Category Development Manager - Private Brands

Address : USA-IL-Chicago-300 South Riverside Plaza

Store Code : Product Management 2 (5139520)

Ahold Delhaize USA, a division of global food retailer Ahold Delhaize, is part of the U.S. family of brands, which also includes five leading omnichannel grocery brands Food Lion, Giant Food, The GIANT Company, Hannaford and Stop & Shop.

Ahold Delhaize USA associates support the brands with a wide range of services, including Finance, Legal, Sustainability, Commercial, Digital and E-commerce, Technology and more.

Primary Purpose

The Private Brands Category Development Manager is responsible for owning their private brand business by developing a strategic plan capable of driving private brand sales and profit while also growing ADUSA’s overall business.

They will do this by driving new item development and innovation, ensuring a strong in-stock position on all items, and developing strong supplier relationships with an eye to cost optimization.

To accomplish this, they are expected to develop and maintain collaborative partnerships with key internal and external stakeholders which drives alignment and accountability.

Duties and Responsiblities

Category Performance and Business Management

• Responsible for strategic approach, planning and data driven business decisions to help drive sales and profit including completion and delivery of Category Reviews
• Accountable for delivering internal PB financial goals (Sales, Units, Margins and Service Levels)
• Oversee and drive the strategy and decisions around all sourcing events.
• Responsible for identifying and prioritizing program / product development opportunities utilizing private brand business management & category expertise.
• Own vendor selection : cost of goods, quality of product & security of supply
• Accountable for execution of the entire product development process
• Partner with design & brand management team on brands, packaging, labels and redesigns
• Accountable for overseeing item life cycle decisions, execution and communications.

Building and Maintaining Relationships

• Utilize private brand business management and category expertise to drive conversations and strategies to support private brand growth including meeting 1 : 1 with each GLB and attend cross brand calls.
• Schedule and facilitate market visits to each operating area and complete store walks, competitor visits and in person meetings with category teams.
• Primary point of contact for all private brand related questions or issues
• Meet regularly with top PB strategic suppliers to build accountability through a performance framework.
• Collaborate with POD team and utilize reporting tools to monitor Private Brands supplier performance and impact to Service Level and to facilitate escalated vendor conversations as well as action plans.

Qualifications

Knowledge

• Clear understanding of category management principles and processes
• Excellent analytical skills and strategic thinking
• Strong working knowledge of private brand category role and brand development
• Understanding of the Grocery retail dynamic including internal and external pressures

Skills

• Effective time-management
• Impeccable organizational skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Extreme attention to detail and adherence to timelines
• Ability to effectively lead a project to successful implementation

Abilities

• Ability to work in a dynamic work environment with shifting priorities.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships.
• Ability to manage multiple projects across numerous stakeholders with a focus on driving to execution with clear advocacy.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s preferred or +10 years of related experience in Grocery retail Category Management, Supply Chain, Product Development or CPG
• 8-10 years of experience managing a Private Brand business in the food / drug / mass sector
30+ days ago