Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Websites
Accomplishments
Certification
Timeline
Generic

Nicholas Lewandoski

Point Pleasant,NJ

Summary

Experienced sales professional with strengths in developing and implementing successful selling strategies, merchandising, driving profitability, establishing/maintaining both vendor & operational relationships, while being heavily focused on team building & leadership. Vast cross functional supermarket background, with over 20 years of grocery sales, retail, & produce industry experience.


Overview

19
19
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Account Executive/Account Manager

Johnson O'hare Co, Inc.
09.2022 - Current


  • Managed 35+ clients & 4 customer accounts simultaneously while maintaining organization and prioritizing tasks efficiently.
  • Collaborated with clients to develop and implement multiple sales & marketing plans per account.
  • Effectively negotiated and grew client portfolios by gaining incremental sku's at retail accounts.
  • Developed strong working relationships with key retail decision makers while advocating for my clients within the Mid-Atlantic region: Albertsons Mid-Atlantic, Kings, Giant Company, & Redner's Markets.
  • Exceeded sales targets consistently by identifying new business opportunities, closing white space, and creating customized solutions for customers.
  • Provided exceptional customer service, addressing both client & customer concerns promptly and effectively to ensure long-term success.
  • Boosted client satisfaction by developing and maintaining strong relationships through effective communications.
  • Recommended and assisted in the development of new merchandising strategies & planograms within customer accounts.

US Category Manager of Fresh

Gorillas
03.2021 - 09.2022
  • Curated & developed product assortment for all fresh categories: Produce, Meat, Seafood, Deli, & Bakery.
  • Sourced, selected, & set-up all vendors accounts.
  • Managed costs, pricing, and department selling strategies.
  • Responsible for achieving all revenue & margin based fresh category goals.
  • Negotiated terms of promotion & ad based revenue with suppliers & vendor community.
  • Worked closely supply chain team to properly forecast & procure product.
  • Developed and implemented training documents to support operations teams.
  • Product knowledge & problem solving resource for warehouse operations teams.
  • Mentored several other category managers to better develop their skill sets.

Assistant Category Manager | Produce

Albertsons Companies | Mid-Atlantic Division
02.2015 - 03.2021
  • Responsible for Sales Performance, Ad Programming, Product/Program development, Profit/Margin/Loss, and Merchandising of ABS Mid-Atlantic’s 272 Produce departments.
  • Category management responsibilities: In-Store Prepared, Convenience fruit, Convenience Vegetables, Refrigerated Juice, Dips, Dressings, Snacks/Toppings, & Meat Alternative.
  • Developed several new division programs & initiatives: $5 Fresh Cut features, Family Pack Cut Vegetables, Monthly “Event Shelf” pushes, 4 week Ad programming, and numerous themed selling events such as a Pick 3 Program, $5 features, & Healthy Eating.
  • Managed an average weekly department revenue of $14 Million.
  • Drove profit margins to exceed 40% while mitigating shrink to sub 5%.
  • Achieved annual Fresh Cut Sales of $73.9 million; at an ID trend of +9.71% YOY.
  • Developed a multi-store commissary program that supplied 21 "Shore Locations"; Drove over $1 million in incremental sales.
  • Supported store leadership while mentoring a team of 9 district operations specialists.


Operations Specialist | Produce & Floral

Acme Markets, Inc
03.2013 - 11.2015
  • Consistently met or exceeded my district’s (18 Produce & Floral departments) Sales/Profit/Shrink, by following company programs/initiatives combined with my strong understanding of all financials including Profit and Loss, and inventory procedures.
  • Accountable for all merchandising, operation standards, P&L performance, company initiative implementation of my district.
  • Focused on customer experience via store conditions and driving sales performance.
  • Trained & developed a team of 18 Produce & Floral Managers.
  • Strategically implemented processes in which my produce departments could manage their individual P&L responsibilities to achieve a sub 5% district shrink.
  • Successfully led two produce conversion teams in a shorten timeframe remodel project of 17 former A&P locations.

Store Manager

Bottom Dollar Food | Delhaize America
03.2011 - 03.2013
  • Responsible for all merchandising, operation standards and P&L performance of my store.
  • Ensured my location followed company guidelines while often exceeding executive leadership's expectations.
  • Focused heavily on customer needs, store conditions, and driving sales performance.
  • With strengths in both problem solving & multitasking; Implemented processes in which my team could excel in soft discount grocery format.
  • Trained & developed a team of 3 Assistant Store Managers, Led 50+ store associates.
  • Selected as a lead district trainer to assist in the development of new hired management.
  • Produced first year sales of $6.2 mil ($5.4 mil budgeted); exceeded overall Gross Profit dollars by $294k.
  • Maintained a total store shrink percent of 1.67% (2.96% Budgeted), while working on labor percent of 6.25% (6.42% Budgeted).

Assistant Store Director

Acme Markets, Inc
02.2006 - 03.2011
  • Assisted in the day to day operations of my store location.
  • Managed key operating expenses including labor; Via weekly scheduling responsibilities.
  • Coached & mentored a store team of over 12 department managers and +100 store associates.
  • Employed my merchandising skills to specifically improve department sales where results were lagging and underperforming vs. expectations.
  • Drove sales by focusing on company merchandising programs; Implementation of key initiatives and weekly selling events.
  • Responsible for the hiring and new hire on-boarding of associates.
  • Often filled in as Sub-Store Director and/or Operations Specialist.
  • Assisted on a selected team of remodel & reset individuals.

Education

Business Administration

Brookdale Community College
Lincroft, NJ
05.2008

Skills

  • Sales Forecasting
  • Profit & Loss
  • Strategic Planning & Alignment
  • Pricing Strategy
  • Merchandising
  • Marketing & Advertising
  • Customer Negotiations
  • Problem Solving
  • Detail-Oriented
  • Relationship Building
  • Complaint Resolution
  • Promotional planning
  • Vendor Relations
  • Sales proficiency
  • Data Analysis
  • Strategy implementation

Accomplishments

New Jersey Food Council

Leadership Development Program

October 2015 – October 2016

Certification

FSP – ANSI Accredited

Certified Food Safety Manager

December 2017 – December 2022

Timeline

Account Executive/Account Manager

Johnson O'hare Co, Inc.
09.2022 - Current

US Category Manager of Fresh

Gorillas
03.2021 - 09.2022

Assistant Category Manager | Produce

Albertsons Companies | Mid-Atlantic Division
02.2015 - 03.2021

Operations Specialist | Produce & Floral

Acme Markets, Inc
03.2013 - 11.2015

Store Manager

Bottom Dollar Food | Delhaize America
03.2011 - 03.2013

Assistant Store Director

Acme Markets, Inc
02.2006 - 03.2011

Business Administration

Brookdale Community College

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Nicholas Lewandoski