Key Account Manager - Kroger

Looking for a job that can grow into a lifelong career?
At Lactalis USA, we believe in promoting from within and giving our employees meaningful opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive. Whether you're just starting out or bringing years of experience, we'll provide the tools and support you need to succeed.

Lactalis is the world leader in dairy-a family-owned company with over 85,000 pragmatic and ambitious professionals across the globe. Every day, we're proud to produce award-winning dairy products that bring people together every day.

In the US, we offer an unrivaled house of beloved brands, including Galbani Italian cheeses and ricotta, President specialty cheeses and butters, Kraft natural and grated cheeses, Breakstone's cottage cheese, Cracker Barrel, Black Diamond cheddar, and Parmalat milk. Our yogurt portfolio includes siggi's, Stonyfield Organic, Brown Cow, Oui, Yoplait, Go-Gurt, :ratio, Green Mountain Creamery, and Mountain High, along with sour cream and a growing family of ethnic favorites like Karoun, Gopi, and Arz.

At Lactalis, we live by our core values-Ambition, Engagement, and Simplicity. We're building a workplace where innovation thrives, diverse perspectives are celebrated, and everyone's unique background and ideas are valued.

Even if you don't meet every qualification, we encourage you to apply. We want to hear about your PASSION, your STORY, and how your EXPERTISE can help us make an impact.

From your PASSION to ours

The Kroger team is seeking a Key Account Manager (KAM) to own our Midwest Yogurt business for the Coordinated Kroger desk. In addition to owning the Yogurt business, this role will have responsibility for advancing our omni strategy working in close partnership with teammates across Brand Teams, Shopper Marketing, and Sales.

Cincinnati, OH is the preferred location for this role. Remote applicants working Central or Eastern time zones hours will be considered. If remote, travel expectations would be at minimum once per month for a few days to visit stores and engage with the buyer to multiple times per month depending on business needs. In market candidates will have limited travel (<10%) for key Brand Team and Sales meetings.

From your EXPERTISE to ours

As a KAM you will drive Kroger's holistic plan in accordance with Lactalis Midwest Yogurt planning principles and be responsible for over $100MM in annual sales at our largest grocery customer! Specific responsibilities include:

* Driving our merchandising plan and influencing national grocery strategy in close coordination with the Lactalis Midwest Yogurt team and Kroger category manager

* Owning and planning annual volume and merchandising to drive profitable growth leveraging Lactalis Midwest planning systems

* Ownership and development of advancing omni strategies to unlock additional ecommerce growth with Kroger

* Manage broker relationship for direct call on Harris Teeter

* Build on our continued distribution success and Revenue Growth Management (RGM) leadership in Yogurt

* Coach & develop a Trade Planning Lead (TPL) to analyze and plan against key priorities of the business

* Leverage cross functional support team (Category Management, Shopper Marketing, and Supply Chain) to achieve volume, RGM, and share objectives

Strong candidates for this role require strategic thought leadership and a strong working knowledge of Kroger planning processes (leveraging data, volume estimating, selling processes). Individuals must be highly motivated with a hunger for growth & learning to be successful in role. The best candidate for the job will excel at operating in a fast-paced dynamic environment. It will be essential to operate with agility as Kroger navigates a period of high change and rapid expansion of vendor capabilities. Applicants should be comfortable with develop ing winning plans, managing a significant trade budget, delivering volume estimates and providing a positive impact to the Customer team and total Sales team.

SELLING EXPERTISE & LEADERSHIP

* Develop and maintain effective customer relationships

* Understands customer needs and links them to Lactalis Midwest Yogurt product and service strategies to develop mutually beneficial business plans

* Establish objectives, engage the customer, explore customer interests, explain solutions, and execute commitments

* Gain new product acceptance and merchandising levels in alignment with selling goals

* Play an active role in leading positive culture on team and within Sales

EXECUTIONAL EXCELLENCE

* Takes personal accountability and ownership for results, deeply understands consumers through Circana, Market 6 and shopper card data, delivers market leading innovation and prioritizes what's important

* Meet annual sales targets by leveraging trade strategy and maintaining accurate planning and spending information in the trade planning system

* Collaborate with internal teams to develop promotional offers that reflect national trade strategies and optimize resources

PROBLEM SOLVING & ANALYTICS

* Retrieve and analyze syndicated customer and consumer data to understand category and/or industry trends (Circana/Market 6/84.51 Shopper Data)

* Leverages national category management selling stories to develop targeted Kroger messaging and strategies that drive growth and distribution

* Understand and leverage category management principles to influence share of shelving and display

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

* Bachelor's Degree required

* Minimum 5 years of relevant industry experience in sales, account management, trade funding, category management, or other relevant experience

* Successful demonstration of analytical skills using various data sources (e.g., Nielsen, Circana, CPM, 84.51, Market6, primary research business development data)

* Must be proficient in software packages (Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint)

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

* Willingness to relocate for future career opportunities

* Prior Kroger / grocery experience

At Lactalis, we offer a comprehensive Total Rewards Program with a variety of affordable benefits and coverage options. We support insurance costs significantly, contribute generously to retirement plans, and offer Paid Time Off from day one. We are committed to your professional growth, providing training and development opportunities, including Education Reimbursement. Join us and grow your career.

Lactalis is an equal employment opportunity employer. We will not discriminate against applicants with regard to any legally-recognized basis including, but not limited to: veteran status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and physical or mental disabilities.