Asst Sales/Category Mgr - Meat - Shaws Supermarkets, Inc.

Purpose

Partners with the Division Sales Manager to strategically manage the produce department category to increase sales, total gross dollars, and market share versus prior year and to meet or exceed projected numbers.  Creates and implements pricing, promotion, assortment and shelf schematics for each assigned category, based on detailed analysis of past performance and results, industry best practices, and consumer trends. 

Job Responsibilities and Accountabilities

• Assist with total store Customer Service for the Division
• Creates yearly category business plan based on detailed analysis of previous results and market trends. 
• Meets or exceeds projected sales and profit contribution.
• Creates detailed pricing strategy by zone by category and maintains approach throughout the year.
• Creates and implements a promotional calendar by major category, which supports division merchandising strategy.   Tracks results at end of each promotion in terms of sales, profit and share
• Design schematics and recommend adjacencies that support the role of the category.
• Determines the appropriate product assortment based on the category strategies.  Authorizes new items entering the market and discontinue lines based on potential contribution to the category and department.
• Maintains weekly, quarterly and yearly scorecards to track sales, gross profit dollars and share of each category.
• Measures total contribution to the entire department.
• Manages and maximizes categories to achieve most efficient use of vendor dollars.
• Creates sales and gross profit projections at the category level, rolling up to department and division projections quarterly and yearly.
• Conducts in depth post-promotional analysis at the item and category level.
• Plans ads and displays in support of the category plans and total department initiatives.
• Coordinates and communicates between stores, merchandising and other departments in the division.
• Acts as primary contact within division for all vendors in categories assigned.
• Meets with vendors on a consistent basis for deal negotiation and business updates.
• Works closely with procurement function.  Communicates category and promotional plans to ensure desired service levels and optimum inventory position achieved.
• Coordinates promotional plans (ads and displays), and merchandising messages within department as assigned by management.
• Attends key vendor planning meetings.
• Works in conjunction with others in department, across the division, and with corporate merchandising to facilitate implementation of programs.
• Visits stores as necessary to observe results of merchandising programs.
• Supports and implements corporate initiatives

Job Requirements

Relevant Experience, Education, Certification, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Assistant Store Director Experience for one year or more preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree required.  Relevant work experience required.
• Must have a strong knowledge base in supermarket retail and an understanding of consumer behavior in relation to product performance; must carry a detailed understanding of cause-effect relations between operational levers and performance (assortment/price vs. volume/margins).
• Ability to plan for the medium term; experience in successfully monitoring performance; strong client management skills, particularly working with vendors; ability to partner with the division as a team
• Must be able to adapt to competitor and/or market shifts; must be able to learn/adapt quickly to changes and cooperate/promote partnerships with other divisions, departments, corporate Merchandising, etc.
• Must have a sound fundamental understanding of sales forecasting and planning at the division level.
• Must have been in current role for more than 1 year.