Who We Are
Entrepreneurial | Expert | Exclusive | Empowering
- We are entrepreneurial growth agents for our clients and our company.
- Backed by PLM’s 35+ years of experience, we bring unparalleled Kroger expertise.
- We operate exclusively at Kroger, where our team excels in navigating its strategy, systems, and decision-making processes.
- We are an employee-owned company, fostering a culture and work environment that empowers and engages employees.
What We Do
three sixty Merchandising Solutions specializes in the strategic expansion of CPG client product portfolios at Kroger, America’s leading grocery retailer. We provide a wealth of merchandising expertise and vast brokerage capabilities in all facets of grocery retailing.
- Relationship Management
- Category Management
- Insights & Analytics
- Space Optimization
- Promotional Planning
- Administration
Position Summary
As a business manager, you will
lead & grow a portfolio of CPG clients being the voice of our client’s business to Kroger, representing their business needs and aligning strategies to Kroger’s. Leverage both your expertise and that of the three sixty team enabling clients to reach their sales goals and stated objectives through pricing strategies, promotions, innovation support, and sales plans aimed at achieving financial & strategic targets.
- Client leadership: Foster trusted partnerships with clients and Kroger stakeholders.
- Relationship management: Lead and strengthen client engagement.
- Serve as a trusted advisor to clients by advocating for their goals, aligning strategies with Kroger’s objectives, and fostering collaboration with Kroger stakeholders to maximize outcomes.
- Ensure transparency, efficiency, and alignment through seamless communication among clients, Kroger, and internal teams.
- Insights & analytics: Leverage data to drive strategic decisions.
- Analyze sales, margin, promotions, and distribution to identify opportunities.
- Provide expert category and brand insights using Kroger systems and syndicated data sources, including 84.51°, Market 6, Circana, and Spins.
- Promotional planning: Develop and execute strategies to drive growth.
- Develop and support promotional plans aligned with Kroger’s goals, providing analytical, technical, and administrative expertise.
- Communicate sales strategies to stakeholders, ensuring seamless execution of promotional and merchandising activities.
- KOMPASS and innovation: Drive assortment and new item success.
- Guide clients through the KOMPASS process recommending new product introductions and merchandising opportunities.
- Align product strategies with Kroger category objectives.
- Administration: Oversee timely & flawless administrative support
- Oversee the support team managing systems, tools, and form submission.
- Industry voice of three sixty: Professionally represent and promote three sixty
- Serve as an ambassador, representing three sixty Merchandising Solutions to clients, Kroger stakeholders, and the overarching retail community.
- Enhance and grow your industry presence to strengthen credibility and leadership.
Minimum Position Qualifications
- 4-year degree in Business Marketing, Operations, Economics or equivalent education
- 8+ years of relevant industry experience
- Proven experience working in merchandising/sales
- Strong leadership, coaching and management skills
- Proficient Microsoft Office applications including Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint
- Capacity to learn multiple computer systems and web-based applications
- Capability to collaborate with others and contribute effectively to a team
- Expert organizational, analytical and problem-solving skills
- Highly motivated self-starter who can work with minimal supervision
- Ability to effectively craft and deliver a message to senior level executives
- Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines, prioritize and multi-task
Desired Previous Job Experience
- A blend of grocery merchandising and data analysis experience are desired
- Relevant CPG experience in a sales or category management capacity
- Demonstrated and documented accomplishments in the areas of category sales, marketing, management, product development, negotiations, vendor relations, procurement, distribution and merchandising
- Previous brokerage experience calling on Kroger
Minimum Physical Abilities
- Must be able to:
- Remain standing/sitting for several hours at a time
- Lift 10-30 lbs. occasionally
- Must be able to perform the essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation
Competencies/Skills
Some of the Competencies/Skills required to successfully perform this position are:
- Adaptability – maintaining effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work tasks or the work environment; adjusting effectively to work within new work structures, processes, requirements or cultures
- Building Strategic Working Relationships – developing and using collaborative relationships to facilitate the accomplishment of work goals
- Building Trust – interacting with Kroger employees, customers and suppliers in a way that gives Kroger Division and Corporate Management confidence in one’s intentions and those of the organization
- Communication – clearly conveying information and ideas through a variety of media to individuals or groups in the English language
- Customer Focus – making Kroger customers and their needs a primary focus of one’s actions; developing and sustaining productive relationships with Kroger employees as well as the suppliers that we represent
- Decision Making – identifying and understanding issues, problems and opportunities; comparing data from different sources to draw conclusions; using effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions; taking action that is consistent with available facts, constraints and probable consequences
- Inclusion – appreciating and leveraging the capabilities, insights and ideas of all individuals; working effectively with individuals of diverse style, ability and motivation for a direct effect on business results
- Initiating Action – taking prompt action to accomplish objectives; taking action to achieve goals beyond what is required; being proactive; generating innovative solutions in work situations
- Leadership – ability to recognize and provide training opportunities; give clear direction to accomplish assigned tasks; hold others to high standards of accountability and address issues when needed in a way that encourages, not discourages the employee.
- Negotiation – effectively exploring alternatives and positions to reach outcomes that gain the support and acceptance of all parties.
- Self-Starter – working the majority of the time without direct supervision; prioritizing, organizing and completing workload accurately within allotted time period
- Work Standards – setting high standards of performance for self and others; assuming responsibility and accountability for successfully completing assignments or tasks; self-imposing standards of excellence
