About the Position:The Fresh Market currently has an opening for an Innovation Development Manager is a differentiator for The Fresh Market and we're looking for an experienced Innovation Development Manager to join our team. We are a high energy group with a passion for food, innovation, delivering results, and a collaborative mindset. We have audacious goals and are well on our way to achieving them. The Innovation Development Manager works in support of the Directors and Category Managers across departments in a collaborative effort to grow The Fresh Market innovation innitiatives.
What You'll Do:- Partner with Merchandising leadership and cross-functional teams to develop and execute initiatives that support business objectives, guest expectations, and brand strategy.
- Lead the planning and implementation of new programs and process improvements that enhance merchandising effectiveness and operational execution.
- Support the development of assortment strategies that reflect consumer trends, competitive insights, and overall company priorities.
- Collaborate with internal stakeholders to deliver guest-focused initiatives that drive engagement and reinforce the brand experience.
- Provide oversight and guidance for differentiated merchandising programs, ensuring alignment with financial targets, operational capabilities, and brand standards.
- Product Development Opportunity - identify new product opportunities for development by keeping abreast of trends in the branded sectors and through category reviews, line extensions, SPINS data, and competition checks.
- Product testing - test products before a sensory panel and stake holders to determine viability for development.
- Business case analysis - provide stakeholders with profit and loss information based on how the new product may affect the business (i.e. category level, item level, retail comps, etc.).
- Contractual negotiations with vendors.
- Manages multiple projects and broad product scopes.
- Product Launch - work with marketing teams to provide information such as product availability, attributes, images, promotional pricing, and placement in marketing materials.
- Oversees product development process with PMs & tracking progress.
- Lead weekly process/status/updates for all products in development. The development process is lengthy and requires cross collaborations between numerous departments within The Fresh
- Capture Shark Tank, innovation hotline ideas, etc.
- Review ideas initially with ROI assessments generated with OPS, MKTG and MERCH partners to get a recommendation for go/no go review.
Qualifications:At a minimum, what you'll need:- Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
- 5+ years in food development/management.
- Contract negotiation experience.
- Strong merchandising, product and marketing skills.
- Strong ability to identify first to market trends, innovations, and communicate within the organization.
- Demonstrate strong analytical, negotiating and problem-solving skills.
- Ability develop/maintain strong working relationship with peers and cross-functional teams.
- Demonstrates leadership and decision-making skills.
- Demonstrates strong listening, written and oral communication skills.
- Willing and able to travel for trade shows and store trips.
- Flexible and adaptive to changing priorities.
- Experience in a retail environment or CPG.
- Passion for food.
- Working knowledge with Excel and databases.
- Ability to work with numerous people on various projects simultaneously.
- Deadline and results driven.
- Strong business acumen related to profit and loss, ROI, financial analysis.
- Project Management skills.
Preferred qualifications:- Demonstrated experience utilizing Nielsen and/or IRI.
- Experience with MicroStrategy.
The statements in this job description are provided to describe the general nature and level of work expected in this role. While these statements include the essential functions of the job, they are not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required. As we work as a team, there may be times team members are needed to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities based on business needs.
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