Job Details

Assistant Category Manager - Perishable

This is a hybrid position. Candidates must be located within 4 hours of the Asheville, NC area.

Be the Behind-the-Scenes Hero Driving Fresh, Natural & Organic Excellence at Earth Fare!

Are you passionate about seasonal produce, sustainable seafood, grass-fed meats, and chef-inspired prepared foods? Do you love digging into data, supporting innovative merchandising, and helping bring the freshest, cleanest, most wellness-focused options to customers every day? Earth Fare, the trusted leader in natural and organic grocery retail, is seeking a sharp, energetic Assistant Category Manager - Perishables to support our VP of Category Management in owning the Produce, Meat & Seafood, and Prepared Foods categories.

In this fast-paced, hands-on role, you'll help manage promotions, analyze performance, strengthen vendor partnerships, reduce waste, and keep our fresh departments vibrant and profitable-directly contributing to sales growth, category leadership, and our mission of nourishing families and the planet with the highest-quality natural and organic fresh foods.

If you thrive in a collaborative environment, excel at multitasking, and have 3-5 years of experience in grocery merchandising, category support, or fresh/perishable operations (especially in natural/organic retail), this is your opportunity to make a real impact at a values-driven company.

What You'll Do

• Support full category reviews and line reviews across Produce, Meat & Seafood, and Prepared Foods-helping evaluate assortment performance, introduce new items (seasonal organics, sustainable proteins, plant-based grab-and-go), and exit underperformers while staying true to customer trends and wellness priorities.
• Assist with promotional planning and execution: coordinate vendor programs, set up promotions in our systems (like ECRS), track performance, and analyze results to deliver strong sales lifts and ROI.
• Manage day-to-day vendor coordination: review cost changes, update pricing, model margin impacts, resolve issues, and support onboarding of innovative suppliers focused on regenerative agriculture, ethical sourcing, and clean-label prepared foods.
• Provide analytical and operational support: run sales, shrink, and inventory reports; dive into trends (local/seasonal produce, grass-fed trends, plant-based prepared meals); help forecast demand, optimize ordering to minimize waste, and support assortment planning and private label growth.
• Collaborate across teams (procurement, marketing, store operations, culinary) to align on strategies, prepare presentations and planograms, ensure compliance with strict ingredient, food safety (HACCP, USDA, FDA), and sustainability standards, and help launch exciting new fresh products and menus.
• Jump on ad hoc requests, market research, competitive analysis, training support, and administrative tasks to keep perishable category operations running smoothly in our multi-unit environment.

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Food Science, Supply Chain Management, Culinary Arts, or a related field preferred.
• Experience: 3-5 years in merchandising, category support, buying, or operations in grocery retail, with at least 2 years focused on perishable/fresh categories (Produce, Meat/Seafood, Prepared Foods). Experience in natural/organic retail, vendor coordination, promotions, and data analysis is highly preferred. Equivalent combinations of education and experience considered.
• Skills: Advanced Excel proficiency (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, data modeling, forecasting); strong Microsoft Suite skills; familiarity with retail systems like ECRS or similar; solid understanding of perishable supply chain, cold chain management, promotional processes, shrink/waste reduction, and merchandising basics. Excellent communication for vendor and cross-functional collaboration.
• Personal Attributes: Detail-oriented yet adaptable; proactive problem-solver who stays calm under pressure; highly organized with strong prioritization skills; collaborative team player who enjoys fast-paced, dynamic work.
• Passion & Values: Genuine enthusiasm for natural and organic fresh foods, sustainability, ethical sourcing, and health-focused living-fully aligned with Earth Fare's commitment to clean ingredients, zero-waste practices, and positive impact.

Why Join Earth Fare?

• Work for a purpose-driven company dedicated to healthier communities and a sustainable future.
• Competitive compensation and benefits.
• Clear path for growth into Category Manager or other leadership roles.
• Collaborative, supportive culture where your ideas are valued and teamwork drives success.
• Hybrid work model with a team that prioritizes work-life balance, professional development, and meaningful impact every day.

Ready to Help Shape the Future of Fresh, Natural Grocery? If this sounds like your next challenge, we'd love to hear from you! Apply today and bring your energy, analytical mindset, and passion for fresh, clean food to Earth Fare.

Earth Fare is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.

Note: This position is exempt, reports to the VP of Category Management, and may involve occasional travel (up to 25%) to stores, suppliers, or industry events.