**This is NOT a job with ForceBrands**
Position Overview
A fast-growing consumer packaged goods brand is seeking a National Account Manager to oversee and expand its business with Kroger, one of the organization’s most strategic retail partners. This role is responsible for leading customer strategy, accelerating distribution, driving category performance, and strengthening retailer partnerships.
The ideal candidate combines direct Kroger experience, a relationship-based selling approach, and strong analytical acumen. Candidates with frozen, refrigerated, or perishable category experience are strongly preferred. The company is seeking someone with a balanced background—classic big CPG foundational training paired with recent high-growth or entrepreneurial brand experience. Additional experience with major Eastern conventional grocery accounts such as Harris Teeter, Publix, or Ahold is a plus.
Responsibilities
- Serve as the primary point of contact for all Kroger divisions and stakeholders, leading day-to-day account management and Joint Business Planning (JBP).
- Build, strengthen, and maintain relationships across Kroger merchant, buying, and category teams, leveraging a consultative, relationship-based selling style.
- Develop and execute annual customer strategies that deliver revenue, distribution, and profitability goals.
- Drive incremental distribution, SKU expansion, and optimized shelf placement across key categories.
- Manage promotional planning, trade budgets, and retailer execution to maximize ROI and alignment.
- Lead preparation and delivery of business reviews, line reviews, new item presentations, and performance recaps.
- Use syndicated data and retailer insights to create compelling selling stories and identify whitespace opportunities.
- Partner cross-functionally with Marketing, Finance, Supply Chain, Operations, and Leadership to ensure alignment and flawless execution of customer initiatives.
- Oversee accurate forecasting, demand planning, and inventory coordination to support in-stock performance.
- Support expansion and relationship-building across additional Eastern conventional grocery customers (Harris Teeter, Publix, Ahold) when relevant.
Qualifications
- 5–8+ years of progressive CPG sales experience, including national account management within grocery.
- Kroger experience is required, with strong existing relationships preferred.
- Experience with additional Eastern conventional grocery retailers (Harris Teeter, Publix, Ahold) is a plus.
- Experience in frozen, refrigerated, or perishable categories strongly preferred.
- Hybrid background of big CPG training and high-growth brand experience strongly preferred.
- Proven track record of driving distribution, scaling brands, and managing multi-SKU portfolios.
- Strong analytical skills with proficiency in syndicated data and retailer insights tools.
- Excellent communication, presentation, and storytelling skills with the ability to translate insights into action.
- Relationship-driven, collaborative, and skilled at influencing cross-functional and customer stakeholders.
- Highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of thriving in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.
- Ability to travel as required for customer meetings and internal collaboration.