Ryan Sands Email and Phone Number

Responsible for leading a team of category development managers, working with the largest retailers in the US and Canada to drive growth in the Battery, Auto Care, and Flashlights categories. This team is leading and influencing category management efforts by proactively providing insights and analytics that are both timely and actionable.

Drive category management efforts with the Battery, Auto Appearance, Auto Fragrance, and Portable Lights category business unit teams at Target by developing sustainable and strong partnerships. Influence category strategy by providing category & consumer insights, trends, and leadership that delivers both Category and Brand growth. Collaborate with internal Energizer cohorts and the Business Units within Target as a trusted advisor, while playing a critical role in driving “insights to action” that offer sustainable growth for the category. In addition to my captainship I currently lead a team with direct reporting responsibility that supports both category and sales insights for the Target and larger Mass Team. I also hold one of 12 seats on the Target Category Captain Board, providing insights and advisement that drive Category Management initiatives with Target.

Drive category management efforts with Meat Snacks buyers in National Accounts by developing sustainable and strong partnerships. Influence the category strategy at strategic accounts by providing category & consumer insights, trends, and leadership that provide both Category and Brand growth. Focused on developing key strategic accounts such as Target, Kroger, Meijer, Walgreens, CVS, Dollar General, and Family Dollar. Collaborate with Sales Strategy, Trade Marketing, Brand Management, Sales and Shopper Marketing, while playing a critical role in driving “insights to action” that will drive sustainable growth for Jack Link’s brands.

Category Captain at Target, with responsibility over DC Salty Snacks. Prior experiences in this role include Category Captain responsibility for Packaged Cold Cuts and Meal Combinations. Additionally, I represent Kraft category management on several internal work stream projects.Category Captain responsibilities include, but are not limited to:Provide insights and analysis to help deliver volume and market share goals for the category.Manage weekly/monthly standard and ad hoc reporting, delivering actionable insights that help drive and shape category strategy.Provide promotional analysis and insights that help drive promotional strategy.Lead category planogram strategy and revision and transition planogram building process.

Category Captain for Dairy Breakfast and Refrigerated Desserts at TargetCategory Captain responsibilities include, but are not limited to:Provide insights and analysis to help deliver volume and market share goals for the category.Manage weekly/monthly standard and ad hoc reporting, delivering actionable insights that help drive and shape category strategy.Provide promotional analysis and insights that help drive promotional strategy.Lead category planogram strategy and revision and transition planogram building process.

Managed Kraft's National Initiatives (coupons, scale events, shopper marketing) Beverage and Oscar Mayer, representing $65MM in annual revenue.

Managed Kraft's Beverage, Desserts, Post Cereal, and Oscar Mayer portfolio, representing $80MM in annual revenue.

Managed the Kraft Portfolio at two major accounts in the Omaha, NE area, representing $40MM in annual revenue.. Additionaly represented the entire Kraft Portfolio at three regional Nash Finch Distribution Centers in Omaha, NE, Rapid City, SD and Cedar Rapids, IA

Successfully sold the Kraft Portfolio to Market, Store and Department Managers at Wal-Mart Supercenters in the Oklahoma City, OK area.

Managed a territory, selling company and group events to the parks. My territory generated $16MM in annual ticket and catering sales.