Lead Fresh Merchant
COMPANY:
Southeast-headquartered, privately held, food retail and wholesale distribution company.
BASIC FUNCTIONS:
The person in this position will lead the fresh merchandising organization—including produce, floral, deli-bakery, meat and seafood, and prepared foods—to new levels of success. This role will develop innovative strategies, set market-leading standards, and implement policies that drive sales and growth. This executive will have the opportunity to shape the future of fresh merchandising and make a lasting impact on the organization’s success.
Specific duties will include, but not necessarily be limited to:
- Assume P&L ownership and overall performance and profitability for the fresh departments, including produce, floral, deli-bakery, meat and seafood, and prepared foods.
- Develop marketing and merchandising objectives and strategies and monitor performance against goals.
- Contribute to the strategic direction and development of the business as a member of the executive team.
- Develop the visual merchandising standards and programs to drive market share and create a differentiated customer experience.
- Lead the ideation, creation, and implementation of signature products and market-leading programs to maintain a competitive advantage.
- Lead and provide direction to product directors and category managers and indirectly to field merchandisers, fresh field merchandisers, store management teams, and store associates.
- Oversee implementation and utilization of technology to support fresh merchandising initiatives. This may include items related to promotional planning, pricing, assortment, and other work method enhancements.
- Partner with merchandising leaders to drive sales, margins, and cost of goods for the broader enterprise.
- Lead strategic vendor partnerships to drive market share and enhance merchandising.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Proven leader with the ability to drive both top-line and bottom-line growth, with strong merchandising expertise focused on performance, execution, and leveraging key traffic drivers through brand values.
- Track record of building and leading high-performing teams, with prior executive experience as Vice President of Merchandising or Operations, or Chief Operating Officer.
- Extensive knowledge of foodservice and fresh prepared food; experience in fresh departments (produce, meat, bakery) preferred.
- Visionary thinker with a strong focus on customer experience, strategic innovation, and delivering outstanding results.
- Strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire confidence, lead teams through change, and foster collaboration across the organization.
- Ability to lead courageously and inspire confidence.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills.
- Proactive, driven, and highly motivated with a strong work ethic and the ability to build productive relationships with high integrity, trustworthiness, and authenticity.
- Approachable, with a sense of humor and ability to create a positive and engaging work environment.
COMPENSATION:
Compensation will be commensurate with experience including a competitive base salary, bonus opportunity, and competitive benefits package.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Jonas Hedin, Managing Partner
[email protected]
704.377.0362