Ryan Johnson

As a Senior Category Merchant, I lead the strategic vision, performance, and long-term growth of key produce categories within BJ’s Wholesale Club’s fresh business. I provide cross-functional leadership across the organization to execute company priorities and deliver exceptional member value. Own full category strategy across grapes, stone fruit, melons, exotics, potatoes, onions, mushrooms, greens, cabbage, herbs, garlic, and produce beverages — driving sales growth, profitability, and market share expansion. Provide leadership, industry expertise, and strategic guidance to cross-functional partners, fostering collaboration, accountability, and innovative thinking to enhance category performance and execution. Develop and execute data-driven merchandising and assortment strategies that align with member insights, competitive trends, and enterprise goals. Guide vendor and grower partnerships to secure reliable supply, optimize cost structures, and enhance long-term strategic alignment. Oversee P&L ownership and forecasting, ensuring optimal balance between value, quality, and profitability. Deliver market intelligence and strategic insights to senior leadership, influencing company-wide planning and investment decisions. Through strategic leadership, operational excellence, and strong supplier relationships, I’m focused on delivering category growth while advancing BJ’s mission to provide high-quality produce and exceptional value to our members.

Execute the company’s strategic priorities while collaborating cross-functionally across the organization to achieve key business objectives. Accountable for developing assortments and merchandising strategies that drive sales growth, maximize profitability, and enhance member value. Responsible for maintaining a competitive retail CPI and securing market share expansion. Provide timely market updates and insights to internal stakeholders to inform planning and forecasting activities. Utilize member data and analytics to support data-driven decision-making processes. Partner with vendors and growers to align on go-to-market strategies and ensure supply chain reliability. Oversee P&L and sourcing responsibilities across a range of product categories, including grapes, stone fruit, melons, exotics, potatoes, onions, mushrooms, greens, cabbage, herbs, garlic, and produce beverages.

Procured commodities to meet customer demand while ensuring adherence to budgetary goals. Cultivated strong relationships with freight brokers, carriers, shippers, and agricultural suppliers throughout the industry. Enhanced product knowledge through regular inspections, inventory monitoring, and resolving warehouse-related issues. Gained a comprehensive understanding of commodity and freight markets, including product seasonality and key growing regions. Possessed in-depth knowledge of USDA good arrival standards, common shipping containers, and product grading criteria. Collaborated effectively with receiving, transportation, and accounting teams to streamline operations. Worked closely with vendors to resolve quality, billing, and receiving discrepancies. Analyzed sales trends and future projections to inform strategic business decisions. Conducted site visits to vendor distribution centers and farms, gaining valuable insights into grower practices for production, packing, and shipping.

Responsible for driving sales, optimizing margin performance, and enhancing inventory turnover across the HBA, Chemical, Trash Wrap, and Foil departments. Conducted in-depth financial analysis to support departmental objectives. Led and executed marketing initiatives and product presentation programs, ensuring alignment with strategic goals. Collaborated closely with category merchants, providing comprehensive reporting, data-driven analytics, and actionable insights to inform decision-making and drive growth

Supported inventory control management through strategic area coverage and special projects. Spearheaded the replenishment process and implemented system enhancements to streamline replenishment functions. Managed produce replenishment for three distribution centers, ensuring efficiency and accuracy. Provided comprehensive support to selling clubs and distribution centers across all aspects of inventory management, resolving inventory-related issues promptly. Assisted buyers and vendors with inventory projections, maintaining accurate departmental records. Collaborated closely with buyers to forecast demand based on retail pricing, product quality, and seasonality. Coordinated with growers, shippers, and carriers to optimize loading and delivery schedules.

Studies included: •Ethics relevant to criminal justice •Functions and operations of correctional facilities •Court systems •Contemporary policing issues •Combating prejudices and discrimination •Developing research methods