Sarah Groves
Ponte Vedra,FL
Summary
Innovative merchandising leader with a passion for driving accessibility of real food to more customers. Experienced in managing many facets of merchandising including store execution, supply chain, pricing, promotions and category leadership. Proven success leading and executing strategic initiatives that exceed company objectives.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Category Manager
Southeastern Grocers
Jacksonville, FL
12.2020 - Current
- Managed Natural & Organic, Asian, Indian, British categories, consistently overachieving category budgets in sales, profit & own brand penetration.
- Leadership of the United Natural Foods Inc (UNFI) team both in office and in the stores. Oversight over anything UNFI related within the business including supply chain, merchandising, contracts, supplier relationships & accounting
- Led strategic initiatives to improve UNFI working capital over $1.7M in 2021
- Introduced 400+ new items to stores, including 50 first to market items giving our stores a competitive edge in the markets we operated in.
- Worked with the marketing team to execute LiveWell, a branding initiative for the Better for You space.
- Finalized partnership with SPINS to further company objective of Smart Localization & data-driven category decisions.
- Completion of Emerging Leadership Program
- Advisor to the Board - SEG Pride; Committee Board Member - Emerging Leaders; Member - Women's Development Network & Working Parents
Category Manager II
Southeastern Grocers
Jacksonville, FL
03.2018 - 12.2020
- Managed Natural & Organic category, overachieving sales & profit budgets in double digits.
- Led UNFI team to integrate more Natural, Specialty and International products into our assortment. Integrated more than $12M in annual sales into center store grocery.
- Piloted Natural & Organic executive project to better understand our customer and how they shop the category as a whole. Used data to influence private label branding, merchandising objectives and marketing needs to best serve our current and desired customer.
- Launched CBD as a category, making SEG the first conventional grocery retailer in the South to sell CBD. Worked alongside FL Dept of Agriculture to ensure all standards were set for others entering the market. Introduced 7 of the industry leading brands within the space.
- Board Member - Florida Hemp Council (on behalf of SEG)
- Named Top Women in Grocery 2020 by Progressive Grocer Magazine
Assistant Category Manager
Southeastern Grocers
Jacksonville, FL
10.2016 - 03.2018
- Consistently delivered a unique assortment to the customer by launching over 75 first to market products within stores.
- Led executive initiative to change the merchandising strategy of Natural & Organic. In doing so, delivered +59% same store category sales & increased category baskets.
- Worked alongside the marketing & own brand teams to launch the Naturally Better private label brand.
- Partnered with Merchandising teams to integrate +$8M annual sales into center store grocery.
Category Coordinator
Southeastern Grocers
Jacksonville, FL
04.2016 - 10.2016
- Worked alongside Category Manager to drive efficiencies within the category and achieve category budgets and objectives.
- Identified training opportunities within the role and worked with HR team to create a training and onboarding guide for new associates.
- Reduced costs by ensuring pricing & promotional objectives in a timely and accurate manner.
Regional Marketing Director
Orangetheory Fitness
Jacksonville, FL
08.2014 - 07.2016
- Developed social media strategy that could be replicated in all regional locations, streamlining the branding as a whole.
- Managed event calendar and marketing team to creatively and strategically reach new members.
- Raised over $400k for company non-profits within the Jacksonville community through execution of annual 5K event.
- Created innovative strategies to drive member engagement & retention.
- Developed and implemented business to business partnerships to increase awareness and memberships.
- Oversaw ongoing market research that targeted key customer demographics and used information to proactively adjust future marketing plans.
Merchandising Specialist
Apple, Inc.
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
06.2013 - 08.2014
- Transitional role allowing me to learn more about a different side of Merchandising in stores before returning to Jacksonville.
- Advanced sales cycle plans by maximizing placement of promotions, point of sale materials and product visibility.
- Designed displays to deliver interactive, engaging and memorable store experiences for shoppers.
- Trained merchandising team within store to ensure Apple corporate standards were executed efficiently.
Healthy Eating & Green Mission Manager
Whole Foods Market
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
01.2013 - 06.2013
- Facilitated in-store events for customers and team members to learn more about healthy eating including grocery store tours and cooking classes.
- Led outreach events to attain more customers for area stores.
- Worked alongside corporate team to write the Florida region's standards for the company's Green Mission initiative to better educate customers and team members on ways to improve the planet.
Buyer
Whole Foods Market
Jacksonville, FL
06.2010 - 01.2013
- Maintained key item stock levels and wrote or expedited purchase orders & stayed on top of trends to ensure purchases were efficient in key trending items.
- Maintained complete documentation and records of all purchasing activities, streamlining department budgets and processes.
- Worked alongside vendors & regional marketing teams to create effective displays in stores.
- Co-led local products initiative, bringing 17 unique local products to customers.
- Decreased overall category shrink by 11% year one & 16% on top of that year 2.
- Completed career experience in FL Regional Office within the Regional Buying Team, allowing me to further understand the higher level assortment decisions and category objectives.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Converged Communications & Corporate Marketing
Florida State College At Jacksonville
Jacksonville, FLHigh School Diploma -
Stanton College Preparatory
Jacksonville, FL06.2008
Skills
- Category Growth
- Marketing & Branding Initiatives
- Pricing & Promotional Strategies
- Supplier Partnerships & Negotiations
- Market Trend Analysis - SPINS, IRI
- Team Leadership & Development
- Microsoft Office - Advanced
- Strategic Vision
Timeline
Senior Category Manager
Southeastern Grocers
12.2020 - Current
Category Manager II
Southeastern Grocers
03.2018 - 12.2020
Assistant Category Manager
Southeastern Grocers
10.2016 - 03.2018
Category Coordinator
Southeastern Grocers
04.2016 - 10.2016
Regional Marketing Director
Orangetheory Fitness
08.2014 - 07.2016
Merchandising Specialist
Apple, Inc.
06.2013 - 08.2014
Healthy Eating & Green Mission Manager
Whole Foods Market
01.2013 - 06.2013
Buyer
Whole Foods Market
06.2010 - 01.2013
Bachelor of Science - Converged Communications & Corporate Marketing
Florida State College At Jacksonville
High School Diploma -
Stanton College Preparatory
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