About

Building success through experience & expertise

Growing your brand at Kroger requires more than just getting on the shelf – it takes a partner who understands the complexities of America's largest grocery retailer.

Our story

three sixty Merchandising Solutions specializes in the strategic expansion of CPG product portfolios at Kroger, America's leading grocery retailer. Founded as a subsidiary of PL Marketing, our journey began with a clear understanding that brands need strategic expertise, evidence-driven decisions, and flawless execution to thrive within Kroger's sophisticated retail environment.

Our journey continues with a clear vision; to be the most trusted, dedicated, and innovative partner in providing retail solutions.

Culture and innovation

Our culture is built on our four core principles: entrepreneurship, expertise, exclusivity, and empowerment. These principles drive measurable results for our brand partners. We believe that humility opens doors to learning and growth, while ethical behavior builds the trust necessary for long-term success.

In an industry where responsiveness can make the difference between success and missed opportunities, we've cultivated a culture of ownership and accountability. As an employee-owned company, our teams are empowered to make decisions and take action, ensuring we can respond quickly to our partners' needs while maintaining the highest standards of service excellence across all aspects of Kroger's retail ecosystem.

Our team

Excellence in retail requires more than just industry knowledge – it demands a combination of expertise, dedication, and hands-on experience. That's why our team’s primary focus is on category management and merchandising optimization. This isn't just a staffing decision; it's a strategic choice that reflects our commitment to delivering tangible results for our brand partners.

Our team brings together deep Kroger knowledge with specialized expertise in category management, space optimization, and retail execution. Operating at "the speed of retail," we embrace continuous learning to stay ahead of the rapid changes happening both at Kroger and across the industry landscape. This commitment enables our team to anticipate trends, adapt to new systems, and implement evolving best practices before they become industry standards.

Two employees snacking

Employee owned advantage

As part of the PL Marketing family, we are 100% employee-owned, which fundamentally changes how we approach our work. When our employees have a direct stake in the company's success, it transforms their relationship with our clients' brands. This ownership mentality creates a level of accountability and commitment that's rare in the industry.



Our employee-owners approach each brand as if it were their own, leading to more thoughtful decisions, more careful execution, and more innovative solutions to challenges. This structure also supports our long-term perspective, allowing us to focus on building sustainable growth rather than short-term gains.

Strategic location
and focus

Our headquarters, located a couple miles from Kroger's corporate offices in Cincinnati, puts us at the heart of the action. This proximity isn't just about geography – it's about maintaining close relationships and deep understanding of Kroger's evolving strategies and requirements.

From this central location, we provide:

Direct, real-time communication with Kroger Category teams

Immediate response to emerging opportunities and challenges

Deep insight into promotional strategies and requirements

Expert shelf placement optimization based on current store conditions

Strategic assortment planning aligned with category goals

Comprehensive retail execution across the Kroger network

Testimonials

Beth Hanson
Head of Sales, Seven Sundays

On behalf of the entire El Pinto Foods Team, I want to express our sincere gratitude for the exceptional service and dedication that three sixty Merchandising Solutions has provided as our trusted food broker. Just to name a few of your associates I have worked with, Ellen Williamson, who I have worked with for many years, Aimee Wilson, and Whitley Stein, their expertise, professionalism, and commitment to excellence have played a significant role in expanding our brand reach and ensuring our products thrive in the marketplace across the Kroger divisions.

Melissa Jaufmann
Vice President of National Accounts, Outlaw Beer

Working with three sixty as our Kroger broker has been a game-changer for our brand. Their in-depth knowledge of the Kroger systems, strong retail relationships, and strategic insight into category trends have helped us grow our presence in one of the most competitive retail environments in the country.

From execution on shelf to promotional planning, the three sixty team has been proactive, transparent, and truly invested in our success. They've consistently gone above and beyond to ensure our products are positioned for maximum impact — and the results speak for themselves: increased velocity, expanded distribution, and a stronger brand footprint across Kroger banners.

We consider three sixty not just a broker, but a true extension of our team. Their passion for beer and commitment to excellence make them an ideal partner in today’s dynamic retail landscape.

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Erin Summers
Vice President of Sales, New Primal

Working with Three Sixty has been a truly exceptional experience. Their deep account knowledge and sharp analytics capabilities have helped us make smarter, data-driven decisions. They don't just understand the numbers—they know how to translate insights into actionable strategies that drive results.

