Bakery Procurement Strategy Lead

Wakefern Food Corp.

Woodbridge Township (NJ)

On-site

USD 100,000 - 150,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

401(k) retirement plan with company 1:

Paid time off

Parental leave

Wellness programs

Corporate university training

Job summary

Wakefern Food Corp. is seeking a Fresh Bakery Procurement Manager to lead the Fresh Bakery Procurement team across ShopRite banners. You will direct sourcing, pricing, assortment strategies, vendor partnerships, and category performance to support growth and member profitability.

The role partners with cross‑functional teams on budgeting, demand forecasting, and promotions while coaching managers. A Bachelor’s in a related field and 3+ years in procurement or fresh food is required; SAP

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in business, supply chain, food marketing, finance, or a related field.
Minimum of three years of procurement, category management, merchandising, or related fresh food experience, with bakery or perishable category experience strongly preferred.
Demonstrated leadership experience with the ability to effectively manage and develop associates.
Strong negotiation, influencing, and relationship management skills.
Advanced analytical and problem-solving capabilities with the ability to leverage data to drive decisions.
Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, margin management, and business analysis.
Thorough understanding of retail merchandising, category management, and promotional planning processes.
Knowledge of procurement principles, supplier management, and inventory planning.
Working knowledge of Wakefern systems and applications; SAP experience preferred.
Excellent verbal, written, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
Strong customer service orientation and commitment to supporting cooperative member success.
Experience utilizing AI-driven tools, reporting platforms, and data analytics solutions to improve business performance is preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead and manage the Fresh Bakery Procurement team to achieve budgeted sales, gross profit, inventory, and category performance goals across all zones and banners.
Direct the training, development, coaching, and performance management of Fresh Bakery Procurement associates.
Develop and execute strategic sourcing, pricing, promotional, and assortment strategies to drive sales growth, market share, and profitability.
Manage vendor relationships, including supplier selection, performance evaluation, contract negotiations, and business reviews.
Analyze bakery industry trends, consumer insights, and competitive activity to identify growth opportunities and enhance category performance.
Oversee Fresh Bakery promotional programs, subsidy spending, and related budgets to maximize return on investment and support sales objectives.
Provide strategic merchandising recommendations to stores and cooperative members that improve execution, product presentation, and customer engagement.
Partner with replenishment and supply chain teams to maintain appropriate inventory levels, service levels, and product availability.
Coordinate and actively participate in Fresh Bakery Committee meetings, including development of agendas, presentations, and business updates.
Maintain strong communication and collaboration with cooperative members, retail operations teams, and Fresh Bakery leadership.