National Account Manager – Kroger & Harris Teeter

<p><strong>National Account Manager – Kroger & Harris Teeter</strong></p><p><br></p><p>Heartland Food Products Group is seeking a <strong>National Account Manager (NAM)</strong> to lead our business with <strong>Kroger and Harris Teeter</strong>, two of Heartland’s most strategic retail partners. This role is ideal for a proven CPG sales leader with <strong>direct experience calling on these accounts</strong>, established <strong>relationships with merchandising teams</strong>, and a passion for building brands through strong retailer collaboration.</p><p>This position is <strong>based in Cincinnati, OH</strong>, and may include leadership responsibility for <strong>one direct report (Key Account Manager)</strong>.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>What You’ll Do</strong></p><p><strong>Own Strategic Customer Leadership</strong></p><ul><li>Serve as the primary sales lead and relationship owner for Kroger and Harris Teeter</li><li>Build and deepen partnerships with merchandising teams to drive mutual growth</li><li>Represent Heartland’s brand portfolio with confidence, credibility, and a growth mindset</li></ul><p><strong>Drive Growth Across Heartland’s Brand Portfolio</strong></p><ul><li>Develop and execute annual Joint Business Plans aligned to Heartland’s growth, profitability, and brand-building priorities</li><li>Lead assortment, pricing, merchandising, and promotional strategies that expand distribution and household penetration</li><li>Champion innovation and new item launches, ensuring strong customer alignment and flawless execution</li></ul><p><strong>Deliver Results Through Best-in-Class Execution</strong></p><ul><li>Own volume, trade spend, and profitability targets for Kroger and Harris Teeter</li><li>Lead promotional planning, display strategy, and in-store/online execution in partnership with merchandising teams</li><li>Provide accurate forecasting and demand inputs to support high service levels and efficient inventory management</li></ul><p><strong>Leverage Insights to Win at Shelf</strong></p><ul><li>Use syndicated data (Circana/IRI, Nielsen) and customer insights to identify category opportunities and support fact-based selling</li><li>Partner with customer merchandising teams to improve shelf placement, promotional ROI, and execution quality</li><li>Translate data into clear, compelling stories that support brand and category growth</li></ul><p><strong>Lead and Develop Talent</strong></p><ul><li>Directly manage and coach one Key Account Manager</li><li>Set clear priorities, provide ongoing feedback, and support professional development</li><li>Lead with Heartland’s values and foster a high-performance, collaborative team culture</li></ul><p><strong>Collaborate Cross-Functionally</strong></p><ul><li>Act as the voice of Kroger and Harris Teeter internally, aligning marketing, R&D, supply chain, finance, and operations</li><li>Partner closely with marketing and category management to deliver customer-relevant brand strategies</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>What You Bring</strong></p><p><strong>Required Qualifications</strong></p><ul><li>Bachelor’s degree required; MBA a plus</li><li>7+ years of CPG sales or customer leadership experience</li><li><strong>Direct experience calling on Kroger and/or Harris Teeter required</strong></li><li>Established relationships with <strong>Kroger and/or Harris Teeter merchandising teams</strong></li><li>Strong understanding of grocery retail, trade management, and category management</li><li>Proven track record of delivering profitable growth</li><li>Prior people management experience or demonstrated readiness to lead</li></ul><p><strong>Preferred Experience</strong></p><ul><li>Experience managing branded food or beverage portfolios</li><li>Strong analytical and financial acumen</li><li>Comfort working in a fast-paced, growth-oriented, matrixed organization</li></ul><p></p>

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