP
• Bonus program
• Free family meal daily
• Discounts at Eat