Director of Speciality Food Sales & Merchandising

Director of Specialty Food Sales & Merchandising

Location: 5000 Kansas Avenue Kansas City, KS 66106

Department: Center Store

You will lead and manage specialty food brands and products, ensuring optimal cost of goods and impactful programs that help member retailers excel on the shelf with profitable sales. Develop strategies and initiatives based on emerging specialty food trends to maintain a competitive edge for our retailers. Build and manage strong vendor partnerships to guarantee the best pricing and consistent supply for member success.

Responsibilities:

• Negotiate everyday best cost of goods, promotional funding and general vendor agreements delivering optimal programing for member retailers to drive profitable sales rebate strategies for brands and items to carry inclusive
• Develop brand strategies to include within categories including Produce, Placement, Promotions and Price (internal/external data, insights/trends, optimal financial delivery AWG/Member, etc.)
• Work with mainstream category managers to ensure Specialty Foods brands, items and insights are included in category sets and are educate and aware of importance
• Manage sales and gross profit performance while monitoring and understanding results compared to budget and prior year (week, period and annual level)
• Create annual budgets, period and weekly forecasts including action plans to meet or exceed original budget and forecasts
• Measure and monitor internal and external brand and item performance continuously identifying opportunities for improvement (Produce, Placement, Price, Promotion) while educating member retailers the importance to carry specialty food brands/items
• Partner with buying organization to monitor and maintain supply within warehouses is at proper levels (service level, days of supply, aged inventory, spoilage, etc.)
• Work with vendors and internal buying and operations organization to ensure all tactical aspects of ordering, receiving and shipping of brands and items are met (Forecast, PO’s, Tracking of PO’s, Transportation Plans, Receiving Timing, Out of Stocks, Etc.)
• Establish and maintain a professional relationship with member retailers and AWG division support center associates (deploy brand/item strategies, collaboration, provide member support, etc.)
• Provide leadership to employees through goals, feedback and effective performance appraisals to develop skills and future growth.

Education/Experience:

• College degree or equivalent grocery, in-store, category management, and/or specialty foods experience.
• 10+ years of grocery experience with at least 5+ years of category management and specialty foods experience.
• Valid driver's license
• Microsoft Office skills
• Strong financial acumen
• Understanding of AWG systems & AWG members, divisions, & resources
• Understanding of accounting principals
• Ability to read and analyze P&L

Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. (AWG) is the nation’s largest cooperative food wholesaler to independently owned supermarkets, serving 1,100 member companies and more than 3,400 locations throughout 33 states from 9 wholesale divisions. Consolidated sales for AWG in 2023 were $12.4 billion. In addition to its cooperative wholesale operations, the company also operates subsidiary companies that provide certain real estate and supermarket development services, and pharmaceutical products. For more information, visit AWGinc.com.

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance
• Health Savings Account
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
• Paid Vacation, Holiday, and Sick Time
• 401(k) with 4% match along with 3 other contributions
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Basic & Supplemental Life and AD&D
• Employee Assistance Program
• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
• Wellness Program
• Yearly Holiday Bonus