Kristin Shawn Harper
Redondo Beach, CA 90278
512-815-7160
Seeking a position as
―CATEGORY MANAGEMENT―
with an organization where I can utilize my experience and knowledge of product development, procurement, innovation, channel
strategy and global partnership
Accomplished and result driven professional with over 20 years of experience in food industry.
• 10+ years Private Label development
• 17+ years experience in natural & organic foods
• 3+ years Quality Assurance environment
• 3+ marketing environment
• 2 year logistics and distribution environment
• 3 year certification management
• 2+ management
• 1+ food manufacturing, R&D Environment, Regulatory
• 1+ year Project Management
• 1+ Food Service, Turbo Chef
CORE COMPETENCIES
• Global sourcing, Cost Analysis (Raw
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Material)
Manufacturing, and food service
environment
Sensory Panel trained
Superior Internal and External Sales
& Marketing ability
Process development
SQF Experience (practitioner)
Third Party Distribution
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Competitive/ Strategic Planning
Innovation oriented
Superior presentation skills
Strong conflict resolution skills;
team building
SOP development
Strong Understanding of
Organic, Non GMO, Fair Trade,
Social Accountability Sourcing
• Expertise of Industry Analysis, Trends
• Stage Gate methodology
• Strong Analytical Skills; Forecasting
MRP
• Technical Knowledge- frozen food,
HPP
• Project Management
• JIT Experience
• CPG Experience
EXPERIENCE & ACCOMPLISHMENT
Fresh & Easy
2015- present
Sr. Category Manager Prepared, Service and Beverage Counters
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Category Management of 20 Categories and sales volume over 3 million
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Develop, and implement, all prepared product development
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Industry analysis to provide to forecast a long-term category strategy.
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Perform continuous improvement/value engineering; current product line
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Drive all aspects of the RFP process
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Collaborate with cross functional team on food sourcing expertise
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R&D assistance to the culinary team and commissary teams.
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Brand strategy and architecture, new product development for consumables, line extensions, and quality
assurance and vendor management.
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Responsible for the development and management of all business and marketing plans; associated budgets.
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Trend leader on Organic foods; Vegetarian, and HPP product lines
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Maintained hundreds of supplier partnerships across over all categories
Michael Angelo’s
2013- 2015
Product Development, R&D (Manufacturing), Global Sourcing
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Project Management- cross functional team communication
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Developed, implemented, and provide supportive sourcing and R&D documentation
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Drive, manage, implement of new product timeline- Communicate issues for collaborative planning for
resolution or alternate plan.
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Perform continuous improvement/value engineering; current product line
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Develop, and drive NPD Stage Gate methodology- scope documentation
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Drive all aspects of the RFP process- all categories
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Source, and negotiate initial costing globally on all new raw material; conventional, non-GMO, and
conventional- cost reduction of existing raw materials Build and Implement research to fulfill company’s
organic certification; QAI
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Quality Improvement Process- support all aspects of R&D role continuous improvement; value engineering
of existing product lines
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Initiate contracts, and evaluate all new product performance; Over-see vendor scorecards
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Implement effective sourcing strategy to reduce cost, and manage the sourcing process- 30+ raw material
items
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Prototypes for range of Organic & Made w/organic based on company’s objective (recipe development)
Whole Foods Market Austin, TX
2008-2013
Private Label Procurement Manage and maintain projects from concept to shelf.
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Team Member of Private Label Innovator of the Year 2012 by PLMA, Category winner in Fresh Salsa and
Specialty Chocolates 2012; Manage, and oversee the largest PL launch in WFM history in 2012 (Greek
Yogurt)
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Increased sales in Specialty, Frozen and Cheese categories during the last ten fiscal periods by an average of
27%
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Direct working relationship with over 25 vendors- global travel
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Product development of 15 grocery categories- launched 200 items in the 365 and Whole Foods Market
brand
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Manage, maintain and perform all purchasing duties associated with 29 Exclusive Brands grocery categories
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Analyze internal sales data, outside industry information, branded competitors’ innovations and shelf-space
allocation for overall category management
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Review, negotiate and initiate costing for category bid submissions, cost/retail changes and line extensions
lowest possible COGs
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Source, develop and manage private label food and beverage categories totaling sales in excess of $200mm
annually
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Establish Global partnerships with new and existing vendors sourcing from developing countries-retail
opportunities; social accountability and fair trade programs
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Developed and increased market placement -recognizing market trends and competitive patterns
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Sensory panels on Exclusive Brands new product lines –R&D
Performance Food Group Broadline Batesville, MS
2007-2008
Buyer Perishable
• Maintain product costing and pricing, for major chain, local and regional accounts
• Implement purchasing methods that provide quality products- JIT
• Contract negotiation; National Brands, Casino, C-store, Prison
• Manage inventory levels to the designated goal level
• Created and developed Fresh Cut and Herb programs for 300 vendors- message and position
Trader Joes Company Monrovia, CA
1995- 2007
Quality Assurance Coordinator Perishable Merchandise Senior Customer Relations Specialist
Store
Management
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Fresh Bakery; Ready to eat entrees & salads; Dairy, Produce; Meats; National Floral & Plants-create
Purchase Orders
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Development of Private labeled product-creation of Private Label, Artwork
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Secure future crop/ harvest buys, costs, set retail pricing
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Maintain relations with external vendors
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Team Lead with new hire training; including Supervised and trained additional Customer Relations
Representatives
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Manage documentation related to food safety and audit, SOP development-compliance, GMPs and Food
Safety Programs, QAI, the Bioterrorism Act as it pertains to Plant and Floral product
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Direct Reports 10-12 crew member
EDUCATION
Masters of Business Administration- Global Marketing- UoP,
2013