The Role
Leads private-label category strategy, financial analysis, product development, packaging, commercialization, and retail execution. Coordinates cross-functional teams, develops category growth plans, presents business cases to leadership, guides vendor and product decisions, monitors consumer and competitive trends, and evaluates post-launch performance. Supports food safety, quality, sourcing, reformulation, and store initiatives while traveling to divisions and locations as needed.
Summary Generated by Built In
Act as the hub for all Our Brands business matters for the respective category. Efficiently lead cross-functional teams through business plans, product development and category acceleration deep dives to deliver results. Communicate our private label vision, goals, and budget, as well as how they align with overall category merchandiser strategies and the customer first promise. Exhibit category expertise in business financials, category insights and the retail marketplace. Demonstrate the company's core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion and safety.Responsibilities- Provide private label category financial performance insights and summary for executive review
- Deliver category acceleration deep dives, leading stage gate presentations and action plan share out
- Follow the Our Brands new product development process ensuring cross-functional team members are briefed with project rationale, attributes, financials and detailed timing prior to commercialization work.
- Prepare packaging design briefs for new product development; share out proposed designs for leadership and merchandising alignment
- Drive growth by applying knowledge of competitive set, consumer trends and business needs
- Partner with merchandising to build long and short-term strategic plans to drive category growth and profitability
- Articulate respective business plans, OB's category role(s) and new product development plans to senior leadership
- Lead the commercialization of projects as identified in business plans
- Provide guidance on vendor selection, product segmentation, and sales planning
- Provide input to other OB functional teams, such as innovation and branding, to ensure respective plans support business needs
- Remain current with food, cultural and ethnic, category and product trends
- Actively participate in the sensory phase of product development and approve reformulations, packaging, sourcing, and specification changes
- Monitor and optimize retail execution, conduct post-launch analysis against OB initiatives and make recommendations
- Travel to divisions and store locations to support OB initiatives
- Follow established programs, policies, practices to produce safe, quality foods that meet regulatory and company requirements
- Accountable to the Kroger Manufacturing Food Safety and Quality Principles
- Must be able to perform the essential job functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation
QualificationsMinimum
- Bachelor's Degree business, marketing, comparable work experience
- 2+ years of experience in retail, consumer packaged goods, sales or innovation
- Excellent leadership/collaboration skills
- Ability to set priorities, delegate effectively/communicate responsibilities, and manage execution across a multi-disciplinary team
- Ability to manage complex and/or large portfolio of categories with some supervision
- Highly motivated and self-directed
- Ability to function in a fast-paced, retail/office environment
- Proven ability to communicate to all levels of the organization via written and oral communication and presentations
- Strong business analytical skills in sales, volume and profit forecasts
- Proven ability to make critical decisions
- Demonstrate initiative and willingness to take risks
Desired
- Master's Degree
- Any demonstrated success in project management
- Any familiarity with manufacturing operations and profit and loss
- Any product development experience
- Any experience in the orchestration of commercialization plans for new product development pipelines
About Us
- Deliver category acceleration deep dives, leading stage gate presentations and action plan share out
- Follow the Our Brands new product development process ensuring cross-functional team members are briefed with project rationale, attributes, financials and detailed timing prior to commercialization work.
- Prepare packaging design briefs for new product development; share out proposed designs for leadership and merchandising alignment
- Drive growth by applying knowledge of competitive set, consumer trends and business needs
- Partner with merchandising to build long and short-term strategic plans to drive category growth and profitability
- Articulate respective business plans, OB's category role(s) and new product development plans to senior leadership
- Lead the commercialization of projects as identified in business plans
- Provide guidance on vendor selection, product segmentation, and sales planning
- Provide input to other OB functional teams, such as innovation and branding, to ensure respective plans support business needs
- Remain current with food, cultural and ethnic, category and product trends
- Actively participate in the sensory phase of product development and approve reformulations, packaging, sourcing, and specification changes
- Monitor and optimize retail execution, conduct post-launch analysis against OB initiatives and make recommendations
- Travel to divisions and store locations to support OB initiatives
- Follow established programs, policies, practices to produce safe, quality foods that meet regulatory and company requirements
- Accountable to the Kroger Manufacturing Food Safety and Quality Principles
- Must be able to perform the essential job functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation
QualificationsMinimum
- Bachelor's Degree business, marketing, comparable work experience
- 2+ years of experience in retail, consumer packaged goods, sales or innovation
- Excellent leadership/collaboration skills
- Ability to set priorities, delegate effectively/communicate responsibilities, and manage execution across a multi-disciplinary team
- Ability to manage complex and/or large portfolio of categories with some supervision
- Highly motivated and self-directed
- Ability to function in a fast-paced, retail/office environment
- Proven ability to communicate to all levels of the organization via written and oral communication and presentations
- Strong business analytical skills in sales, volume and profit forecasts
- Proven ability to make critical decisions
- Demonstrate initiative and willingness to take risks
Desired
- Master's Degree
- Any demonstrated success in project management
- Any familiarity with manufacturing operations and profit and loss
- Any product development experience
- Any experience in the orchestration of commercialization plans for new product development pipelines
About Us
From one tiny Cincinnati grocery store more than a century ago, we’ve grown into what today is the nation’s largest grocer with nearly 2,800 stores in 35 states operating under 28 different names. As America’s grocer, we take pride in bringing diverse teams with a passion for food and people together with one common purpose: To Feed the Human Spirit. With a history of innovation, we work tirelessly to create amazing experiences for our customers, communities AND each other, with food at the heart of it all.
