Retail Specialist - Bakery

Empire Marketing Strategies • Appleton, WI

7d • Onsite

About The Position

Empire Marketing Strategies supports Meat/Seafood, Deli/Bakery, Produce, and Grocery suppliers in Kroger stores. The Retail Specialist calls on all stores in an assigned territory at the established frequency and sells and ensures best-in-class in-store merchandising. This includes building displays, packing out product, replenishing permanent secondary displays, and maintaining the salability of authorized items.

The role maintains product distribution, shelf standards, pricing and tags; monitors sales and competitive activity; reports on progress and goals using company tools; and executes promotional displays and point-of-sale materials in accordance with retailer and client guidelines. The Retail Specialist also builds rapport with store personnel, provides product-preparation and display training, maintains territory records and company equipment, communicates promptly, attends scheduled meetings, and manages expenses within guidelines.

Work is typically performed in retail grocery stores, including refrigerated or freezer areas, and may also take place at customer warehouses, kitchens, and manufacturer-client facilities. Regular travel between work sites is required, with additional travel that may include overnight stays. The schedule is Monday through Friday, with overnight work required for bakery resets.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Current driver's license and a clean Motor Vehicle Report.
• Ability to operate a motor vehicle and travel regularly between work sites.
• Ability to write clear, concise correspondence and accurately exchange information.
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Ability to work autonomously with a strong personal drive for results.
• Ability to present information effectively in one-on-one or group situations.
• Ability to read and comprehend simple to sometimes complex instructions, correspondence, and memos.
• Ability to solve practical problems and handle situations with limited standardization.
• Ability to interpret written, oral, diagrammed, or scheduled instructions.
• Ability to perform arithmetic using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Ability to stand for prolonged periods, reported as 80% of the time, and regularly change positions between sitting, squatting, standing, and kneeling.
• Ability to regularly lift and move 25–35 pounds and occasionally lift and move 40–60 pounds.
• Regular use of hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls, and reach with hands and arms.
• Close vision and ability to see objects, computer-screen information, or written information from distances of 20–40 feet.

Nice To Haves

• 1–2 years of experience related to the CPG, grocery, or retail industry.

Responsibilities

• Rotate perishable merchandise and other products as required by the manufacturer, and conduct freshness checks.
• Check store shelf tags, assist with product reordering, and maintain assigned territory shelf standards and retail objectives.
• Keep sections aligned with customer schematics or stocking plans and maintain distribution of authorized manufacturer-client products.
• Sell and service principal accounts to ensure authorized items are on shelves and properly priced and tagged.
• Maintain territorial records, review sales reports, monitor progress toward goals, and report competitive information through appropriate channels.
• Submit complete and timely reports using supplied forms and requested reporting frequency; use tools such as PowerBI or Go Spot Check for specific goals and targets.
• Set up manufacturer or client promotional displays in line with retailer regulations and display objectives.
• Coordinate with Operations on promotional program execution, reporting, and future order requirements.
• Deliver point-of-sale materials and Instant Redeemable Coupons to stores as required and approved.
• Establish and maintain rapport with store personnel in assigned territories.
• Demonstrate proper product preparation and display to customer employees.
• Communicate promptly by email and telephone, maintain territory files and company-owned office equipment, attend scheduled company meetings, and control expenses within guidelines.
• Perform other duties as required.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, life and AD&D insurance, and disability coverage for eligible full-time associates; the posting states that benefits are 80% employer-covered.
• Retirement program.
• Mental health support.
• Paid time off.
• Nine paid holidays annually; the posting also notes nine holidays off.
• Competitive salary.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: High school or GED