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Empire Marketing Strategies

Kroger-exclusive food brokerage and in-store execution

Retail Support Specialist

Full-TimeUpdated on 10/23/2026
$16 - $18/hr
Mid
Dayton, OH, USA
In PersonWork is in retail stores and across an assigned territory; regular travel between work sites and occasional overnight travel may be required.
RetailMerchandising

About the job

Requirements
  • A high school diploma or equivalent is required.
  • A current driver's license and clean Motor Vehicle Report are required.
  • Knowledge and consistent use of all available handheld-device functions are required.
  • Ability to operate a motor vehicle and travel regularly between work sites, with additional travel as needed that may include overnight stays.
  • Ability to stand for prolonged periods, approximately 80% of the time, and regularly change positions among sitting, squatting, standing, and kneeling.
  • Ability to regularly lift and move 25–35 pounds and occasionally lift and move 40–60 pounds.
  • Regular use of hands to handle objects, tools, or controls and reach with hands and arms; close vision and ability to see screens or written information at distances of 20–40 feet are required.
  • Regular operation of a personal motor vehicle, manual pallet jacks, and hand trucks is required.
  • Ability to write clear and concise correspondence, accurately exchange information, and present information in one-on-one or group situations.
  • Ability to read and comprehend simple to sometimes complex instructions, correspondence, and memos; solve practical problems with limited standardization; and interpret written, oral, diagram, or schedule instructions.
  • Ability to perform arithmetic using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
  • Use of MS Excel, a company iPhone, and company applications is required.
Responsibilities
  • Refresh merchandise on shelves according to planogram guidelines, verify pricing, and retag items as needed.
  • Communicate with store staff about inventory needs and project status, document resets with live photos using a mobile device, and manage multiple reset projects across the assigned territory.
  • Install new sales-floor fixtures, remove existing fixtures, and relocate excess merchandise as directed by store management.
  • Rotate perishable or freshness-sensitive products according to manufacturer requirements and regularly check shelf tags to ensure continued distribution and support product reordering.
  • Meet and maintain retail objectives and shelf standards in the assigned territory; keep sections aligned with customer schematics or stocking plans.
  • Maintain full distribution of manufacturer-client products approved by the Kroger family of companies or the planogram team, and ensure authorized items are on shelves and properly priced and tagged.
  • Set up manufacturer or client brand displays in accordance with customer regulations and display objectives.
  • Coordinate promotional program execution with Operations, including reporting and future order requirements; execute approved point-of-sale materials and Instant Redeemable Coupons in stores.
  • Periodically back up the retail team by maintaining territorial records, reviewing sales reports, monitoring competitive information, and reporting information completely and on time using supplied forms and requested frequency.
  • Use reporting tools such as Power BI or Go Spot Check to report on specific goals and targets.
  • Establish and maintain rapport with store personnel and conduct training demonstrations for customer employees on proper product preparation or display.
  • Communicate by email and telephone in a timely manner, maintain territory files and company-owned office equipment, attend scheduled company meetings, and control expenses within guidelines.
  • Perform other duties as required.
Desired Qualifications
  • One to two years of experience related to the consumer packaged goods, grocery, or retail industry is preferred.

About the company

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Empire Marketing Strategies

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Empire Marketing Strategies provides in-store sales support and category management for The Kroger Co. across Kroger banners, deploying department-focused teams to manage shelf presence, planogram compliance, displays, and out-of-stock resolution in 2,500+ stores. The company integrates technology—proprietary out-of-stock alerts, AI shelf monitoring, GoSpotCheck, and Power BI dashboards—alongside data from 84.51° Stratum, Circana, and Kantar to drive category insights and execution. Its approach is grounded in long-standing Kroger partnerships and specialized store-level expertise to support brands in gaining shelf impact. The goal is to help consumer packaged goods brands grow their Kroger market share through hands-on retail execution and data-driven decisions.

Company Size

501-1,000

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

N/A

Founded

1980

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Empire posted 37 open roles on September 9, 2026, signaling expansion.
  • Kroger launched TikTok self-service ads in June 2026, creating more activation demand.
  • Empire’s August 1, 2026 website highlights 300-plus categories and 2026-ready digital operations.

What critics are saying

  • Kroger Precision Marketing centralized insights and self-service tools in 2025, compressing broker value.
  • Empire depends entirely on Kroger; any contract reset would cripple revenue within one renewal cycle.
  • Retail media automation and AI shelf monitoring replace manual brokerage work, threatening margins by 2026.

What makes Empire Marketing Strategies unique

  • Exclusive Kroger broker since 1980 across 2,500-plus stores anchors Empire’s distribution moat.
  • Empire deploys department specialists for meat, deli, produce, and center store execution.
  • Its 84.51° Stratum, Circana, and Kantar-certified insights team sells data-driven category decisions.

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Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • Life Insurance
  • Disability Insurance
  • Mental Health Support
  • Paid Vacation
  • Paid Holidays
  • Flexible Work Hours