Category Manager Produce

Dennis Randolph

**** * ***** ******

518-***-**** Lawndale, CA 90260 ******.********.**@*****.***

MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVE

Operations Management and Execution… Change Management… Employee Development

Accomplished Category Manager and Operations executive with more than 20 years of experience using exceptional communication and leadership skills to coach, manage, and motivate diverse professionals in challenging environments. In Retail, and Produce industries demonstrated focus on total cost of ownership and process management. Well established in planning, implementing, and executing strategies resulting in greater customer confidence and strengthened business results. Embrace diverse environments committed to promoting creativity, effective problem solving, and breakthrough results.

CORE COMPETENCIES

–Financial Management

–Team Development

–Contract Negotiations

–Inventory Management

–Supplier Development

–Value Stream Management

–Strategic Sourcing

–Competitive Analysis

–Productivity Improvement

–General Management

–3rd Party Contracting

–Marketing Development

CAREER MILESTONES

Category Manager, Walmart

Financials responsibilities for multiple commodities develop strategy to meet consumer needs driving, profit, and sales, while managing markdowns, and turns at store level.

Contracting, pricing, sku’s allocation, turns in inventory, vendor development & establishing appropriate distribution to the stores.

Developing consumer decision tree to merchandise to the needs of the consumer and drive the category allocation and location.

Developed strategies to deliver company goals and meet consumer needs.

-Notable accomplishments-

Buyer of the Year Produce and Floral Recognized for my business success and development of programs and growers (Walmart)

Negotiated Contract savings of 35% on Banana and Pineapples (Fresh & Easy)

Lead a team that was able to save 48% savings in cost and lower retails by 25% by utilizing crop maximization

(Save A Lot)

Created successful merchandising plans, schematics and clear executable direction that delivered for stores. (Walmart)

Led a team that created solution for stores with demographic difference in needs and seasonal transition as well as Captain Solution for low volume stores. (Walmart)

Senior Buyer Frieda’s Specialty Produce Feb 2019-2021

Responsible for the management of perishable inventory purchased by daily review of item usage, sales, inventory adjustments and the creation of purchase orders (PO’s) to replenish inventory.

Purchases products at the most favorable price consistent with quality, quantity, specification requirements and other established factors, and does all required follow up until product is successfully received.

Works in collaboration with Supply Team on new products and sales opportunities and provides recommendations regarding new products handled and/or items to be discontinued; communicates findings to sales team.

Responsible for spot-checking the quality of incoming product.

Develops and maintains good, positive working relationships with suppliers, brokers, agents, sales contacts and/or importers.

Coordinates with sales in the area of entering and receiving of drop (FOB) shipments.

Works with warehouse and suppliers on delivery problems, back orders and product returns.

Collaborates with other Supply Team members on various supplier transactions, including new supplier and new product set up and transfers.

Works with accounting on PO discrepancies.

Assists with completing new item forms, sales templates for seasonal opportunities and special projects; updates and maintains department logs and literature, as needed.

Responsible for updates and necessary follow-through on price changes and allowances.

Follows company ethics guidelines and the Perishable Agriculture Commodities Act (PACA), regarding business practices as it applies to the buying function. Completes and understands the online PACA training class.

Works with Category Manager on any additional projects or tasks as needed.

All other duties as assigned and/or required.

Category Manager, Motorcar Parts of America Jan 2017- 2018

Recommending a product assortment - (Adds / Deletes / Adjustments to stocking levels) through internal category reviews.

Creating a complete price strategy – (Good / Better / Best) - Margin Improvement

Work with category-related departments to look for internal cost-saving initiatives to help improve margin performance

Work with Quality Assurance department to define internal and external training programs – Increase sales / Lower warranty returns / Improve market share

Develop customer-focused promotional programs – establish goals and provide senior management measurable metrics on the success of those programs. (ROI)

Provide guidance to purchasing and production planning departments in their decisions on stocking levels from initial to sell-down

Prepare line review / gap analysis for Account Managers to present to customer as requested or as part of overall sales strategy.

