Director of Product and Merchandising

Gordon Food Service•Wyoming, MI

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Gordon Food Service Store, the retail division of Gordon Food Service, offers the fast pace of retail in an environment that lets you balance your life and foster development for future growth. Our 190+ stores are the primary supplier for many small foodservice operators, families, non-profit organizations, caterers and so much more! As the Director of Product and Merchandising, you will serve as a key architect for the strategy and oversight of our Store Product Team. You will lead initiatives across Category Management, Product Merchandising, and Store Design, ensuring we not only meet but exceed our goals for sales, margin, profit, and inventory management. This is a high-impact leadership role where you will drive our retail customer experience by refining our product selection, cultivating vendor partnerships, and optimizing our store layouts. If you are a strategic thinker with a passion for retail excellence and team development, we would love to meet you.

Requirements

10+ years of experience in marketing or merchandising, ideally within a retail or food service environment.
At least 5 years of demonstrated leadership experience, including mentoring staff and managing performance.
Strong mathematical aptitude and proficiency in profitability models to interpret data, manage budgets, and make data-driven decisions.
Comfort with spreadsheet, word processing, presentation, and email software.
Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders and build organizational acumen.

Nice To Haves

A Bachelor’s degree in Business or a related field (preferred).

Responsibilities

Develop and own the vision for the Product and Merchandising team.
Set targets for new store performance, margin growth, and product KPIs.
Direct all aspects of category management, including product assortment, pricing strategies, and P&L ownership for assigned brands.
Drive business growth through rigorous forecasting, site and demographic analysis, and effective management of new store opening programs.
Act as the primary liaison between Marketing, Store Planning, Inventory, and E-Business to create a seamless, high-quality customer experience.
Lead, mentor, and motivate a talented team.
Be responsible for hiring, training, and fostering an environment of continuous improvement, inclusion, and organizational trust.
Build and maintain high-value relationships with suppliers and vendors to maximize marketing funds and product performance.