Vice President, Sales - Kroger

This a Full Remote job, the offer is available from: United States, Ohio (USA)

Job Type Full-time Description

Who We Are

Headquartered in Vineland, NJ, F&S Fresh Foods is leading the way in fresh-cut fruit, vegetables, and meal solutions distribution. With the recent acquisition of five additional state-of-the-art facilities strategically located across the U.S., we now deliver to customers across the United States and Canada — every single day!

For over 40 years, we’ve been redefining production and safety processes, building strong partnerships, and creating endless possibilities for our diverse customers — from restaurants and supermarket prepared food operations to convenience store chains and beyond. At F&S, we are fueling families with nutrition, innovation, and convenience, turning meals into memorable moments. By combining cutting-edge technology, deep-rooted customer relationships, and operational excellence, we are shaping the future of fresh — from farm to family.

We’re not just about food; we’re about people. Recognized as a Great Place to Work for three consecutive years, our team of 2,100 full-time employees drives our culture forward by living our values every day. If you’re ready to be part of a company that values innovation, excellence, and community impact, join us as we embrace our next exciting chapter of growth. Together, we’re planting the seeds of progress and nourishing a fresh, healthy future for everyone!

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation package

• Comprehensive benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance

• 401(K) including company match!

• Paid Time Off annually + Paid Holidays

• Career Advancement opportunities and Tuition Assistance

What’s the Role

The Vice President of Sales – Kroger leads and grows F&S Fresh Foods’ national partnership with Kroger across the Produce and Deli categories, serving as the single commercial owner for the Kroger enterprise with responsibility for customer strategy, revenue growth, profitability, category expansion, and overall account performance across corporate teams, banners, divisions, and relevant operating units. You will develop and execute a comprehensive Kroger strategy that expands F&S’s business, strengthens executive relationships, improves service and profitability, and converts customer priorities into executable joint business plans. The ideal candidate is deeply fluent in Kroger’s systems, processes, decision structure, and operating culture, and brings strong fresh-foods expertise, financial acumen, and executive-level influence. You will drive disciplined coordination across Sales, Operations, Supply Chain, Quality, Product Development, Commercialization, Marketing, Finance, Customer Service, and broker partners. Success will be measured by profitable revenue growth, expansion across Produce and Deli, customer satisfaction, forecast and launch execution, account-team development, and the strength of F&S’s strategic partnership with Kroger.

What You’ll Own

• Develop and execute the national Kroger account strategy across Produce and Deli, aligned with F&S annual and long-range objectives, and lead joint business planning with Kroger that establishes clear growth priorities, financial objectives, innovation platforms, promotional plans, and measures of success
• Identify and prioritize white-space opportunities across corporate teams, banners, divisions, categories, programs, and SKUs; maintain a qualified opportunity pipeline that drives opportunities from customer insight and concept through commercialization, launch, and ongoing performance; and translate Kroger, consumer, category, and competitive insights into strategies that build profitable, sustainable growth for both organizations
• Serve as F&S’s primary commercial leader and strategic point of contact for Kroger nationally, creating one coordinated customer strategy across Produce and Deli, and develop trusted relationships with Kroger senior leaders, merchants, category managers, culinary and product-development teams, procurement, supply chain, and divisional stakeholders
• Lead executive business reviews, customer presentations, and negotiations involving pricing, programs, promotions, innovation, service expectations, and other commercial terms, anticipating customer needs and developing solutions that create mutual value while protecting F&S’s commercial and operational interests
• Lead resolution of escalated customer issues and ensure timely, consistent communication across corporate and divisional stakeholders
• Own the total Kroger Produce and Deli account P&L and deliver annual revenue, contribution margin, and profitable growth objectives, leading account forecasting, annual planning, promotional planning, trade-spend management, and budget inputs in partnership with Finance and Sales leadership
• Maintain pricing discipline by considering commodities, ingredients, packaging, labor, freight, customer allowances, promotional investments, and service requirements, and evaluate new and existing business using both top-line growth and bottom-line profitability, including operational feasibility and strategic value
• Monitor customer, category, program, division, and SKU performance, provide concise, fact-based updates on results, risks, opportunities, and required decisions, and maintain accurate forecasts, opportunity pipelines, account plans, and customer activity in applicable planning and CRM systems
• Represent Kroger’s priorities internally while balancing customer expectations with F&S’s operational capabilities, profitability, quality standards, and strategic objectives, ensuring customer commitments are operationally and financially achievable before they are finalized
• Coordinate cross-functional execution of innovation, new products, promotions, transitions, seasonal programs, resets, and other major customer initiatives, driving accountability for timely execution, identifying risks early, and escalating decisions with clear facts and recommended actions
• Lead and develop the Kroger customer team, including assigned sales, customer-development, analytics, and support resources, with clear accountability and succession plans, and build effective partnerships with Product Development, Commercialization, Operations, Supply Chain, Quality, Marketing, Finance, Customer Service, and broker partners

What You Bring

• Education – Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience
• Experience (must have) – 10+ years of progressive sales and national account leadership experience, preferably in fresh foods, Produce, Deli, refrigerated foods, prepared foods, or similarly perishable categories
• Kroger experience (must have) – Direct Kroger experience and a demonstrated record of navigating Kroger’s systems, processes, organizational structure, and operating culture
• Kroger relationships (must have) – Established relationships with Kroger Produce and/or Deli leadership; meaningful experience across both categories strongly preferred
• Growth track record (must have) – Demonstrated record of profitably growing a major strategic account, preferably at greater than $50 million in annual sales
• Skills (must have) – Strong executive communication, presentation, negotiation, financial-analysis, and cross-functional leadership capabilities
• Location – Cincinnati-area location strongly preferred, with the ability to maintain a consistent in-market presence with Kroger
• Enterprise account leadership and integrity – Owns the total Kroger relationship and creates one coordinated strategy across Produce, Deli, corporate teams, banners, and divisions, balancing customer advocacy with F&S’s strategic, operational, financial, and cultural priorities
• Profitable growth and commercial acumen – Uses sales, margin, pricing, trade-spend, category, and market data to drive sustainable growth and sound decisions
• Customer partnership, influence, and cross-functional execution – Builds trusted executive relationships, understands Kroger’s decision processes, and influences mutually beneficial outcomes, while creating alignment across functions and driving disciplined execution from opportunity identification through commercialization, launch, and ongoing performance
• Team development – Builds capability, sets clear expectations, coaches performance, and develops succession and bench strength within the Kroger customer team

 F&S is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity in its workforce. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds. Join us in shaping the future of F&S Fresh Foods! 

Notice of AI Use in Job Application Review

As part of our commitment in creating a fair, efficient, and consistent hiring process we may use artificial intelligence (AI) to help our recruiting teams organize, summarize, and analyze information provided by candidates, including resumes, application responses, and other materials submitted during the application process.AI may be used to identify patterns, highlight relevant skills, and experience, and assist in comparing a candidate’s qualifications with the requirement of a specific role. These tools are to improve efficiency and consistency while supporting more informed hiring decisions, which will ultimately be made by the hiring team.