Procurement/Category Manager

Edward P. Kaulfers

**** ***** ***** ****** ******, NJ Home: 908-***-**** Cell: 908-***-**** **********@*****.***

CAREER SUMMARY: Supermarket industry professional with 30-year experience in the highly competitive New Jersey

And New York marketplace specializing in;

Purchasing – Inventory Control – Financial Analysis – Cost Management – Product Merchandising – Marketing & Promotions

Vendor/Broker Contract Negotiation – Food Safety – Sales & Advertising – Project Management – New Item Development

Professional Experience:

Allegiance Retail Services, LLC, Iselin, NJ 2014 – 2017

Category Manager, Deli & Food Service

Manage purchasing and promotions of Deli and Food Service items for 101 Member-owned stores with annual sales of $2.2B.

Created weekly sale programs in collaboration with Membership Committee to maximize sales and gross profit revenue.

Exceed all sales, income and gross profit goals annually in same store sales for the past 3 years.

Negotiate and maintain relationships with over 100 vendors to obtain the best possible promotions for profitability.

Standardized all Boar’s Head Brand distributor pricing and promotions throughout the Co-op. to increase store gross profits.

Developed the first “in-house” Rotisserie Chicken program increasing profitability by over 50%.

Liaison for third-party distribution center to maintain inventory control and service-level goal of 98%.

Key Food Stores Cooperative, Inc., Staten Island, NY 2001 - 2014

Merchandiser/Buyer, Dairy, Deli, Bakery & Food Service

Transitioned Bakery department from direct supplier to in-house program, increasing sales by 20% in the first year.

Developed separate sales and advertising programs for Deli & Food Service with double-digit increases for first 7 years.

Responsible for packaged meat items during search period to fill the position; increased sales by 10% and income by 15%.

Created and implemented the first standardized PLU program for all Deli, Bakery and Foodservice items.

Implemented uniform Boar’s Head Brand pricing-plan for all Co-op. members to enhance cohesive marketing strategy.

GHI Wholesale Grocers, LLC, Elizabeth, NJ 2000 – 2001

Buyer, Dairy & Deli

Procured product lines for the Key Food Cooperative and various independents.

Managed purchasing for 125 stores until company was sold to C&S Wholesale Grocers.

Wakefern Food Corporation, Elizabeth, NJ 1987 – 2000

Ad Zone Coordinator, Dairy & Deli 1999 – 2000

Prepared weekly advertisements in collaboration with buyers and store ownership.

Coordinated with procurement and merchandising staff on zone needs and was responsible for individual zone gross profits.

Category Manager, Dairy, Deli & Food Service 1995 – 1999

Responsible for all aspects of category management of 600 items for 200 stores.

Managed procurement, advertising and merchandising for Dairy-Deli & Food Service categories.

Implemented Category Plan Objectives for salads, imported and domestic cheese, and refrigerated pasta.

Participated in creation and rollout of "Black Bear" store brand cold cut line to compete with Boars Head.

Buyer, Frozen Food 1992 – 1995

Purchased 500 items for 180 stores from 50 vendors resulting in gross sales of $2M per week.

Negotiated deals, prepared and analyzed gross profit reports.

Managed direct store delivery programs with 200 vendors.

Analyst, Ice Cream/Frozen Food 1987 – 1992

Tracked all financial data on 1,500 SKU's furnished by 100 vendors.

Developed weekly reports for Procurement Manager on inventory levels, sales, gross profit and income.

Certifications:

New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets 2014 – 2016

New York State Food Safety Certified License #: FP-00019

Culinary Institute of America 1998

Foodservice Certification

Education:

Rutgers University, Newark, NJ Graduation: 1991

Bachelor of Science in Accounting

Dale Carnegie Training 2009

Management Training Course

St. Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, Pa. 1995

Quaker Buying Seminar – Category Management

Technical Skills: Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), Microsoft Internet Explorer

FAMILY: Married to Janine Kaulfers, Wife of 24 years with three children, Rebecca – 20, Brian – 15, and Megan - 14

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