Category Development Manager (Vendor Advisor)

To become the world’s greatest baker, we need the world’s greatest team members 

Summary

The CATEGORY DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, VENDOR ADVISOR , will be responsible using numerous data sources to create unbiased insights and recommendations to Kroger USA on how to optimize total Bakery Category performance. 

The incumbent will work closely with all levels of the Kroger Category Team and operate across all categories in the In-Store Bakery to establish themselves as a critical resource in supporting the key decisions of Kroger around Assortment, Promotion, and Merchandising.   Working daily with the Kroger Team, you will quickly become a key resource to the execution of the annual plan for total In-store Bakery categories by providing expert category knowledge on performance, innovation, market insights and trends leveraging both POS and consumer data.

Based out of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA and reporting into the SVP of Marketing and Category Development FGF, this is a terrific opportunity for a technically gifted analytical leader with the intellectual horsepower to drive insight-based thinking and actions.   The Proximity to the Kroger Bakery Team demonstrates Kroger’s commitment to the successful development of the role within FGF Brands and an opportunity for the right individual to establish the playbook for success!

What FGF Offers: 

• FGF believes in Home Grown Talent, accelerated career growth with leadership training, unleashing your potential 
• Competitive Compensation, Health & Welfare Benefits including Vision & Dental and flexible options at competitive premiums 
• 401k matching program
• Discount program - Restaurants, gyms, shopping, etc.
• Tuition reimbursement

Primary Responsibilities

• Provides expert category knowledge on performance, innovation, market insights, trends and shopper and consumer insights.
• Creates on-going reporting (weekly / monthly / quarterly) to track and interpret performance while drawing insights that lead to actionable category development recommendations.
• Works closely and builds a trusted partnership with Kroger Category Team Members to provide objective recommendations and become category expert.
• Supports the analytics and development of Kroger Planogram recommendations based on the Kroger Planogram Schedule, while adhering to tight timelines
• Identifies Regional Development opportunities to strengthen Kroger’s performance in key markets.
• Presents recommendations to Kroger that optimize category performance.
• Identifies assortment opportunities, shelf (or table) allocations and adjacency recommendations of planograms.
• Provide postmortems and tracking of programs or merchandising tests, including seasonal programs that lead to future recommendations.
• Works closely with the 84.51 Team to identify the analytical best practices, while maximizing utility and advanced analytic reporting capabilities.
• Respects the confidentiality of Kroger Vendor Advisor-ship and competitive data.

Required Experience

• Demonstrated ability in sales analytics, category management to formulate recommendations
• Minimum 5 years CPG experience.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Significant Experience in Using the 84.51 Platform (Stratum) to support Kroger growth strategies.
• A high-level expert in all Microsoft Office Suite tools, particularly Excel and PowerPoint.
• Strong proficiency to pull data within Market 6, Circana(IRI), and Numerator.
• Proven expertise in building user-friendly tools and reports that help bring data to life.
• Ability to distill vast amounts of data into the critical business insights.
• Superb communication skills across all levels of the organizations.
• An incredible attention to detail, especially as it relates to data accuracy.
• Previous experience in presenting complex analytics to a senior level audience.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment with flexibility and tolerance of change.
• Education – Bachelor’s Degree Required
• Up to 15% Travel within USA

What is the recipe for a great career at FGF? 

Working at FGF Brands, there is never a dull moment! FGF is a leading North American bakery company with facilities across the USA and Canada with a specialized focus across all key bakery categories, including naan, muffins, croissants, donuts, cakes, artisan breads and flatbreads.  

As an innovative company that is continually growing there is always challenging yet rewarding work to be a part of. We have an entrepreneurial spirit that encourages all our Team Members to use their own creativity and out-of-the-box thinking to come up with solutions and new ideas.  

Disclaimer: The above describes the general responsibilities, required knowledge and skills.  Please keep in mind that other duties may be added or this description may be amended at any time.

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