Job Overview:

Responsible for customer sales and the retail profitability contribution for all assigned accounts and is expected to meet or exceed wholesale budgeted sales, service level, and EBIT targets for those accounts. The candidate must be based in Minnesota.

What does it mean to be part of the Category Merchandising team?

Whether it’s overseeing produce, bakery/deli, meat, center store, general merchandise, health and beauty, this team manages and drives a category for the organization. A role in category merchandising involves business planning, financial analysis, pricing, participating in review of assortment, shelf management, advertising promotions, negotiations with suppliers and sourcing. A 100% unique approach, proven to increase sales and profitability. It’s having the right assortment of products, based on your customers’ demographics and lifestyle. Solid category strategies. Better customer satisfaction. More efficiency.

Job Responsibilities:

Manage Customer Relationships

• Develop and sustain strong working relationships and a presence as a valued consultant with assigned retail owners and department managers.
• Address customer issues (e.g., needs, requests, and complaints) with proper urgency to the satisfaction of both parties.
• Work collaboratively with Account Managers and Inside Sales to ensure the mutually established sales goals are achieved.
• Respond to and meet customer needs, both internally and externally. Liaison to provide retailer feedback to management on all issues.
• Represent the company by developing and maintaining a positive business relationship with retail customers, new clients, and UNFI region staff.
• Resolve all internal and external customer requests and concerns while maintaining a high level of professionalism and service.

Manage Execution

• Establish a full understanding of the strategies, tactics, and programs offered by the region and implement those programs and concepts with retailers. Follow up with assigned accounts on program participation.
• Identify purchase concentrations and product and service opportunities for each store/account develop plans and monitor progress to capitalize on opportunities.
• Provide assigned accounts with operational and tactical support to achieve sales goals.
• Assist with seasonal merchandising, promotional planning, booking seasonal & new item orders, and performing other tasks as necessary to support retailers.
• Understand the specific markets in which the retailers compete and adapt programs and plans to the marketplace to ensure retailer success.
• Communicate retailer needs to the regional merchandising department to create new or enhance existing programs.
• Provide competitive field intelligence to the internal merchandising staff to meet the needs of our customers more effectively.
• Provide competitive merchandising solutions/SOPs for retail formats by researching market conditions to determine potential sales of products or services and retail trends.
• Be the Produce/Floral Expert! Stay abreast of all industry-related products, market conditions, key regulations/issues, equipment trends, and technology.

Facilitate Profitability

• Assist sales leadership in conducting annual business reviews with assigned accounts (e.g., sales results, product and service level opportunities, performance against plan, and other key account issues or concerns).
• Establish department-specific sales plans for accounts within the prescribed territory to achieve financial goals for each assigned department.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements:

Education/ Certifications:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.

Experience:

• 3 years’ minimum of retail and/or vendor experience preferred

Knowledge/Skills/ Abilities

• Possess good communication skills, both verbal and written. Deal effectively with a wide variety of people both in person and over the telephone.
• Basic computer skills required and personal computer experience, with word processing and spreadsheet applications preferred.
• Requires the analytical ability to handle administrative duties and mental alertness to ensure accurate, safe, and thorough completion of work activities.
• Possess the ability to motivate and work with and through others to achieve desired results.
• Experience addressing customer needs/concerns, solving customer problems, or otherwise providing customer support.
• Possess the ability to concentrate and deal with frequent interruptions.
• Good judgment is required for this position as there may be times when direct supervision may not be immediately available.

Work Environment:

Remote Role:

This position is classified as remote where the associate will perform remote work from their primary residence. Remote associates are welcome to work from the office but are not required to do so. While remote associates are not required to work from an office on a regular basis, they may be required to come to the office or other UNFI locations for necessary business reasons or if directed to do so by their manager.

Travel (major):

Travel is required up to 50% for this position.

Physical Environment/Demands:

Office Roles:

• Most work is performed in a temperature-controlled office environment.
• Incumbent may sit for long periods of time at a desk or computer terminal.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.
• Incumbents may use calculators, keyboards, telephones, and other office equipment during a normal workday.
• Stooping, bending, twisting, and reaching may be required in the completion of job duties.