Maria Nakasone
About Maria Nakasone
Maria Nakasone is a seasoned professional in grocery category management, currently working at US Foods since 2022. With a strong background in marketing and brand management, she has held various roles in notable companies, including Safeway and Kmart, and has an educational foundation in Business Administration and Marketing.
Work at US Foods
Maria Nakasone currently holds the position of Value Added Grocery Category Management at US Foods, where she has been employed since 2022. In this role, she is responsible for managing and optimizing the grocery category, focusing on value-added products that meet consumer demands. Her experience in category management allows her to implement strategies that enhance product offerings and drive sales growth.
Previous Experience in Grocery and Marketing
Before joining US Foods, Maria Nakasone worked at ReposiTrak® - A Park City Group Company as Marketing and Marketplace from 2020 to 2022. She also served as Brand Manager at Good Foods Group, LLC from 2019 to 2020. Her earlier roles include Director of Consumer Brands Category Development and Category Analyst at Safeway, where she gained extensive experience in category management and brand development.
Education and Expertise
Maria Nakasone studied Business Administration and Marketing at Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree. She is currently pursuing a Digital Marketing Specialization at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Additionally, she completed the Private Label Management program at Saint Joseph's University and holds an M.B.A. from San Francisco State University, focusing on Business Analysis and Operations Management.
Achievements in Brand Development
Throughout her career, Maria Nakasone has successfully launched premium and super-premium tier brands to address changing consumer needs. At SHOPKO STORES INC, she implemented a comprehensive innovation and product development process that became institutionalized within the organization. Her strategic planning skills were evident when she crafted a 1-3 year business plan at Safeway, aimed at doubling brand share in the category.
Leadership Roles in Category Management
Maria Nakasone has held several leadership positions in category management across various companies. At Kmart, she served as Director of Own Brands, overseeing multiple categories including Grocery and Health. Her role at Safeway as Category Manager involved managing multiple categories, where she successfully grew a $700 million business by nearly 2% within the first six months of her tenure.