Abstract: The article describes significance and results of interaction between manufacturers and retailers in the efficient assortment management. To build an effective relationship with retailers for efficient assortment management, trade marketers of the food industry must clearly identify and neutralize conflicts of interest of all participants in the product distribution, the main prerequisites of which were investigated in the article. Particular attention is paid to consumers, who are the core of the integration of marketing strategies and efforts of manufacturers and retailers and the key to efficiency and competitiveness of their joint market offerings. The main categories in retail, as well as the impact of category strategy on decisions regarding effective product management were investigated. It should be stressed that the article considers the roles of categories in terms of category management. As part of the integrated management of product groups as strategic business units of manufacturers / suppliers and retailers, were proposed to identify seven main strategies for the development of categories. The text gives a valuable information on the impact of category strategy on assortment management decisions. In our opinion, the process of efficient assortment management in the context of category management involves 3 fundamental stages, each of which were considered.

Harmonization of business processes and integration of efforts of suppliers and retailers as factors of successful strategy of categorical management were described with particular attention. The synergistic effect of cooperation in the assortment management allows to get more benefits for manufacturers and retailers, as well as for consumers. Trade marketing activities of the food industry need further improvement. That will be the subject of the future publications.