Marketing Manager-Foodservice

T. Marzetti Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lancaster Colony Corporation (NASDAQ: LANC), is a manufacturer and marketer of specialty food products for the retail and foodservice markets. Our retail brands include Marzetti ® , New York Bakery™ and Sister Schubert’s ® , in addition to exclusive license agreements for Olive Garden ® dressings, Chick-fil-A ® sauces and Buffalo Wild Wings ® sauces. Our foodservice business supplies many of the top restaurant chains in the United States.

We kindly request that recruitment agencies and staffing firms refrain from submitting unsolicited resumes to our company. Any resumes sent without a prior agreement and access to proper submittal into the ATS will be considered the property of T. Marzetti, and we reserve the right to contact those candidates without any obligation to pay a fee.

The Marketing Manager will lead day-to-day execution of strategic objectives, working closely with the Director, Foodservice Brand Marketing. They will act as the business lead in partnership with various cross functional teams including Sales, Finance, Demand Planning, Insights, R&D and other functional groups within the organization. Working with a general management mindset, responsibilities include developing and executing annual and long-range business plans, forecasting, demand generation & communication plans, innovation pipeline management, business analysis and P&L management.

Essential Functions/Primary Responsibilities

Strategic Thinking and Leadership

• Assist in the development of the annual volume and marketing plans, leverage data and insights for influence
• Identify growth opportunities and execute plans to deliver the financial targets
• Instill clarity, confidence, and trust with key stakeholders

Category Management

• Be the Branded expert: Demonstrate business acumen and ownership including analysis and reporting, market share, industry trends, channel/customer/competitive landscape assessment
• Collaborate with cross-functional partners to ensure strong portfolio management: Product launches, SKU optimization/rationalization, product renovations, pricing analysis and recommendations
• Proactively manage budget, obsolescence, sample process
• Support monthly volume calls: Review item performance and actively participate in consensus activities
• Communicate clearly and drive alignment with cross-functional partners. Make decisions in weekly project meetings. Challenge the norm to improve processes and achieve desired results

Channel Planning and Execution

• Co-develop key channel/customer strategies and selling propositions to deliver financial objectives. Engage and provide direction to Sales team

• Lead Stage Gate projects: Develop charters, own business case (rationale, volume and margin assumptions, P&L impact), define launch/support plans, monitor post launch performance and contingency plans
• Analyze category trends and business performance utilizing internal and external data sources (SupplyTrack, Crest, Datassentials, Technomic, Mintel, etc.). Apply insights and prepare business recommendations
• Develop innovation and renovation roadmaps across categories. Utilize insights gained through industry resources, custom research, food & flavor trend analysis, product gap analysis, and competitive landscape assessments

• Develop and manage the execution of Foodservice marketing plans and business activities aligned with the AOP. Oversee projects, delegate, and ensure accountability with the outside marketing agency to drive demand generation i.e. marketing tools, tradeshows, website/data synchronization

Working Conditions/Environment:

Works in a normal office environment where the employee is regularly required to speak, see, hear, sit, stand, talk, type, walk and bend while moving about the facility. The noise level in the office is quiet. Occasional travel to plants or meetings is required.

• BA/BS degree in Marketing or Business Administration. An advanced degree or MBA is preferred
• 5-7 years of business experience in marketing, brand or category management, business development, preferably in the food service industry
• Self-starter with an entrepreneurial spirit with the ability to understand and apply business fundamentals, turn insights into action plans, and influence the organization
• Demonstrated ability to gather, understand and synthesize consumer, customer and category insights, and apply to the businesses needs
• Strong financial and business acumen, analytical skills, and the ability to work independently, set business objectives, and make decisions
• Project management skills and the ability to prioritize and multitask against several complex projects at a time
• Strong verbal and communications skills with the ability to communicate effectively with senior leadership and cross functional partners to achieve business objectives
• Experience and exposure to the Stagegate process is a plus
• Advanced skills with Microsoft Office programs and website portals