Director, Trade Strategy, Foodservice

About Us:

T. Marzetti Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lancaster Colony Corporation (NASDAQ: LANC), is a manufacturer and marketer of specialty food products for the retail and foodservice markets. Our retail brands include Marzetti®, New York Bakery™ and Sister Schubert’s®, in addition to exclusive license agreements for Olive Garden® dressings, Chick-fil-A® sauces and Buffalo Wild Wings® sauces. Our foodservice business supplies many of the top restaurant chains in the United States.

Overview:

The Director of Foodservice Trade Strategy will play a critical role in developing and launching a Foodservice specific Trade Promotion Management (TPM) tool. The role will partner directly with the Sales team, Division Finance, and the Branded Marketing team, providing timely pricing and promotional analysis and strategic guidance from a broad business perspective. In doing so, the position will become the Sales Strategy and Marketing function’s go-to partner in optimizing volume growth, pricing, trade investments, mix management and customer/operator promotions. Building a robust long range RGM pipeline, supported by a clear implementation plan grounded in consumer insights and internal alignment will be a keyway that the Director of Foodservice Trade Strategy will drive measurable results.

In addition, the role partner with Sales Leadership team to drive implementation of quick wins, strategic recommendations, and new commercial policies. Example projects include list price optimization, freight monetization, trade investment efficiency optimization, trade reporting, sales & pricing KPI dashboards, and mix management. The Director will also initiate and coordinate productive relationships with senior stakeholders across the Marzetti business to secure commitment and advance recommendations. The successful candidate will lead the deployment of transformative commercial initiatives and support change management opportunities to enhance profitable category growth.

Responsibilities:

Lead the Launch of the Foodservice Trade Promotion Management too.

Refine key RACI’s for all Foodservice specific trade spend types.

This Director position is responsible for building, developing and managing the Foodservice Trade Strategy Team. They will act as a subject matter expert providing strategic pricing process, system and tools leadership, guidance, management and training, working with the multiple stakeholders and providing insights for pricing analyses and decisions bringing analytical rigor, strategic insights and business judgment to pricing discussions.

Key partner to Sales, Marketing, and Finance team to drive topline growth and margin expansion.

Establish and monitor key metrics and improve performance on an ongoing basis. Develop a deep understanding of customer segments, competitor offerings and market trends.

Provide analysis around volume, price, mix, customer promotions and customer P&Ls

Key partner in analyzing and challenging volume and trade forecasts and course correction initiatives

Provide pricing and promotional guidance and strategic advisement new Product Launches and new listings within the Branded business.

Consolidate and quantify financial impact of all Sales related risks and opportunities

Establish initiative specific KPIs and monthly performance tracking dashboards such as ROI, lift and share.

Communicate actual vs. target performance to North American executive leadership; identify and implement course corrective actions as market conditions dictate.

Continuously improving key processes

Qualifications:

Minimum 5-7 years of relevant experience

Undergraduate degree required (ex. Finance, Statistics, Math, Business Administration, Engineering), MBA Preferred

CPG experience is a strong asset.

Fact based decision making and an emphasis on performance and results.

Demonstrated problem solving and critical thinking skills.

Understanding of corporate financial statements

Proficient in working with very large data sets, exceptional quantitative and analytic skills, and strong attention to detail.

A high level of curiosity and professionalism when taking on new opportunities.

The ability to build partnerships and influence stakeholders from various functions and regions to ensure delivery of shared objectives.

Strong Excel skills required, and database application skills are highly preferred (i.e., PowerBI, Tableau)

A self-starting attitude and an ability to think outside the box and thrive on new challenges.

Strong time management skills and ability to handle competing priorities, sometimes under tight deadlines.

Strong written and verbal communication

Ability to problem solve and adapt in a fluid environment.

Permanent