General Manager – Bakery & Commissary

Organization :
United Dairy Farmers (UDF)

Salary : based on experience

• In this position, you’ll run two dynamic business units end-to-end, owning the strategy, P&L, innovation, and operational success that directly shape UDF’s future.
• You’ll also be at the center of a fast-growing, modernizing organization where your ideas, leadership, and creativity can fuel new products, stronger operations, and major competitive gains.
• Most importantly, you’ll have the chance to build and inspire a high-performing team in a culture that values talent, empowerment, and big thinking.

United Dairy Farmers is a family owned and founded company committed to making quality ice cream and baked goods. They operate more than 170 convenience stores in the greater Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, Northern Kentucky, and Southeast Indiana areas. Since its inception in 1940, they have expanded to become a regional fuel distributor, ice cream co‑manufacturer, bakery, real estate, and logistics company.

This role offers a high-impact leadership opportunity to oversee the full P&L and operations of UDF's Bakery and Commissary divisions, driving product innovation, operational excellence, and financial performance for a well-known and deeply trusted regional brand. The successful candidate will shape everything from product development and food manufacturing to logistics, quality, and team development, ensuring that UDF continues delivering high-quality baked goods and convenience offerings across its 170+ stores.

With the ability to commercialize products from bench to customer, lead a talented workforce, and influence strategy at the enterprise level, this position provides a unique blend of creativity, business leadership, and operational challenge in a dynamic, growth-oriented environment.

Financial Leadership, P&L Ownership, and Strategic Growth

• Own full P&L responsibility for the Bakery and Commissary units with a focus on margin expansion and disciplined cost management.
• Develop and execute strategic financial plans that drive profitable growth and operational leverage.
• Analyze unit-level economics, performance trends, and cost structures to guide data-driven decisions.
• Leverage synergies across production, logistics, and product categories to maximize financial return.
• Establish clear financial KPIs and performance dashboards that enhance transparency and accountability.

Operational Excellence, Cost Optimization, and Product Commercialization

• Lead bakery and commissary operations with an emphasis on efficiency, throughput, and cost performance.
• Optimize labor, inventory turns, ingredient utilization, and logistics to strengthen unit economics.
• Ensure robust SQF, GMP, and food safety programs that minimize risk and safeguard profitability.
• Guide successful commercialization of new products—from benchtop formulation through pilot testing, scale-up, manufacturing, packaging, distribution, and retail launch.
• Collaborate with quality, R&D, and operations teams to ensure new products meet required specifications at a commercially viable cost.

Product Innovation and Margin-Driven Category Collaboration

• Partner with Category Management on product mix, pricing strategy, and volume planning with a strong financial lens.
• Oversee product development and recipe reformulation to enhance both customer appeal and profitability.
• Drive disciplined product testing that integrates customer feedback, sensory evaluation, and financial modeling.
• Accelerate market introduction of high-margin products that differentiate UDF in the retail marketplace.
• Strengthen innovation processes to improve speed-to-market and competitive agility.

Compliance, Risk Mitigation, and Capital Stewardship

• Ensure adherence to all SQF, GMP, safety, and regulatory standards, protecting both brand and P&L.
• Oversee maintenance programs that protect capital assets, reduce downtime, and minimize unplanned costs.
• Maintain audit-ready processes and documentation to prevent financial exposure.
• Balance immediate operational needs with long-term capital investment planning.
• Build preventive systems and controls that reduce operational and compliance…