What sets them apart even more is their strong relationships and their unwavering professionalism. The team is not only responsive and reliable, but also genuinely hard-working and committed to our success. I’m continually impressed by their attention to detail, follow-through, and the value they bring to every interaction.

Three Sixty has become a trusted partner, and I couldn’t recommend them more highly.

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Kyla Peralta
VP of Sales, Like Air

Three Sixty is a top-tier broker partner. Their deep knowledge of Kroger and our category, combined with strong relationships at every level, sets them apart in the industry.

What stands out most is their proactive mindset. They’re never content with just checking the box. Instead, they’re constantly bringing fresh ideas to the table to drive sales and improve velocities.

They are strong salespeople who do not hesitate to pick up the phone to help move a sale forward. Their willingness to take action and advocate for our brand makes a huge difference.

Our main point of contact is an absolute pleasure to work with, and the support we receive from their leadership, data, and administrative teams is just as strong. Everyone on the team is passionate, responsive, organized, and dependable. They consistently go above and beyond to deliver results, and it genuinely feels like they’re an extension of our own team.

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Lisa Gerke
VP of Sales, JUNKLESS Foods

Three Sixty Merchandising Solutions is the kind of partner every brand hopes to find. They’re hands-on, proactive, and treat our business like it’s their own. Their deep Kroger expertise has opened doors and helped us move faster and smarter in a very competitive space. Whether it’s thinking creatively or rolling up their sleeves to get things done, they always show up with our best interests at heart. We’re lucky to have them in our corner.

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Jeffrey D. Noble
Vice President Sales & Innovation, Mooney Farms

Mooney Farms was in search of a broker to improve the representation of our brand Bella Sun Luci at Kroger. Bella Sun Luci produces the highest quality Sun-Dried Tomatoes in the United States and has distribution across the U.S. , Mexico, and Canada. We were in need a of broker to bring us the sophistication and enthusiasm to grow our existing business in Kroger East and to expand our line to Kroger West (we are based in California).

With the enthusiasm and leadership of Ashley Stone and the team at 360 Merchandisers we have achieved our sales goals. This partnership’s success has built a platform to grow with Kroger going forward and reflects how we want our brand to be viewed by Kroger.

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Mike Walker
Director of Sales, LesserEvil

Working with three sixty merchandising has been great for our business.  With us having such a small team it was critical we find a partner that would help us develop and grow our brand with Kroger.  The first thing that stood out to us is that their team really took the time to understand our brand, to learn how we operate and understand our expatiations, essentially becoming an extension of our team.  All critical pieces to a solid partnership .  Layer on top the relationships they have at multiple levels and their ability to get meetings with key senior leadership, you can’t ask for much more.   We look forward to the continued growth and partnership with three sixty for years to come!

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Sam Davis
VP Sales & Marketing, El Pinto Foods, LLC

On behalf of the entire El Pinto Foods Team, I want to express our sincere gratitude for the exceptional service and dedication that three sixty Merchandising Solutions has provided as our trusted food broker. Just to name a few of your associates I have worked with, Ellen Williamson, who I have worked with for many years, Aimee Wilson, and Whitley Stein, their expertise, professionalism, and commitment to excellence have played a significant role in expanding our brand reach and ensuring our products thrive in the marketplace across the Kroger divisions.

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Beth Hanson
Head of Sales, Seven Sundays

We had been trying to get into Kroger for a while and couldn't seem to get any traction or communication back from our buyer.  From the moment we met John at three sixty merchandising, we knew we had found a great partner.  He gave us information about the buyer and helped us create a plan that got us the face to face meeting we needed.  Not only did we get our top three items into Kroger nationally, we created a successful launch plan that has driven the in store execution we needed to drive trial and velocities and set us up well for expansion in our next review.  The expertise, guidance, persistence, and prioritization they have provided has been critical to our success.

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Leadership

Brian Higdon
President
John Hoh
Director of Business Development
Michelle Burns
Director of Business Development
Kathy Espinosa
Director of Strategic Partnerships
Chris Hinshaw
Senior Analyst
Ashley Stone
Business Manager
Evan Renk
Business Manager
Ryan Caldwell
Business Manager
Robert Ortner
Senior Analyst
Matt Robers
Business Manager
Aprill Courtney
Business Manager
Whitley Stein
Business Manager
Monica Boeing
Business Manager
Nick Kremm
Senior Vice President of Merchandising of PL Marketing
Nick Basch
President of PL Marketing

Ready to grow your brand at Kroger?

Let's discuss how we can help drive your success.