Deli Category Manager

**Deli & Cheese Category Manager**

**Location**: Toronto, ON

**Job Type**: Full-Time

Are you a passionate foodie with a love for deli meats and cheeses? Summerhill Market is looking for a strategic and driven **Deli & Cheese Category Manager** to oversee one of our most signature and customer-loved categories. This role is responsible for managing the **end-to-end operations** of our Deli & Cheese department—including production, sourcing, merchandising, vendor relations, and in-store execution. You’ll be the go-to expert for everything sliced, aged, cured, and crave-worthy.

**Key Responsibilities**

**Category Ownership & Strategic Management**
- Lead and manage the full **Deli & Cheese category**, including:

- **Production Oversight**: Oversee all deli & cheese production activities—slicing, packaging, labelling, and fulfillment to store locations.
- **Product Selection**: Own assortment planning across deli meats, specialty cheeses, charcuterie items and accompaniments; manage pricing strategy and inventory.
- **Retail Execution**: Collaborate with Store and Department Managers on merchandising, in-store demos, promotional planning, and sales strategy.
- **Vendor Relations**: Build and maintain strong supplier partnerships, handle ordering, negotiate terms, and source **new and exciting deli & cheese products** from local and global markets.

**Data-Driven Planning & Business Optimization**
- Analyze industry trends, consumer preferences, and sales performance to drive strategy for category growth and profitability.
- Make thoughtful, data-backed decisions on product mix, promotions, and pricing to deliver the right product at the right time and price.

**Cross-Functional Collaboration**
- Liaise regularly with Store Managers and Department Heads to ensure alignment on inventory, signage, display standards, and seasonal execution.
- Work with the Marketing and Category Management teams to promote deli & cheese offerings and drive foot traffic through compelling campaigns and events.

**What You Bring**
- A **deep passion for food**, especially for deli meats, artisan cheeses, and specialty grocery products.
- **5+ years of experience** in Category Management, Sourcing, Purchasing, or Vendor Relations within grocery retail or food & beverage (cheese/deli experience is strongly preferred).
- A **post-secondary degree** in Business, Supply Chain Management, or a related discipline.
- Demonstrated expertise in **end-to-end category management**, from sourcing and assortment curation to vendor management and merchandising execution.
- Excellent **communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills**.
- **Analytical thinking** and business acumen with the ability to interpret financial and sales data to guide decisions.
- **Proficiency in MS Office** and the ability to work with modern ERP/CRM systems.

**Perks**

If this sounds like the role for you, we offer some pretty cool perks
- **Weekly pay**:

- **Awesome employee discount**:

- **Flexible schedule**:

- **Employer-paid benefits** for all full-time employees
- **Dynamic workplace culture** that promotes collaboration, internal training/development, diversity & inclusion, and recognizing, rewarding & celebrating employees
- **Easily accessible locations**:

- **Complimentary work swag** (your Summerhill Market work shirts are provided)

**Equity Statement**

At Summerhill Market, we are an equal opportunity employer that values and encourages diversity in the workplace. We provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, record of offences, marital status, family status, disability or any other characteristic protected by local law. Should you require an accommodation at any point during the recruitment process, please let us know and we will be happy to accommodate.

The purpose of this document is to provide a general summary of essential responsibilities for this position and is not an exhaustive list. Duties, assignments, and other responsibilities may differ for similar positions based on business needs of each location.

**Job Types**: Full-time, Permanent

**Benefits**:

- Dental care
- Extended health care
- Store discount

Schedule:

- 8 hour shift
- Day shift
- Monday to Friday
- Weekends as needed

**Experience**:

- Grocery/Food Industry: 5 years (preferred)
- Deli & Cheese: 3 years (preferred)
- category management & purchasing: 3 years (preferred)

**Location**:

- Toronto, ON M4W 2E4 (preferred)

Work Location: In person