Here, people matter. That’s why we strive to provide the ingredients you need to create your own recipe for success at work and in life. We help feed your future by providing the value and care you need to grow. If you’re caring, purpose-driven and hungry to learn, your potential is unlimited.
Whether you’re seeking a part-time position or a new career path, we’ve got a fresh opportunity for you. Apply today to become part of our Kroger family!
What you’ll receive from us:
The Kroger Family of Companies offers comprehensive benefits to support your Associate Well-Being, including Physical, Emotional, Financial and more. We'll help you thrive, with access to:
- A wide range of healthcare coverage, including affordable, comprehensive medical, dental, vision and prescription coverage, through company plans or collective bargaining agreement plans.
- Flexible scheduling in full- and part-time roles with paid time off, including holiday and sick pay based on eligibility and length of service.
- Emotional and financial support with free counseling through our Employee Assistance Program and free, confidential financial tools and coaching with Goldman Sachs Ayco.
- Valuable associate discounts on purchases, including food, travel, technology and so much more.
- Up to $21,000 in tuition reimbursement over your career, through our industry-leading Continuing Education program.
- Vast potential for growth, through an abundance of industry-leading training programs and diverse career pathways.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, or comparable work experience
- At least 2 years of experience in retail, consumer packaged goods, sales, or innovation
- Excellent leadership and collaboration skills
- Ability to set priorities, delegate effectively, communicate responsibilities, and manage execution across multidisciplinary teams
- Ability to manage complex or large category portfolios with some supervision
- Highly motivated and self-directed
- Ability to work in a fast-paced retail or office environment
- Proven written, oral, and presentation communication skills across all organizational levels
- Strong business analytical skills involving sales, volume, and profit forecasts
- Proven ability to make critical decisions
- Initiative and willingness to take risks
- Master's degree
- Demonstrated success in project management
- Familiarity with manufacturing operations and profit and loss
- Product development experience
- Experience orchestrating commercialization plans for new product development pipelines
Kroger Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Kroger and has not been reviewed or approved by Kroger.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare coverage in many union divisions has been protected or improved in recent contracts, with some regions avoiding proposed cuts and others expanding spousal coverage and strengthening short‑term disability. Mental‑health resources and 24/7 access are also emphasized, supported by third‑party recognition in recent years.
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Retirement Support — Retirement options include a company 401(k) with a match and, in many union roles, access to pension or variable annuity plans that have been stabilized through recent agreements. Match levels and pension participation vary by division and role, so specifics require local confirmation.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Education assistance through “Feed Your Future” offers substantial tuition support for both part‑ and full‑time associates, alongside free financial coaching. Perks such as associate discounts and periodic Boost membership offers add incremental value to total rewards.
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The Company
What We Do
At Kroger, we believe no matter who you are or how you like to shop, everyone deserves affordable, easy-to-enjoy, fresh food. This idea is embodied in our simple tagline—Fresh for Everyone™. Kroger ranks as one of the world’s largest retailers. We are nearly half a million associates across 2,800 stores in 35 states operating two dozen grocery retail brands and 34 manufacturing and 44 distribution locations, all dedicated to living our Purpose: to Feed the Human Spirit™. Together, we serve more than 11 million customers daily in our stores and online through convenient e-commerce options like pickup, ship and delivery, serving America through food inspiration and uplift. Customers love Our Brands, including the popular Kroger®, Private Selection® and Simple Truth® brands. Our own manufacturing plants produce many of Our Brands products, including breads, dairy products, meat and thousands of grocery items. We also believe in and are committed to doing our part to create #ZeroHungerZeroWaste communities by 2025.
