Michele Ballenger

• Led strategic partnerships with manufacturers, suppliers, and internal stakeholders to enhance private brand growth and expand categories.
• Develop and execute category growth strategies informed by customer trends, competitive analysis, and business performance metrics.
• Partner with merchandising, sourcing, operations, quality assurance, and marketing teams to successfully launch new products and initiatives.
• Managed multiple projects simultaneously, aligning stakeholders and executing critical business objectives on time.
• Present business recommendations, commercialization strategies, and supplier opportunities to senior leadership.

Drove operational improvements in assortment optimization, product development, supplier transitions, and supply continuity.

• Analyzed category performance, market trends, and consumer behavior to identify growth opportunities and develop actionable strategies.
• Managed key supplier relationships and business plans across multiple categories, enhancing sales growth and profitability.
• Collaborated with merchandising, marketing, operations, and suppliers to execute promotional, assortment, and pricing initiatives, aligning strategies with market demand.
• Negotiated supplier agreements and business terms to improve margins while supporting strategic business objectives.
• Developed and presented comprehensive business reviews and strategic recommendations to leadership and external partners, influencing decision-making.

• Developed and executed category strategy, managing financial performance, assortment planning, and vendor relationships across multiple grocery categories.
• Leveraged data analytics and consumer insights to identify opportunities for growth, improve category productivity, and optimize assortment decisions.
• Partnered with internal stakeholders and suppliers to develop and implement category initiatives that enhanced both customer experience and business results.
• Led cross-functional projects requiring coordination across merchandising, operations, supply chain, and quality assurance teams.
• Crafted executive-level presentations and actionable business recommendations that informed and supported key strategic decisions.

• Led private brand strategy and product development initiatives across multiple fresh and center-store categories.
• Led product development, sourcing, and commercialization efforts from concept through launch.
• Managed strategic supplier partnerships and private brand business plans, enhancing product offerings across multiple perishable categories.
• Utilized performance metrics, consumer insights, and market analysis to identify growth opportunities and optimize category performance.
• Developed growth plans using consumer insights, sales performance data, and market research to identify new opportunities.
• Collaborated across merchandising, operations, marketing, and quality teams to execute growth initiatives and improve operational effectiveness.
• Negotiated supplier agreements and drove initiatives that strengthened sales, margin performance, and brand penetration.
• Managed supplier relationships and collaborated with cross-functional teams to execute product launches and commercialization initiatives.
• Coordinated complex projects involving sourcing, packaging, quality assurance, merchandising, and operations teams.
• Delivered business reviews and strategic recommendations, aligning with leadership to drive category growth initiatives.