Regional Merchandising Manager

Job Description

Welcome to Gordon Food Service! We are excited that you are thinking about opportunities with us, and we have an amazing story to share. Here's a quick glance of who we are and the impact you could have on the food service industry. There's a seat at our table for you...

The Regional Merchandising Manager leads and brings to life go-to-market initiatives that power regional sales and marketing success. This role provides strategic merchandising direction across all product categories within the assigned region and partners closely with North American category teams, product support, marketing, sales, revenue management, and vendor partners to execute strategies that drive sales growth, margin expansion, and brand performance.

What We Offer:

• The salary range for this position $117,000.00 - $135,000.00 and a potential 20% bonus


• Medical, Dental, Prescription Drug, and EFAP Benefits after 30 days of employment


• FULL flex benefits program


• Company matching RRSP


• Family culture


• Advancement opportunities


• Profit Sharing


• 128 year, family owned and operated company history

Location

The successful candidate should be able to commute to the Milton or Ajax DC at least 4 days a week.

Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership

• Serve as the primary liaison between Regional VP, Division GMs, Sales Leadership, and vendor/broker partners


• Lead, develop, and manage a high-performing team (hiring, coaching, performance management)


• Drive strong engagement between divisions and vendor partners

Strategy & Planning

• Support development and execution of Annual Operating Plans to achieve sales, margin, market share, and brand growth targets


• Align regional strategies with North American category, revenue management, marketing, and sales teams


• Translate corporate strategies into actionable regional plans

Category Management

• Execute category strategies at the regional/divisional level, overseeing product portfolio management to ensure alignment with local market needs and strategic objectives.


• Manage regional product plans to achieve sales, margin, and brand penetration goals


• Optimize product assortment, pricing, and lifecycle management (new items, transitions, discontinuations)


• Lead vendor and product transitions across divisions


• Ensure regional needs and “local” product opportunities are incorporated into category strategies

Vendor & Pricing Management

• Manage performance of strategic vendors and broker partners


• Identify and drive regional growth opportunities


• Ensure competitive pricing while optimizing marginsPartner with revenue management and category teams to implement appropriate cost strategies

Sales & Operational Support

• Provide timely, actionable communication on product updates, supply issues, and vendor insights


• Support resolution of supply chain disruptions and inventory management initiatives


• Conduct field engagement (ride-alongs) to strengthen alignment with sales and marketing teams

Industry Expertise & Continuous Improvement

• Maintain deep category and industry knowledge


• Leverage data and customer insights to inform decisions


• Stay current on market trends and best practices

Qualifications & Skills

• High School diploma required; Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or related field preferred


• 5+ years of experience in category management, sales, or marketing (or equivalent combination of education and experience)


• Valid passport preferred for travel

Experience & Competencies

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret industry trends, pricing, margins, and customer data


• Solid knowledge of category management, sourcing, pricing, and sales/marketing strategies


• Proven leadership and influencing skills, including the ability to lead without direct authority


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills


• Strong organizational, time management, and multitasking abilities


• Creative thinker with a problem-solving mindset and strong attention to detail


• Ability to develop and execute strategic plans aligned with business objectives


• Skilled at building relationships, networking, and collaborating across teams and vendors


• Willingness to travel and work flexible hours as needed


• Demonstrated ability to develop innovative solutions to complex business challenges

We thank all applicants for their interest, however only those selected for the next stage will be contacted. Gordon Food Service is an equal opportunity employer who strives to provide an inclusive work environment that involves everyone and embraces the diverse talent of its people. All qualified applicants and employees will receive consideration for employment, or in terms or conditions of employment, without regard to any enumerated or analogous grounds of discrimination, including race, religious beliefs, colour, gender, gender identity, gender expression, physical disability, mental disability, age, ancestry, place of origin, marital status, source of income, family status, sexual orientation or status as a qualified individual with disability.

If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process due to a disability, please submit your request to talentcanada@gfs.com and use the words “Accommodation Request” in your subject line.