Snacks and Candy Meetings

Hello, and Welcome to the Snacks and Candy Category Review for 2018,
 
We wanted to give a quick update on the progress in our Purchasing Evolution at Whole Foods Market, and set your expectations for Rd 1 2018, when we will be reviewing, and ultimately executing full resets in our Candy, Cookies, Crackers, Salty Snacks, Shelf Stable Dips, and Functional Snacking categories. These categories roll up, and are referred to as the Snacks and Candy Merch Team.
To get you up to speed, we implemented our Category Mgmt Evolution as a pilot in October 2016 in partnership with our RM and NC regions, and based on those learnings will be executing a full rollout for the Frozen Team in all 11 regions for October 2017.
For this review, we plan to execute Snacks and Candy Resets in all US stores in Jan 2018, (this work does not include our Canadian and UK businesses). 
 
We’re very excited to be working with you as brand stakeholders in collaboration with our regional, and exclusive brands team in this endeavor, creating a consistent and relevant experience for our customers.
Understanding that this has been an evolving process, we want to take a moment to update you on how to engage with our purchasing teams going forward.
 
One goal in this evolution is to simplify your point(s) of contact with WFM, and allow you to focus your resources effectively in support of the business.
If you’re designated a Global brand, your point of contact is an assigned Global Category Manager, listed below.
 
How is a brand qualified as either Regional or Global?
  • Brands currently selling in 4 or more regions will be designated as Global brands, and managed by a Global Category Manager
  • If a brand is qualified as Global for any product/category, it is Global for all categories
  • If a brand is in a few stores in 4 regions, it is still a Global brand
  • Brands that reside in 3 or fewer regions are designated as Regional Brands, and will be managed by WFM Regional Buyers under the guidance and strategy determined jointly with a Global Category Manager
  • All brands within the larger portfolio brands will be managed by the Global team
 
This information applies only to the Snacks and Candy Team.
You can look forward to communication, and a calendar laying out the remaining categories  to be published shortly.
 
What does this mean for Round 1 meetings?
Effective with round 1, Global brands, as defined above, will no longer need to request regional meetings, and should only reach out to the appropriate Global Category Manager for meeting requests. 
Regional buyers will be focused on Regional brands so they will not be taking any meetings with Global brands.
 
What does this mean for regional promotional opportunities?
Beginning with the Jan A 2018 promo cycle, all Global brand promotions will need to be run through the Global team. 
Regional teams will no longer be running region specific promotions on Global brands. 
If you have trade spend that we’re not taking advantage of Globally, please connect directly with your Global Category Manager for guidance
 
So with no further ado, please allow me to formally introduce you to the Snacks and Candy Team:
 
Stephanie Truscott – Stephanie.Truscott@wholefoods.com
Category Mgr responsible for Cookies and Crackers
 
Category Mgr responsible for Candy and Functional Snacks
 
Category Mgr responsible for Salty Snacks and Shelf Stable Dips & Salsas
 
Purchasing Assistant supporting Snacks and Candy Team
 
Purchasing Assistant supporting Snacks and Candy Team
 
Sr. Category Leader Snacks and Candy Team