Category Manager (Grocery SE) (Hiring Immediately)

Who We Are

At Lindt, we are a global fast-growing consumer goods company, enchanting the world with premium chocolate. We are driven by our passion for excellence and go the extra mile ensuring that every Lindt experience is nothing short of exceptional. Our collective efforts are geared towards making a positive impact, not only in the world of premium chocolate but also in the lives of our employees, customers, and communities. Our company embraces a culture defined by the core values of Excellence, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Responsibility, and Collaboration, fostering a dynamic and collaborative environment where these principles drive our success.

Position Purpose :

The individual in this role will provide category analysis and business insights to US retailers in the areas of assortment, shelving recommendations and shopper insights to drive category growth and to help deliver against Lindt USAs business objectives. This includes developing and presenting compelling, insight-based stories that support Lindt sales strategies and will make a direct impact in growing Lindts everyday confection, front end, and seasonal businesses. This role requires strong analytical capabilities, problem solving skills and storytelling ability.

This role can be based anywhere on the East Coast or Texas.

Essential Job Functions & Responsibilities :

Category Management

Act as a consultant to develop and execute tailored category plans for assigned Lindt US retailers (Publix, HEB, Hy-Vee, Convenience Channel + additional retailers on an as needed basis) providing unbiased recommendations to drive overall category growth.

Synthesize multiple data sources including Circana, Retailer Shopper Card Systems, and Shopper Research to craft compelling, concise and actionable selling stories.

Utilize Blue Yonder space management software to analyze and validate retailer planograms and to develop strategic planogram recommendations to help assigned retailers maximize sales.

Play a leadership role in conducting category management reviews : analyzing business issues and providing business insights and recommendations in the areas of assortment, merchandising, wayfinding and price partitions, to improve business results.

Attend customer meetings to serve as the category expert by presenting analysis, trend information and category opportunities. Attendance may be in conjunction with the account manager or one on one with the buyer.

Sales & Marketing Support

Influence the development of strategic sales and category action plans through the sharing of knowledge gained from customer specific shopper card information. Help to establish priorities that are consistent with Lindt and key account goals and objectives, market share and overall category profitability.

Provide sales managers with post event analytics and YOY implementation opportunities to drive the total seasonal confection category and Lindt brands in assigned accounts.

Actively participate in weekly team calls or meetings with respective Sales managers and / or marketing.

Research & Analysis

Serve as the expert on the assigned accounts by fully understanding shopper motivations, triggers and barriers through available data or research sources.

Be the information expert in the analysis of syndicated data, shopper card data, household panel data, and customer point of sale data, leading to key insights and business recommendations in the areas of item distribution and assortment, pricing and promotion

Qualifications & Requirements :

Skills & Knowledge :

Proficient computer skills, including extensive, advanced knowledge of Excel and PowerPoint

Strong analytical and reporting skills (Proficient in syndicated data IRI and / or Nielsen)

Proficient in Category Management tools (eg Blue Yonder)

Excellent written and oral communication.

Experience :

Category Management experience required

3 years of analytical experience

3 years experience with one or more of the following retailer specific data platforms (84.51, Scintilla, EYC, Circana Retailer Gateway)

2+ years experience in a FMCPG environment, preferred.

3+ years experience with Planogram software (Blue Yonder, Spaceman, Apollo)

Education :

Bachelors Degree required; MBA Preferred

Other Requirements : Travel ~20% of time

Total Rewards :

Compensation Range : $106,000.00-137,000.00

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