Retail Business Development Manager (Club/Mass)

Grecian Delight | Kronos•Elk Grove Village, IL

16d•$90,000 - $130,000

About The Position

Grecian Delight | Kronos Foods (“GDK”) stands at the forefront as a premier provider of authentic Greek and Mediterranean cuisine. Our portfolio, featuring gyros, specialty meats, pitas, flatbreads, tzatziki, hummus, spreads, falafel, ready-to-eat and plant-based proteins, along with value-added bakery products, reflects our commitment to quality and authenticity. Serving over 400 foodservice distributors, 30,000 independent and national chain restaurants, and marking our presence in the top 40 U.S. retailers, we continue to enrich dining experiences with the flavors of the Mediterranean. Our Vision: Continue to be the leader in Greek, Mediterranean and inspired world cuisine. We strive to have every table or menu in the world serving up our delicious flavors. Our Mission: To be top of mind with our customers as the preferred and trusted company of choice, by delivering mutual value, and acting with a sense of urgency. Our Guiding Principles: Customer Centricity: Put the customer at the heart of the business, Ownership and Empathy: Act like owners, think like customers, Conscious leadership: Leading with awareness, kindness, and courage, Competitive Spirit: Playing to win. As members of the GDK family, we seek individuals who resonate with our vision, mission, and guiding principles. Your alignment with these core values enables us to maintain our legacy of excellence and innovation. We encourage you to embrace our commitment to customer satisfaction, ownership, leadership, and competitive spirit. Together, we will continue to bring the rich flavors of the Mediterranean to the world, fostering a culture of respect, growth, and shared success. GDK is seeking an experienced Retail Business Development Manager for our Club and Mass Retailers. In this position you will be a strategic and hands-on leader responsible for driving innovation and growth opportunities across Club and Mass retail channels. This role serves as the key connection point between Retail Sales and Marketing/Innovation teams, leading initiatives from ideation through post-launch evaluation to ensure the success of new product introductions. The position requires a unique blend of strategic vision, business development expertise, and cross-functional leadership to deliver profitable growth and strengthen retailer partnerships.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Innovation, or related field.
5+ years of experience in marketing, product development, or innovation within CPG food categories.
Proven success in launching new products and building long-term growth platforms.
Strong analytical and commercial skills with expertise in financial modeling and market evaluation.
Ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence across organizational levels.
Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution.
Proficient in all Microsoft Office Products, PowerPoint and Excel (heavy users preferred)
Strategic Innovation Leadership – Strong ability to identify and execute growth opportunities through creative, consumer-driven innovation.
Business Acumen – Expertise in financial modeling, P&L management, and market dynamics.
Cross-Functional Collaboration – Skilled at aligning R&D, Supply Chain, Sales, and Marketing for seamless execution.
Communication & Storytelling – Exceptional written and verbal skills to craft compelling product narratives.
Project Management – Highly organized and detail-oriented with experience managing complex projects.
Adaptability & Initiative – Thrives in dynamic environments and takes ownership to drive results.

Nice To Haves

MBA or advanced degree in a related field a plus.
Experience with Club and/or Mass retail accounts preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead the creation and execution of innovation strategies for Club and Mass retailers, (Costco, Sam’s, Walmart, Target) aligning retailer needs with consumer insights, market trends and company goals.
Identify and translate consumer, culinary, and category trends into actionable innovation opportunities.
Build business cases to evaluate opportunities, including financial modeling, margin and market analysis.
Commission and oversee cross-functional project teams in partnership with a Commercialization Project Manager, ensuring successful product development and execution.
Champion new product launches, coordinating packaging design, commercialization, and activation efforts with Marketing, Innovation, Sales, and Supply Chain teams.
Support sales teams with sell-in presentations, and effective tools to drive adoption.
Monitor and analyze post-launch product performance, providing recommendations for optimization and long-term success.
Serve as the primary liaison between Retail Sales and Marketing/Innovation teams to ensure retailer needs are addressed in innovation planning.
Guide agency and vendor partnerships in coordination with marketing and procurement teams to develop packaging, marketing toolkits, and customer-facing collateral.
Drive a collaborative, consumer-first approach to innovation, ensuring seamless alignment between departments and external partners.
Traveling up to 20%.