Carey Gray

CG

Open to opportunities

Carey Gray

@careygray

I’m a fresh category buyer focused on sales, profit, and inventory optimization in produce.

What I'm looking for

I’m looking for a category or buying role where I can use financial analysis, pricing/promotion strategy, and inventory optimization to grow sales and margin, reduce shrink, and partner cross-functionally with supply chain and store operations to deliver measurable results.

I’m a category management and fresh foods professional with 5+ years of experience driving sales, profit, and inventory performance in highly perishable categories. At SpartanNash, I support category business plans across assortment, pricing, promotion, shelf placement, and inventory management—monitoring sales, margin, inventory, and shrink to recommend actions that improve profitability and service levels. I bring strong financial acumen and analytical rigor, using Advanced Excel and Power BI to analyze performance versus objectives and inform forecasting.

Beyond day-to-day planning, I partner cross-functionally with category management, supply chain, distribution centers, pricing, and store operations, and I manage vendor relationships to support seasonal planning, cost control, and supply continuity. I’ve contributed to measurable outcomes, including a product-line replacement initiative that reduced annual costs by approximately $300,000, and at Kroger, I reduced shrink by 10% through process redesign and compliance initiatives while supervising 50+ employees.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

SP

Current

Fresh Buyer

Current

SpartanNash

Jan 2020 - Present (6 years 5 months)

Supported category business plans for fresh/produce, managing assortment, pricing, promotions, shelf placement, and inventory performance. Monitored sales, margin, inventory, and shrink and helped drive a product-line replacement initiative that reduced annual costs by approximately $300,000.

Category Management P&L management Assortment Planning Price Promotions Inventory Optimization Vendor Management Advanced Excel Power BI

KB

Vendor Managed Floral Associate

Kennicott Brothers

Jan 2019 - Jan 2020 (1 year)

Optimized client inventory using automated processes and demand-based ordering. Improved product turnover through data-driven recommendations and strengthened customer relationships with solution-focused communication.

Inventory Optimization Automated Replenishment Product Turnover Analysis Customer Relationship Management

KR

Assistant Store Manager

Kroger

Jan 2015 - Jan 2019 (4 years)

Supervised 50+ employees, leading training, development, and performance improvement initiatives. Reduced shrink by 10% through process redesign and compliance efforts, and supported store project rollouts involving new technology and SOP changes.

Team Leadership Training Development Process Redesign Rollout Performance Management

WA

Assistant Store Manager

Walgreens

Jan 2014 - Jan 2015 (1 year)

Managed replenishment, merchandising, and supply chain operations to improve product availability using data-informed decision-making. Collaborated with vendors to resolve supply issues and maintain quality standards.

Replenishment Planning Merchandising Supply Chain Operations Data Informed Decision Making Quality Standards

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

SP

SpartanNash

Category Manager Development Program, Category Management

Completed the Category Manager Development Program with SpartanNash in December 2023.

PU

Purdue University

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Anthropology

Earned a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from Purdue University in May 2012.

Tech stack

Software and tools used professionally

Gmail

Fresh

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