Vice President of Merchandising

Coborn's • Saint Cloud, MN

257d • Hybrid

About The Position

Coborn's, Inc. is a fast-growing employee-owned grocery retailer located in the Midwest. Our grocery store formats include Coborn's, Cash Wise, Marketplace Foods, Hornbacher's, Tadych's Marketplace Foods, and Sullivan's Foods and we offer unique online grocery home delivery services through our CobornsDelivers and Cash Wise Delivers locations. Coborn's, Inc. also owns and operates liquor stores under the Coborn's Liquor, Cash Wise Liquor, Andy's Liquor and Captain Jack's brands. Additionally, our fuel and convenience division, pharmacy, in-house grocery warehouse and distribution center, in-house Central Bakery, in-house Fresh Foods Commissary, and Tops Cleaners are significant assets to our operations. We also have a handful of other retail entities in the markets where the fit is right: Little Dukes, Ace Hardware, Country Floral Gifts & Greenhouse, Caribou Coffee, Dunn Bros Coffee, and Erbert and Gerbert's. This position requires on-site presence at the Coborn's Support Center in St. Cloud, Minnesota. We offer a hybrid work environment with both remote and in-office days. Relocation Assistance is available. Join the growing team at Coborn's Inc. as we hire for our next VP of Merchandising! In this VP role, you will develop and execute the strategic vision for our Center Store foods departments! Your focus categories will include dry grocery, snacks, beverages, canned goods, condiments, baking supplies, international foods, health and wellness items, and household essentials. Along with strategic vision, you will use your strong background in retail/grocery merchandising to analyze market tends and ensure pricing, promotion planning, and assortment optimization is in line with the overall sales vision. This pivotal leadership role demands a visionary, results-driven executive with a deep understanding of food merchandising, evolving market dynamics, consumer behavior, product development, and supply chain operations.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree (B. A.) in Business Management, Merchandising, Food Science or a related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in food merchandising, with a minimum of 5 years in a senior leadership role.
• Strong leadership, strategic thinking, and analytical skills.
• Proven ability to drive sales and profitability through effective merchandising strategies.
• Deep understanding of center store food categories, market trends, and guest behavior.
• Experience with inventory management and vendor relations.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic and cross functional environment and adapt to changing market conditions and business needs.

Nice To Haves

• An advanced degree or relevant certifications.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive merchandising strategy for center store categories that aligns with company goals and guest expectations.
• Oversee the selection, procurement, and pricing of center store products to ensure a high-quality, profitable, competitive and differentiated assortment.
• Drive sales growth and profitability through innovative merchandising practices, promotional strategies, and effective inventory management.
• Monitor and manage department budget, ensuring profitability and efficient use of resources.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers and vendors to ensure product quality, competitive pricing, and timely delivery.
• Stay abreast of market trends, guest preferences, and competitive landscape to identify opportunities for growth and improvement.
• Ensure that all center store food offerings meet or exceed guest expectations in terms of quality, freshness, and value.
• Oversee the execution of merchandising plans and ensure adherence to company standards, food safety regulations, and best practices in center store food departments.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of merchandising professionals, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture.

Benefits

• 10% Employee Discount for the employee and their immediate household.
• Get Paid Daily with DailyPay.
• Paid Time Off (PTO/Vacation).
• Paid Floating Holidays & 1 - ½ time for hours worked on a company-recognized Holiday.
• Sunday Premium Pay - An extra $1 per hour for hours worked on Sundays.
• Paid Military Leave.
• Employee Health & Wellness Programs.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Tools, resources and opportunities for Career Growth & Development.
• 401(k) plan options with a match up to 20% of the first 5% contributed.
• Participation in our Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP).
• Medical & Dental Insurance, Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Tuition Reimbursement, Adoption Reimbursement, Paid Family Caregiver Leave, Term Life Insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance, and Short-Term & Long-Term Disability Insurance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Industry: Food and Beverage Retailers
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree