Product Senior Manager - Specialty Foods

“Where Curiosity Meets Commercialization”

You ask questions, you analyze data, and you make things happen. You’re the type who loves order, clarity, and measurable results—and knows that every great product story starts with smart details and ends with flawless execution. If that sounds like you, join us in shaping the next wave of innovative, consumer- loved specialty food products.

Position Purpose

Bringing compelling private-labeled and branded products to market on a regular basis is the number one job of the Product Manager. In this position, you will develop specialty food product offerings for our customers large and small throughout the U.S. working cross-functionally with a team of importing and marketing experts.

The position is not as much about food formulation or science as much as the need to understand food specifications and properties for the designing of packaging, evaluating, and developing a business case analyses that will empower company executives to decide for or against launching a new product or line extension.

About Chicago Importing Company (CIC)

At CIC we are passionate about WINNING BRANDS and EXCEPTIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE. As the exclusive importer of many high-quality Nordic and western European specialty foods, we distribute chocolate, confections, and epicurean specialties to distributors and retailers throughout the U.S. As an innovator, we develop our own foods under our proprietary brands Lars Own®, Scandic®, Skansen®, Nordic Sweets®, Grandpa Lundquist®, and Nordic Goods™, as well as for select partners like Hermann the German®.

Our passion is to build a great company and to be a great place to work. As a growing, values-driven organization in operation continuously for nearly 30 years, we offer the opportunity to learn, grow, and enrich others while working in a team atmosphere.

Company Core Values

• Integrity – we work ethically and honestly always.
• Trustworthiness – we instill confidence by fulfilling promises.
• Respect – we value everyone’s abilities and worth.
• Caring – we support the needs and concerns of others.
• Teamwork – we achieve success through collaboration.

Responsibilities & Functions of this Position

In conjunction with the company’s go-to-market strategy, builds a pipeline of year round and seasonal proprietary- and partner-branded product introductions (one-offs, extensions, new categories), benchmarking the competitive landscape and establishing wholesale pricing to meet margin expectations.

• Developing product and packaging (from concept to launch) based on conclusions drawn from your business case analyses as agreed by the Company’s Brand Council, establishing forecasts, ROI, and break-even
• Partner with cross-functional leaders to analyze sales and performance data, customer insights, and trends as part of business case analysis creation
• Use proprietary pricing calculations to establish pricing, SRPs, and margins
• Ensure all product specs, costs, and pricing are complete in our ERP system (NetSuite) prior to launch
• Develop, update, and monitor project timelines using cloud-based project management tools
• Functionally transition new product launches to Supply Chain department
• Evaluating and resolving technical feasibility, design optimization, and product issues Performing store reviews and monitoring industry developments regularly to refine strategy as needed
• Working with internal and external resources to ensure products, packaging, and packaging copy are regulation-compliant
• Managing the communications and paperwork through development to product launch
• Ensuring that marketing messaging matches product specifications
• Working in harmony with all other departments according to our core values and policy

Other duties as assigned, as business needs dictate

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $100,000.00 - $110,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person