Director, Private Label

We Deliver the Goods:

• Competitive pay and benefits, including Day 1 Health & Wellness Benefits, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, 401K Employer Matching, Education Assistance, Paid Time Off, and much more.
• Growth opportunities performing essential work to support America’s food distribution system.
• Safe and inclusive working environment, including culture of rewards, recognition, and respect.

Job Summary
The Director of Private Label will be responsible for the strategic growth of the company's private label 
program across targeted categories. This role requires a visionary leader with a deep understanding of the 
convenience retail landscape, product development, sourcing, marketing and wholesale distribution. 
The Director will drive profitability and brand equity by identifying market gaps, developing high quality products that meet consumer needs, and effectively positioning them against national brands.
 
Key Responsibilities
Strategy & Vision:

• Execute the company’s private label strategy aligned with the company's overall business objectives, including growth targets, private label SKU count, and incremental profit.
• Analyze market trends, competitor activity, and consumer data to identify new product opportunities and categories for private label expansion.
• Establish a multi-year roadmap for the private label program.

Product Development & Sourcing:

• Lead the end-to-end product development lifecycle, from concept and ideation to commercialization and launch.
• Identify, vet, and manage relationships with manufacturers and suppliers, both domestically and internationally.
• Work with Category Management team to negotiate pricing, contracts, and quality standards to ensure competitive costs and high-quality products.
• Oversee product formulation, packaging design, and quality assurance processes to meet regulatory requirements and consumer expectations.

Merchandising & Marketing:

• Collaborate with the Merchandising, Marketing and Sales teams to integrate private label products into the company's assortment and sales strategy.
• Develop compelling marketing and promotional plans to drive sales and increase brand awareness among convenience store operators.
• Create sales materials, product training, and presentations for the sales force.
• Monitor and analyze sales performance of private label products, making data-driven decisions to optimize the assortment and promotional strategy.

Financial Management:

• Develop and manage the private label budget, including product development costs, marketing expenses, and inventory.
• Conduct regular cost-benefit analysis and track key performance indicators (KPIs) such as margin, store penetration, inventory turns, and sales growth.
• Ensure pricing strategy is optimized for profitability while remaining competitive.

Team Leadership & Collaboration:

• Build and lead a team of private label professionals as the program grows.
• Serve as the primary internal expert and advocate for the private label program, collaborating cross-functionally with Sales, Marketing, Merchandising, Operations, and Quality Assurance teams.