Category Buyer/ Regional Produce Merchandiser
Natural Market Food Group, Corporate Head Office
Irvington, Ny
Recruited to assist with building a profitable Produce/Floral Department in 31 stores in Canada and USA, increasing category selection, drives sales and implementing a PRODUCE IS KING concept. Scope of responsibilities include all core executive functions with particular emphasis on sales, finance and marketing, organizational design, policy/procedure development, recruitment and training. Manage 31 direct reports with total staff responsibility for over 95 people whose function covers daily operations efficiency. • Conducting monthly review sessions with the company Vice President to assess awareness of category trends and appropriateness of their plans to address identified category opportunities. • Creating promotional event calendars (Weekly circular major and inside themes, and cover features), and presenting plans to Ad Group managers and other Merchandising Directors to coordinate activity and finalize plans. • Implemented a massive change in the way Produce Managers conducting business with vendors. • Created an organizational infrastructure to facilitate diversification and expansion in both emerging and consumer markets. • Compiling, reviewing, and evaluating Produce weekly promotional feature submissions to insure that financial and departmental targets are met.