Key Account Manager – Kroger
Heartland Food Products Group | Cincinnati, OH
We are seeking a Key Account Manager (KAM) to support and help lead our Kroger business. This role will report directly to the National Account Manager – Kroger & Harris Teeter and play a critical role in day-to-day account management, execution, and analytical support across Heartland’s brand portfolio.
This position is based in Cincinnati, OH.
What You’ll Do
Support Kroger Customer Leadership
- Partner closely with the National Account Manager to execute Kroger strategy and Joint Business Plans
- Serve as a key day-to-day contact for Kroger merchandising and support teams, as appropriate
- Prepare customer-facing materials for line reviews, innovation presentations, and business updates
Drive Execution & Commercial Performance
- Support delivery of volume, trade spend, and profitability targets
- Manage promotional planning, deal execution, and item maintenance in Kroger systems
- Track promotional performance and identify opportunities to improve effectiveness
Analytics, Forecasting & Insights
- Maintain forecasts, demand planning inputs, and customer scorecards
- Analyze syndicated data (Circana/IRI, Nielsen) and Kroger-specific reporting to identify risks and opportunities
- Translate data into clear insights and recommendations for the NAM and broader team
Merchandising & In-Market Excellence
- Partner with Kroger merchandising teams to support shelf execution, display compliance, and item launches
- Track distribution, pricing, and promotional compliance across Heartland’s portfolio
- Support innovation launches and post-launch performance tracking
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Work closely with marketing, category management, supply chain, finance, and customer service teams
- Help ensure internal alignment to customer needs and timelines
- Act as a strong internal advocate for Kroger priorities
What You Bring
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required
- 3–6 years of CPG sales, account management, or customer-facing experience
- Experience supporting or calling on Kroger strongly preferred
- Strong analytical skills and comfort working with syndicated and customer data
- Solid understanding of grocery retail fundamentals and trade execution
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
Preferred Experience
- Experience in branded food or beverage categories
- Exposure to trade promotion management systems and forecasting tools
- Experience working in a fast-paced, matrixed organization
Key Competencies
- Results-oriented with a strong execution mindset
- Collaborative team player who partners well cross-functionally
- Analytical thinker who turns data into action
- Clear communicator with strong presentation skills
- Curious, proactive, and eager to grow
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree
- 3-6 years of CPG sales, account management, or customer-facing experience
- Experience supporting or calling on Kroger
- Strong analytical skills and comfort working with syndicated and customer data
- Solid understanding of grocery retail fundamentals and trade execution
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
What We Do
Heartland Food Products Group is a global leader in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry, producing low-calorie sweeteners, coffee, coffee creamers and liquid water enhancers. Simply put, we make coffee, tea and water taste better. Our portfolio includes a variety of branded, licensed and private label products within multiple categories. We also provide strategic co-manufactured partnerships with many category leaders. On the branded side of the business, we manufacture and market SPLENDA®, the #1 brand in the low-calorie sweetener (LCS) category and the most recognizable in the world. And we’re leading the charge in the quickly emerging cold brew coffee category with JAVA HOUSE® Authentic Cold Brew Coffee, our 100% authentic cold brew handcrafted in small batches. In addition, we are the leading provider of private label sweeteners and liquid water enhancers in the U.S. Our products are distributed throughout North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Asia-Pacific. We employ over 1,200 people worldwide.
