DEDHAM, Mass. — Yana Hansen brings over a decade of merchandising expertise to her role as national category director for candy at Albertsons Cos.
Hansen started her career in Russia working for a pharmacy chain. Beginning as a buyer, she quickly advanced to director of category management.
Her journey continued in the United States, where she excelled as a category manager for health and beauty care at the Stop & Shop supermarket banner before joining Albertsons, where she thrives in a role focused on take-home and seasonal candy.
“The most interesting part of my job is making candy fun for our customers at Albertsons,” she says. “By understanding customer insights and collaborating with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders, we bring impactful programs to life in our stores. These initiatives set us apart from the competition and keep our customers coming back for more.”
Hansen also spearheads the in-stock growth office initiative, one of Albertsons’ top priorities. In this capacity, Hansen oversees seven teams and more than 50 individuals across various functions across the Boise, Idaho-based company. Her team is responsible for product and placement decisions, pricing and promotion strategies, all driven by customer insights and analytics.
Hansen is a graduate of the Food Executive Program at Cornell University.
Forward-thinking vision and leadership have made Hansen an influential figure in the retail industry. Also setting her apart are her passion for merchandising and her embrace of community involvement. Hansen volunteers as a product innovation judge and has served as a panelist with the National Confectioners Association. Active in her community, Hansen enjoys organizing holiday events and enthusiastically supports neighborhood businesses.
