Merchandising Specialist - East

Job Description:

Merchandising Specialist - East

To become the world’s greatest baker, we need the world’s greatest team members 

Summary:

Reporting to the Manager, Merchandising Specialist, the Merchandising Specialist will work closely with brokers and key customers within their market to drive merchandising excellence and maximize in-store execution in grocery environments. Acting as the "eyes and ears" in the retail space, this role involves assessing market strengths and weaknesses, leveraging insights to enhance brand presence, and optimizing merchandising initiatives.

What FGF Offers: 

• FGF believes in Home Grown Talent, accelerated career growth with leadership training, unleashing your potential 
• Competitive Compensation, Health & Welfare Benefits including Vision & Dental and flexible options at competitive premiums 
• 401k matching program
• Discount program - Restaurants, gyms, shopping, etc.
• Tuition reimbursement

Primary Responsibilities :

• Market Monitoring & Execution: Ensure merchandising standards are met and perform regular audits of retail execution in assigned territory.
• Inventory & Rack Management: Oversee on-hand inventory for Stonefire racks, collaborating with the Stonefire Marketing Team to maintain appropriate stock levels.
• Product Placement & Activations: Implement and monitor new item activations and rack placements to ensure compliance and optimized product visibility.
• Retail Relationship Building: Establish and maintain productive working relationships with Bakery/Deli Specialists within key accounts.
• Strategic Market Blitzes: Plan, execute, and recap focused market blitzes to maximize brand visibility and impact.
• Distribution Compliance: Ensure 100% distribution across all authorized products within chain accounts to maintain consistent shelf presence.
• Competitive Intelligence: Develop and maintain a market knowledge base to stay informed on the competitive landscape and provide actionable insights.
• Promotional Execution Support: Work closely with the Sales Director to execute promotional plans, monitoring retail adherence and performance.
• Travel Requirements: This is a remote role with travel required approximately 60–70 % of the time, involving car or air travel as needed.
• Special Projects: Support Stonefire Sales retailers with special merchandising projects and initiatives.
  
  

Requirements :

•  Experience: Minimum of 3 years in retail sales or store operations.
• Independence & Teamwork: Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a collaborative team.
• Organizational Skills: Strong organizational, time management, and communication skills with an aptitude for multi-tasking.
• Technical Proficiency: Proficient in Microsoft Office, especially Excel and PowerPoint.
• Data Competency: Basic understanding of IRI and store-level sales data for analysis and insights.
• Leadership Capability: Proven ability to organize, lead, and motivate store personnel and broker representatives, enhancing overall merchandising impact.

What is the recipe for a great career at FGF? 

Working at FGF Brands, there is never a dull moment! FGF is a leading North American bakery company with facilities across the USA and Canada with a specialized focus across all key bakery categories, including naan, muffins, croissants, donuts, cakes, artisan breads and flatbreads.  

As an innovative company that is continually growing there is always challenging yet rewarding work to be a part of. We have an entrepreneurial spirit that encourages all our Team Members to use their own creativity and out-of-the-box thinking to come up with solutions and new ideas.  

Disclaimer: The above describes the general responsibilities, required knowledge and skills.  Please keep in mind that other duties may be added or this description may be amended at any time.

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