Meriyem Kaf

Enterprise executive accountable for sourcing, assortment strategy, private brands, vendor partnerships, cost analytics, and merchandising enablement across a national home improvement retailer. • Lead enterprise sourcing and supplier strategy, overseeing procurement, vendor negotiations, and cost optimization initiatives. • Own assortment and private brand portfolio strategy, including large-scale SKU conversions and category architecture across the network. • Drive fact-based vendor negotiations and supplier governance, leveraging should-cost, commodity, and margin analytics. • Partner cross-functionally with merchandising, finance, supply chain, and operations to deliver margin improvement and scalable category capabilities. • Lead a large multifunctional organization spanning sourcing, assortment strategy, cost analytics, and store execution.

As a board member in the Space Management Community under the Category Management Association, I play a pivotal role in shaping the future of space management practices. I collaborate with industry leaders to identify emerging trends, share best practices, and drive innovation in the field. My involvement ensures that the community stays at the forefront of retail space optimization, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement.

• Led enterprise category management, global sourcing, private brands, procurement, vendor management, and space management teams (80+ professionals). • Built and scaled a virtual store capability recognized nationally by the Retail Council of Canada. • Established global procurement and cost optimization strategies, embedding strategic supplier negotiations and governance. • Designed and deployed a cost assessment model to offset supplier inflation and deliver sustained savings.

• Owned enterprise cost analytics and should-cost capabilities across GM, Apparel, Home, and Fresh. • Acted as a strategic partner to category and sourcing leadership, influencing assortment, vendor strategy, and margin decisions at scale. • Designed and scaled category management tools and processes across multiple business units.

• Led national category management teams, driving assortment strategy across multiple Sobeys banners nationwide. • Built enterprise category management processes and tools to standardize assortment planning across banners. • Leveraged enterprise purchasing volume to support fact-based negotiations with national vendors. • Developed should-cost analytics to strengthen vendor negotiations and improve margins.

• Head of category management for multi-region portfolios within a global retail organization. • Owned category P&L optimization, sourcing alignment, and integration of private brands into strategic planning. • Strengthened vendor partnerships and execution by aligning assortment, sourcing, and replenishment to customer needs.

- Spearheaded sales initiatives, partnering with diverse CPGs across the North American market to drive brand growth and positioning. - Developed and executed strategic marketing plans across multiple channels, ensuring optimal product visibility and launch success. - Analyzed market trends and brand dynamics, delivering actionable insights and recommendations to clients. - Managed and nurtured relationships with senior client personnel, ensuring alignment with their strategic goals and maximizing sales opportunities.