Sr. Merchandising Analyst - Retail

United Natural Foods, Inc.; Edina, Northern (MN, KY); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

United Natural Foods, Inc. seeks a Senior Merchandising Analyst to drive promotional planning, vendor funding oversight, and category performance insights. This role sits at the center of Merchandising and Pricing to inform timely, profitable decisions.

You will build and maintain executive-ready reports, analyze post-promo results, and partner with Finance on forecast accuracy and risk/opportunity assessments while supporting cross-functional merchandising initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Business, Data Analytics, or related field.
• 5-10 years of retail analytics, merchandising finance, pricing, or vendor funding experience.
• Strong communication and analytical skills; ability to translate data into actionable insights.
• Proficiency with Excel; experience with Power BI/Tableau and SQL is a strong plus.

Responsibilities

• Analyze vendor funding, trade spend, and markdown activity to maximize ROI and margin rate.
• Provide category leaders with actionable visibility into funding performance, gaps, and opportunities.
• Support promo and pricing decisions using elasticity insights, competitive analysis, and historical performance.
• Build and maintain reporting that tracks sales, margin, units, mix, traffic drivers, and category trends.
• Convert complex data into clear, executive-ready recommendations.
• Lead post-mortem analysis on promotions and major merchandising events with actionable next steps.
• Partner with Finance to support forecast accuracy, period planning, and risk/opportunity assessments.
• Lead or support cross-functional projects that strengthen Cub’s merchandising processes, tools, and analytical capabilities.

Skills

Strong communication

Retail analytics

Bias for action

Detail orientation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Business, Data Analytics, or related field

Tools

Excel

Power BI

SQL

NIQ data

Cognira

Job description

Job Overview:

As a critical capability-builder for Cub, the Senior Merchandising Analyst brings rigor to promotional planning, vendor funding management, category performance tracking, and margin investment decisions. Sitting at the center of Merchandising and Pricing, this role provides the insights our teams rely on to make timely, confident, and profitable decisions.

Job Responsibilities:

• Analyze vendor funding, trade spend, and markdown activity to maximize ROI and margin rate.


• Provide category leaders with actionable visibility into funding performance, gaps, and opportunities.


• Support promo and pricing decisions using elasticity insights, competitive analysis, and historical performance.


• Build and maintain reporting that tracks sales, margin, units, mix, traffic drivers, and category trends.


• Convert complex data into clear, executive-ready recommendations.


• Lead post-mortem analysis on promotions and major merchandising events and provide concise summaries of what worked, what didn’t, and what actions we should take next.


• Partner closely with Finance to support forecast accuracy, period planning, and risk/opportunity assessments.


• Lead or support cross-functional projects that strengthen Cub’s merchandising processes, tools, and analytical capabilities.


• Performs other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements:

Education/ Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Business, Data Analytics, or related field.

Experience

• 5-10 years of retail analytics, merchandising finance, pricing, or vendor funding experience.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Strong communication skills, intellectual curiosity, and a bias for action in a fast-paced environment.


• Strong knowledge of retail P&L levers, including margin, mix, markdowns, and funding.


• Experience working with Nielsen/NIQ syndicated data and/or merchandising and promo-planning tools, such as Cognira is strongly preferred.


• Advanced Excel; experience with Power BI/Tableau and SQL is a strong plus.


• Good judgment is required for this position, as there may be times when direct supervision may not be immediately available.

Work Environment:

Hybrid Role:

• This position follows a hybrid schedule working in office (3) days per week. The acceptable split between onsite and remote work is determined by the manager. Hybrid associates may choose to work from an office on a more frequent basis than required.

Travel (minor):

• This position may require the associate to travel to company offices, distribution centers, or other locations for specific meetings or other business reasons.

Physical Environment/Demands:

Office Roles:

• Most work is performed in a temperature-controlled office environment.


• Incumbent may sit for long periods at a desk or computer terminal.


• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.


• Incumbent may use calculators, keyboards, telephones, and other office equipment during the normal workday.


• Stooping, bending, twisting, and reaching may be required in the completion of job duties.

UNFI is an Equal Opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive and respectful environment for all. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or other protected ground. Accommodation is available upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the job selection process. - Veteran/Disability. VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

Compensation:

UNFI anticipates paying the above-referenced pay rate (or within the above-referenced pay range) for this position. Actual Pay, where applicable, will depend on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, education, experience, training, and any requirements under applicable collective bargaining agreements. UNFI is committed to transparency in pay in compliance with applicable state and local laws.

Benefits:

For Washington positions (or positions that may be performed remotely from Washington), https://www.unfi.com/jobs-more-info-wa.html for Washington-specific paid time off details.

Candidates hired into this position will also be eligible to participate in the following benefits programs: Paid Time Off; Sick Time; paid holidays and parental leave; 401K Program; medical, dental, vision, life, and accidental death/dismemberment insurance; short-term and long-term disability insurance program, Flexible Spending Account and/or Health Savings Account, subject to meeting the eligibility requirements and the terms and conditions of these programs, and subject to any requirements under applicable collective bargaining agreements.

UNFI’s compensation, benefits, and paid time off policies are subject to change in the Company’s sole discretion, consistent with applicable law. This job posting should not be construed as an offer of employment with certain terms, nor should it be construed as a guaranteed minimum.

Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance and California Fair Chance Act.