Review monthly market share data for all customers, note changes and make recommendations on

Review monthly warranty return numbers by customer, prepare analysis, and help develop programs with Quality Assurance department to reduce returns at the customer level.

Review retail price shops with Account Managers while making recommendations on areas to improve market share through competitive positioning and recommendations to improve profitability for the customer.

Consultant Robert Half- JK Imaging LTD December 2016- 2019

Provide reporting and analysis necessary to understand the business that they’re currently doing with Walmart

Advising leadership on strategy for development of and increasing market share and sales

Working with Supply chain to identify trends and opportunity for increased sales and profitability

Working with the team to understand Walmart culture and language consistent with the Walmart Procurement and Supply Chain

Supply Chain Manager, L.A. Kitchen, Los Angeles, CA 2015 – 2016

●Purchase Services, Equipment and Food for the operation

●Leveraging purchases and donations from supplier community

●Develop relationships with suppliers and service providers in order to support initiatives.

●Develop policies and procedures for purchases, sustainability and company phone policy.

●Track and maintain log for donations from supporters

Produce Sales Specialist, IXE AGRO LLC, Miami, FL 2013 – 2014

●Developed rapport with growers that were acquired.

●Develop solutions with products for our customers.

●Creating and developing information for our customer.

●Developing long term proposals for customers for contract relationships

Buying Manger, Produce Fresh & Easy – El Segundo, CA 2011- 2012

●Create and implement plans to achieve sales, profit and margin to defined targets.

●Partner with the Technical Mgr. to convert product to Private label and ensure supplier product quality requirements

● are met.

●Negotiate cost price and terms on all brand and Private label products.

●Create and implement plans to improve in-store availability of sku’s for customers.

Sourcing & Replenishment Manager Save-A-Lot – Earth City, MO 2010 – 2011

●Developing strategies with the Buyers for categories.

●Oversee the Buyer pricing, cost and manage the purchasing of quantities to satisfy needs for produce

●Analyze performance of existing vendors and items while increasing the vendors that we purchase from.

●Developing Buying process to segregate Buyer and Replenishment process.

●Developed planning guide for Buyers and Replenishment team.

Category Manager, Walmart – Johnstown, NY 2007 – 2010

●Responsible for financials for multiple commodities develop strategy to meet consumer needs, contracting, pricing & establishing flow for 40 DC’s & 2,400 Stores.

●Contracting, pricing, sku’s allocation, turns in inventory, vendor development & establishing appropriate distribution to the stores.

●Developed strategies to deliver company goals and meet consumer needs. Delivering sales profit and service level.

Regional Team leader, Walmart – Johnstown, NY 2001 - 2007

●Responsible for financials 12 DC’s and 820 stores, managing 8 Produce Buyers and 14 Buyer’s Assistants.

●Development of local growers & developing layouts in for multiple regions and consumer groups. Partnering with Dept. of AG to promote local grown Produce.

Regional Produce Buyer, Walmart – AR and KY 1997-2001

●Product development and local growers.

●Developing layouts in KY, WV, OK, TN,

●Test new items, fixtures and designs for different ethnic, economic, and type of shoppers.

Produce Merchandiser, Walmart – OK and TX 1996-1997

●Responsible for financials and for management/hourly associates.

●Responsible for financials for Produce in 36 stores, Development of management/hourly associate.

Produce Manager, Walmart – MS, TX, and MO 1991 – 1996

●Responsible for financials sales, gross profit, waste, managing expenses including wages in both percent and dollars.

●Merchandising the department including tie in merchandise features and side counters.

●Managing and creating schedules of hourly associates and developing them including hourly evaluations.

●Managed four different Produce Dept. layouts.

Education

Longview Community College, Lee Summit, MO - Business Management

Training Courses

Introduction to Teambuilding, Lead First, Inclusion Mindset, Advanced Leadership, and Time Management Certification

Computer Skills

Microsoft Office, Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Retail Link

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