Retail
10 Kroger category managers
These ten current and former Kroger category managers have held buyer and category roles at Kroger. A reader can learn how category managers work at Kroger from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
01—10Caroline Keating
LinkedInExperience: Former Category Manager, Grocery Dairy · Kroger
Former Category Manager, Grocery Dairy at Kroger (2023–2026) and Category Manager, Edible Grocery there (2020–2023), and their profile also lists a current Category Manager row at The Kroger. Their profile also lists Merchandising Client Lead (2017–2020) and Client Lead (2015–2017) roles at 84.51˚.
Eric Knapke
LinkedInExperience: Category Manager - Bananas, Avocados, Tropicals, Melons, Pumpkins · Kroger
Category Manager - Bananas, Avocados, Tropicals, Melons, Pumpkins at Kroger since August 2026. At Kroger they were also Category Manager - Potatoes, Onions (2025–2026), Assistant Category Manager for avocado, banana, tropical, melon and pumpkin (2024–2025) and eCommerce Replenishment Buyer - Produce (2021–2024).
Erica Cargill-Smith
LinkedInExperience: Category Manager · Kroger
Category Manager at Kroger since September 2025, a role based in Cincinnati, Ohio. At Kroger they were also Multicultural Project Manager (2023–2025), Corporate Labor Forecaster (2018–2023), Commodity Buyer (2017–2018) and Drug GM Seasonal Sales Manager in the Cincinnati and Dayton division (2016–2017).
Gregory Junk
LinkedInExperience: Former Category Manager · Kroger
Former Category Manager at Kroger (2022–2024) and Regional Category Manager there (2019–2022). At Kroger they were also Head of Natural and Organic Merchandising (2024–2026) and have been Director Strategic Growth since October 2025, and their profile lists an adult beverage category manager role at King Soopers/City Market (2016–2019).
Kelley Jacob
LinkedInExperience: Category Manager · Kroger
Category Manager at Kroger since September 2024, a role based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They were also Category Strategy Manager at Kroger (2019–2024), and their profile lists Category Strategy Manager (2018–2019) and Packaging Manager (2015–2017) roles at P.L. Marketing, Inc.
Kim Schutte
LinkedInExperience: Category Manager II - Fresh Bakery Sweet Goods · Kroger
Category Manager II - Fresh Bakery Sweet Goods at Kroger since August 2021, and their profile headline describes them as a Senior Category Manager leading a $1B bakery business at The Kroger Company. At Kroger they were also Enterprise Sourcing Category Leader (2018–2021) and Sourcing Category Manager (2014–2018).
Rita Grabovich
LinkedInExperience: Corporate Category Manager · Kroger
Corporate Category Manager at Kroger since August 2020. They were also Coordinator Non Edible, Baking and Pet Categories at Kroger (2017–2020), and their profile describes being responsible for all non-edible grocery categories as well as baking and pet as a grocery merchandising coordinator.
Sarah McGovern
LinkedInExperience: Category Manager II, Candy (Everyday and Seasonal) · Kroger
Category Manager II, Candy (Everyday and Seasonal) at Kroger since June 2025. At Kroger they were also Category Manager I, Snacks (2022–2025), Regional Category Manager, Adult Beverage (2020–2022) and National Assortment Manager, Wine (2017–2020), and their profile lists Brand Manager at Guarachi Wine Partners (2016–2017).
Shelby Penge, MBA
LinkedInExperience: Senior Category Manager · Kroger
Senior Category Manager at Kroger since February 2024, a role based in Portland, Oregon. At Kroger they were also a Category Manager (2022–2024), and their Kroger rows also include Assistant Planner (2022) and Assistant Buyer (2020–2021), giving a view of category work from the support roles up to the senior role.
Sonal G.
LinkedInExperience: Category Manager - Multicultural Deli & Bakery · Kroger
Category Manager - Multicultural Deli & Bakery at Kroger since February 2026. Their profile also lists Category Manager - Fresh Bakery at Sprouts Farmers Market (2024–2026), Category Manager - Foodservice (2023–2024) and Category Manager - Retail (2021–2023) at Shamrock Foods Company, and Category Manager at FlooringInc (2019–2021).
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's category, such as produce, bakery, candy or dairy, to the question you want to ask, since category managers know their own categories best. Check whether the role is current or past, because the work in a category can change over time.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How does a grocery category manager divide time between assortment planning, pricing and promotion plans and reviewing results?
- 02How does managing a fresh category such as produce or bakery differ from managing shelf-stable grocery?
- 03How do category managers work with private brand and data teams when planning a category?
Reaching Kroger category managers
How can I contact one of these Kroger category managers?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 1 company: Kroger, based on profile data retrieved on October 13, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach Kroger category managers?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. It includes Instant Expert's 20% fee, so an offer that pays the person $100 costs you $125. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
Can an AI agent ask one of these Kroger category managers a question?
Yes. An agent with a USDC wallet on Base can ask one question without an Instant Expert account. It names the person, for example by the LinkedIn URL on this page, and pays per ask over x402 (HTTP 402). The person answers in writing or by voice note, and if nobody answers within 7 days, the payment goes back to the wallet automatically. x402 docs
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot; roles marked former had ended by then. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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