Manufacturing Deli/Bakery Culinary Innovation Manager

Department: MFG Sales Planning
Post End Date:
Position Type: Employee
Position Reports To: General Manager, Deli/Bakery Sales Planning
Position Supervises: N/A
Pay Level: 9-Aug
FLSA Status: Exempt
 

 

Position Summary:

Work as a liaison between Kroger Manufacturing, Our Brands and Deli/Bakery merchandising on the ideation and development of new products and marketing programs. Identify new products and food trends that can be produced at our Kroger manufacturing facilities, increasing profitability and offering unique products to enhance our shopper’s experience. Lead development of all proprietary recipes, including menu/recipe design and costing for our new food concepts. Perform all jobs safely, efficiently and accurately to maintain and improve the performance of the division in the areas of Safety, Quality, Reliability (SQR) and our Customer 1st strategy. Demonstrate the company’s core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion and safety. 

Essential Job Functions:

• Work closely with manufacturing plants on product development timelines
• Work with manufacturing plants on quality issues that have been identified at retail or consumer level
• Coordinate category plan development with cross functional support teams
• Work closely with the culinary team and Our Brands on key branding initiatives
• Conduct regular retail division visits to evaluate store execution and overall category effectiveness
• Provide follow–up communication of annual category vision plans and Our Brand initiatives
• Assist in the efforts to combine and connect culinary development work with concept development work
• Elevate overall culinary experience and knowledge for customers and associates
• Implement our portfolio of distinctive food products, flavor and ingredient trends
• Understand product costing and operational parameters to deliver feasible product solutions and projects
• Lead training and education efforts to introduce new manufacturing food concepts
• Participate in culinary product and ideation sales presentations for both business partners and customers
• Proactively partner with merchant teams on ideation and development of new products and translate those to the customer to drive sales of new and existing products
• Prepare product for merchandizing presentations and playbooks
• Partner with Kroger Television (KTV), the communications manager or other media outlets to develop product setup/prep training
• Follow established programs, policies and practices to produce safe, quality foods that meet regulatory and company requirements
• Support the development, implementation, maintenance, and ongoing improvement of the SQF 2000 Systems
• Accountable to the Kroger Manufacturing Food Safety and Quality Principles
• Must be able to perform the essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation

Minimum Position Qualifications/Education:         

• Bachelor’s degree in culinary arts, food science or a related field
• Demonstrated success with large-scale commercialization of product formulation
• Strong business acumen and the ability to understand the business needs of Kroger
• Strong oral/written communication and presentation skills
• Highly organized and proficient at multi-tasking
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and cooperatively with others
• Ability to escalate issues appropriately and drive them to resolution

Desired Previous Job Experience/Education:

• Bakery manufacturing experience
• Experience as a professional chef
• 2 years in CPG and/or product development
• 5 years of progressive experience in product development and formulation (pay level 9)

 

Leadership Behaviors: Achieves Results through Teamwork, Coaches and Develops Others, Communicates Effectively and Candidly, Executes with Excellence, Leads Change and Innovation, Leads through Positive Influence, Provides Clear and Strategic Direction, Puts the Customer First. For more information on the Kroger Leadership Behavior model, click .
 

Education Level: Bachelor's Required
Required Travel: Up to 75%
Required Certifications/Licenses: None
Regions: Midwest

States: Indiana; Kentucky; Ohio
Keywords: Culinary Innovation