As an Innovation Manager for Kroger's Our Brands (OB) Innovation Center of Excellence, you'll be a key partner in creating exciting new private label food & beverage products across nearly every brand and category. You'll lead brainstorming sessions and collaborate across teams to come up with innovative concepts with a strong business case, and you'll see them through from prototype to successful launch in the market. You'll deep-dive into culinary trends, consumer behaviors, and cultural influences to weave these insights into OB's strategic plans. With your ability to understand what customers want and where trends are heading, you'll turn data into strategy and strategy into new items, cementing Kroger's reputation as a leader in private label innovation. Demonstrate the company's core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion and safety.From one tiny Cincinnati grocery store more than a century ago, we've grown into what today is the nation's largest grocer with nearly 2,800 stores in 35 states operating under 28 different names. As America's grocer, we take pride in bringing diverse teams with a passion for food and people together with one common purpose: To Feed the Human Spirit. With a history of innovation, we work tirelessly to create amazing experiences for our customers, communities AND each other, with food at the heart of it all.
Here, people matter. That's why we strive to provide the ingredients you need to create your own recipe for success at work and in life. We help feed your future by providing the value and care you need to grow. If you're caring, purpose-driven and hungry to learn, your potential is unlimited.
Whether you're seeking a part-time position or a new career path, we've got a fresh opportunity for you. Apply today to become part of our Kroger family!MINIMUM
6 years of experience in retail, consumer packaged goods, culinary, or innovation industry
Bachelor's Degree in food science, data analytics, marketing, anthropology, sensory science, or other relevant field
Passion for food with a deep understanding of culinary arts and food science
Demonstrated ability to translate consumer trends into new product concepts aligned with business goals
Product (formula/recipe) development and commercialization experience in food and/or beverage
Strong data analytics skills, including familiarity with analyzing sales data, primary research, and/or consumer trend insights
Willingness to foster a culture of innovation by challenging convention with strong interpersonal and influencing skills
Highly proficient in Microsoft Office
Comfort working with ambiguity, managing complex innovation projects with adaptability and minimal direction
Customer-first mindset with a knack for understanding consumer behavior and motivations
DESIRED
8+ years of experience in retail, consumer packaged goods, culinary, or innovation industry
Any food and beverage brand management, category management, consumer insights, or manufacturing experience
Experience in sensory evaluation and describing food attributes
Experience leading brainstorming sessions or moderating focus groups
Discover and develop novel food and beverage products that solve for unmet consumer needs, elevate the Our Brands portfolio, build customer loyalty, and drive new household growth
Lead the recipe/formula development and prototyping process to bring innovative concepts to life, working with manufacturers to formulate and develop new products and guiding new items through successful product commercialization to deliver tangible results in the form of incremental sales
Align innovation strategy with merchandising plans and Our Brands business objectives
Consult category strategy managers on new product development for assigned categories as an expert taster and voice of the customer
Influence the Our Brands team as a definitive subject matter expert on consumer behavior and emerging trends, translating insights into recommendations which impact multiple brands, categories, and departments
Build a culture of innovation by shaping cross-departmental consumer knowledge through insights into culinary trends, consumer behavior, cultural influences, and ethnic and category-specific trends
Follow established programs, policies and practices to produce safe, quality foods that meet regulatory and company requirements, accountable to the Kroger Manufacturing Food Safety and Quality Principles
