Foodservice Category Manager

Job Attributes

144232BR
Sales
Full Time
Elizabeth, New Jersey
Performance Metro NY (0610)
May 06, 2026

Company Description:

Performance Foodservice, PFG's broadline distributor, maintains a unique relationship with a variety of local customers, including independent restaurants and hotels, healthcare facilities, schools, and quick-service eateries. A team of sales reps, chefs, consultants, and other experts builds close relationships with customers - providing advice on improving operations, menu development, product selection, and operational strategies. The Performance team delivers delicious food but also goes above and beyond to help independent restaurant owners achieve their dreams.

Job Description:

We Deliver the Goods:

  • Competitive pay and benefits, including Day 1 Health & Wellness Benefits, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, 401K Employer Matching, Education Assistance, Paid Time Off, and much more
  • Growth opportunities performing essential work to support America's food distribution system
  • Safe and inclusive working environment, including culture of rewards, recognition, and respect
Position Summary
To manage the customer relations, purchasing, and financial management functions related to your product category in order to achieve maximum profits and customer satisfaction. To coordinate the buying, selling, and merchandising efforts of the vendor and distributor, resulting in satisfied customers, profitable sales and above average in-stock percentages, inventory turns, and days accounts payable outstanding.
Position Responsibilities:
  • Maintain optimal inventory levels to meet customers' needs.
  • Monitor over-committed and urgent items.
  • Increase inventory turns upon reaching full truckloads.
  • Resolve slow moving and dead inventory by selling it or billing customer for it.
  • Keep your product knowledge up to date by attending and participating in special events such as food shows, buying shows, and seminars.
  • Be responsible for knowing your products and for product knowledge training for customers.
  • Review over-committed, urgent items, buyer's outs, stock adjustments, receiving discrepancies, and sales below cost reports.
  • Negotiate buy brackets, inbound freight rates, backhaul dollars, cash discounts, extended terms, and earned income.
  • Ensure costing and pricing accuracy, with special attention to changes, discrepancies, and customer audits.
  • Process returns to vendors including entering vendor bill backs before merchandise leaves our buildings.
  • Assist accounting with invoicing customers for storage and finance charges on excess inventory.
  • Set up vendor bill backs with Vice President of Purchasing.
  • Review monthly reports.
  • Work with Accounts Payable to ensure that vendor bill backs are promptly billed and deducted.
  • Review vendor accounts receivable list.
  • Review all customer credit memos and bill back to manufacturers.
  • Work with Accounts Payable to negotiate, approve, and resolve all billing vs. receiving discrepancies, vendor bill back issues, lost cash discount negotiations, etc.
  • Maximize days accounts payable purchases outstanding.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.
  • Complies with all policies and standards.

Benefits:

Click Here for Benefits Information

Qualifications:

Bachelor's Degree
5-7 Years related experience
6 months - 1 year supervisory or management experience

Preferred qualifications:

Preferred Education: Bachelors
Preferred Experience: 6-10 Years
Foodservice distribution and purchasing management experience.

EEO Statement:

Performance Food Group and/or its subsidiaries (individually or collectively, the "Company") provides equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all applicants and employees, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state and federal laws and regulations. Please click on the following links to review: (1) our EEO Policy; (2) the "EEO is the Law" poster and supplement; and (3) the Pay Transparency Policy Statement.

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