Director, Private Label

About the role

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.

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.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Monitor and analyze sales performance of private label products, making data-driven decisions to optimize the assortment and promotional strategy.
• 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.
• 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.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing or Merchandising. MBA is a plus.

Minimum of 5-8 years of experience in product management, merchandising, or brand management, with at least 3-5 years in a leadership role focused on private label or proprietary brands.

Proven track record of successfully launching and growing private label programs that drove significant revenue and margin improvements.

Strong background in sourcing, vendor negotiation, and supply chain management.

Skills

• Excellent strategic and analytical skills with the ability to interpret market data and financial reports.
• Exceptional leadership and team-building capabilities.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Superb communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel, and experience with ERP/inventory management software.

Physical Requirements

Ability to travel as needed to meet with suppliers, attend trade shows, and visit customer locations.