Purpose
Partners with the Division Sales Manager to strategically manage the produce department
category to increase sales, total gross dollars, and market share versus prior year and to meet or
exceed projected numbers. Creates and implements pricing, promotion, assortment, and shelf
schematics for each assigned category, based on detailed analysis of past performance and
results, industry best practices, and consumer trends.
Job Responsibilities and Accountabilities
- Assist with total store Customer Service for the Division
- Creates yearly category business plan based on detailed analysis of previous results and
market trends.
- Meets or exceeds projected sales and profit contribution.
- Creates detailed pricing strategy by zone by category and maintains approach throughout
the year.
- Creates and implements a promotional calendar by major category, which supports division
merchandising strategy. Tracks results at end of each promotion in terms of sales, profit
and share
- Design schematics and recommend adjacencies that support the role of the category.
- Determines the appropriate product assortment based on the category strategies.
Authorizes new items entering the market and discontinue lines based on potential
contribution to the category and department.
- Maintains weekly, quarterly and yearly scorecards to track sales, gross profit dollars and
share of each category.
- Measures total contribution to the entire department.
- Manages and maximizes categories to achieve most efficient use of vendor dollars.
- Creates sales and gross profit projections at the category level, rolling up to department and
division projections quarterly and yearly.
- Conducts in depth post-promotional analysis at the item and category level.
- Plans ads and displays in support of the category plans and total department initiatives.
- Coordinates and communicates between stores, merchandising and other departments in
the division.
- Acts as primary contact within division for all vendors in categories assigned.
- Meets with vendors on a consistent basis for deal negotiation and business updates.
- Works closely with procurement function. Communicates category and promotional plans
to ensure desired service levels and optimum inventory position achieved.
- Coordinates promotional plans (ads and displays), and merchandising messages within
department as assigned by management.
- Attends key vendor planning meetings.
- Works in conjunction with others in department, across the division, and with corporate
merchandising to facilitate implementation of programs.
- Visits stores as necessary to observe results of merchandising programs.
- Supports and implements corporate initiatives
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Job Requirements
Relevant Experience, Education, Certification, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Assistant Store Director or Operations Specialist experience for one year or more preferred.
- Bachelor’s degree preferred. Relevant work experience required.
- Must have a strong knowledge base in supermarket retail and an understanding of consumer
behavior in relation to product performance; must carry a detailed understanding of causeeffect relations between operational levers and performance (assortment/price vs.
volume/margins).
- Ability to plan for the medium term; experience in successfully monitoring performance;
strong client management skills, particularly working with vendors; ability to partner with the
division as a team
- Must be able to adapt to competitor and/or market shifts; must be able to learn/adapt
quickly to changes and cooperate/promote partnerships with other divisions, departments,
corporate Merchandising, etc.
- Must have a sound fundamental understanding of sales forecasting and planning at the
division level.
- Must have been in current role for more than 1 year.
Physical Environment
- Most work is performed in a temperature-controlled environment.
- Incumbent may sit for long periods of time at desk or computer terminal.
- Incumbent may use calculators, keyboards, telephone, and other office equipment during
normal workday.
- Position may require work during “non-traditional” hours including evenings and weekends.
- Position may require some travel, including occasional overnight/weekend travel.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature of the work performed by the employees
assigned to this job. All employees must comply with Company policy and applicable laws. The responsibilities,
duties and skills required of personnel so classified may vary within each department and/or location.
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