Current Role and Responsibilities
Jody Kalmbach is the Group Vice President of Product Experience at The Kroger Co., a position she has held since November 2019. In this senior leadership role within Kroger’s Technology & Digital division, she is responsible for defining and driving a seamless product experience across Kroger’s digital platforms. Her remit encompasses a complex array of management, design, analytics, and strategic planning aimed at solving both customer and business needs enterprise-wide.
She oversees product initiatives that impact Kroger’s omni-channel experience, involving personalization and digital merchandising strategies that drive Kroger’s competitive positioning in the grocery sector. Notably, Kalmbach is closely involved in Kroger’s digital transformation efforts and innovative retail experiments, including endorsement of emerging technologies such as drone delivery as part of evolving seamless shopping experiences.
Career Highlights and Experience
Kalmbach joined Kroger in 2014 initially to lead customer experience for Vitacost.com, Kroger’s health and wellness e-commerce brand. Her trajectory within the company included:
- 2016: Named Vice President of Digital Site Experience for Kroger’s Corporate Marketing team.
- 2017: Promoted to Vice President of Digital Experience before advancing to her current Group VP role in 2019.
Prior to Kroger, Kalmbach spent over a decade in senior product and marketing leadership roles at Amazon (2000–2007), including directing product development and marketing for Amazon’s toy business and developing Target.com on the Amazon platform. Her experience at Amazon was pivotal, solidifying her expertise in product management and digital commerce.
She also held leadership roles prior to Amazon at companies such as AT&T (Brand & Product Management, 1991–1997) and The North Face (VP of Marketing, 1997–2000), providing a strong foundation in marketing, product development, and brand management.
Board Memberships and Industry Recognition
- Serves on the boards of the Kroger Foundation and Kroger Personal Finance business, indicating significant involvement in corporate social responsibility and financial products subsidiaries.
- Appointed to Kroger’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) Senior Executive Advisory Board as of early 2024, reflecting a leadership role in organizational culture and diversity initiatives.
Her leadership and contributions have been recognized extensively across the industry:
- Inducted into the Path to Purchase Institute (P2PI) Hall of Fame (2019).
- Named among Progressive Grocer’s Top Women in Grocery, Senior Level Executive (2020).
- Featured in Shopper Marketing Magazine’s Hall of Fame.
Education and Background
Kalmbach holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Rhode Island with foundational studies incorporating psychology, marketing, and art history. This multidisciplinary background has informed her approach to product leadership, blending customer insights with market trends and strategic innovation.
Geographic and Personal Context
She is based in the Cincinnati Metropolitan Area, aligning with Kroger’s headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio. Kalmbach has over 25 years of experience leading marketing, brand building, and product development.
Relevant Perspectives and Public Engagements
Kalmbach is a prominent industry speaker and has delivered keynotes at major events like GroceryTech 2023 and P2PI LIVE & Expo 2025. Her presentations often focus on:
- Scaling personalization in retail.
- Digital transformation journeys within grocers.
- Customer experience innovation and product development strategies.
Her vision for Kroger’s digital experience emphasizes not only e-commerce growth but also the seamless integration of digital and physical retail presences, underpinning Kroger’s redefinition of the grocery customer journey through digital strategies.
This detailed profile positions Jody Kalmbach as a highly experienced product and digital experience executive with deep expertise in e-commerce, customer-centric product innovation, and the strategic deployment of technology to drive business growth at one of the largest grocery retailers in the United States. Her roles on corporate boards and DE&I advisory committees further highlight her cross-functional influence within Kroger.
