Central Market is a celebrated food-lover’s destination that sparks new food adventures with every visit. From the day our doors opened in Austin, Texas in 1994, our stores have been a gathering place where friends and families discover a new world of tastes together. Our buyers and experts traverse the globe, relentlessly in search of the freshest, finest ingredients to surprise and delight every palate with innovative products and discoveries. Our relationships with farmers, ranchers, and makers help bring us a product selection you can’t find anywhere else, and we proudly foster an inclusive celebration of cultures, diverse foodways, and treasured traditions alongside our Partners every chance we get. There’s a reason our stores are the talk of Texas! 

Job Summary: At Central Market, food is our passion. Our mission is simple but ambitious: to operate the best bakeries in the world. Our dedication to offering a wide assortment of scratch-baked goods is a demonstration of our commitment to the artisanal experience.

As a Category Manager for the Bakery department you’ll will play a pivotal role in curating, developing and sourcing an extraordinary selection of baked items and ingredients while generating product passion and knowledge among our operations teams in an effort to enhance the customer experience with an elevated mindset and approach toward food. Food is our passion, and we hope it’s yours too!

Key Responsibilities:

1. Product Expertise: Selection and Merchandising
   • Using your passion for bakery and expertise in product, curate an exceptional assortment of products that reflect both local and international standards of excellence.
   • Develop and implement merchandising strategies that highlight the uniqueness and freshness of our scratch baked offerings.
2. Product Development:
   • Lead the product development process, from ideation and sourcing to execution across multiple stores.
   • Collaborate with suppliers, chefs and internal partners to launch innovative and scalable product offerings to discerning customers who shop Central Market for the ultimate epicurean experience.
3. Category Strategy Development:
   • Create and execute a strategic plan for the Bakery category that aligns with our high-end sourcing philosophy and our unique Central Market shopping experience.
   • Stay ahead of market trends, customer preferences, and seasonal opportunities to drive category growth and innovation. At Central Market, we pride ourselves in being the first to market with exceptional product assortment– our BDM Category Managers aim to source, develop and curate unique assortment that our customers can’t find anywhere else.
4. Sourcing and Supplier Management:
   • Identify and establish relationships with top-tier suppliers to source the finest baked items and ingredients.
   • Manage supplier performance and ensure consistent delivery of high-quality products.
5. Collaborate with Operations Team:
   • Provide complete execution guidance and maintain collaborative partnerships with the store operations teams, staying aware of operational processes, challenges, ingredients, customer feedback, and other factors that impact the support needed from store teams.
   • Inspire and influence store and operations teams by sharing your expertise and passion for bakery products. Provide training, product knowledge, and sales strategies to instill confidence and excitement about items, fostering a sense of ownership and pride.
6. Customer Experience Enhancement:
   • Create an inviting and educational shopping experience that enhances customers’ lives through a more fun and informed relationship with food.
   • Support the development of promotional campaigns and in-store displays that engage customers and showcase the premium nature of our scratch bakeries.
7. Sustainability and Innovation:
   • Promote sustainable sourcing practices and support initiatives that contribute to environmental and community well-being.
   • Stay abreast of industry innovations and incorporate cutting-edge practices into category management.
   • Ideate, plan, develop and execute industry leading innovations for all Central Market stores
8. Performance Analysis:
   • Monitor category performance through sales data, market analysis, and partner and customer feedback.
   • Generate actionable insights to drive profitability, optimize assortment, and improve operational efficiency. Scorecard includes Sales, Gross Profit, Contribution, Innovation, Central Market Shopping Experience

If you have a passion for exceptional bakery products and a desire to bring the best bakery experience to life, we invite you to apply for this exciting opportunity. Join us in redefining the bakery category with world-class quality and innovative sourcing.

Physical and Other Requirements:

Sit for an extended period of time

Travel by airplane or car with overnight stays

Work extended hours

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