Category Analyst (gn)
Our client:
Lotus Bakeries is a family run company founded in 1932 in Lembeke (Belgium). Today, the company is present around the globe and operates worldwide in the indulgent and natural snacking segment with brands including Lotus, Lotus Biscoff, nakd, TREK, BEAR, Kiddylicious, Peter’s Yard, Dinosaurus, Peijnenburg and Annas. Lotus Bakeries is listed on the Euronext Brussels Stock. The dynamic company runs production facilities in Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Sweden, South Africa and the United States and runs 21 sales organisations in Europe, America and Asia. Additionally, a collaboration with commercial partners in approximately fifty countries is established worldwide. Lotus Bakeries has around 2,700 employees, achieved a revenue of EUR 877,5 million in 2022 and ranks Top 6 ranking among mono portion cookie concepts.
In Germany, Lotus Biscoff is the No. 1 Cookie brand in the Out of Home channel with more than 300.000 servings per day and has an exceptional success story within the Retail channel. Additionally, Lotus Bakeries expanded its product range in Germany in 2018 in the very exciting area of "natural snacks" in the fruit rolls and muesli/fruit bars category with the innovative brands nakd and BEAR.
The responsibilities:
- Analysis of category/core range performance by utilizing available market & macro-environment data/insight: retail panel data (IRI/Circana, Nielsen), household/shopper panel data (Gfk), customer insights, bespoke Lotus Bakeries’ consumer/shopper research
- Tracking and evaluation of Lotus performance vs competitors, deducting right learnings to be applied within the internal plans (Volume/Value/ROS/WD/ promotional effectiveness/etc.)
- Identification of current & future category segment dynamics & trends, that may affect Lotus Biscoff and our Natural Foods brands and quantification of potential impacts on our categories, customers and brands
- Ensuring a best in class approach on data analytics by constantly seeking out & applying latest techniques together with the Category Development Manager
- Create & present compelling category stories to our retailers in order to bring our Lotus and Natural foods brands further instore in terms of category / segment / assortment /shelf placement / promotions
- Establishing and building of long-term relationships with relevant German trade partners to strengthen the role as preferred supplier and provide relevant category insights, recommendations on shelf structure, assortment, new listings and promotional support
- Involvement into sharing all analytical insights with the relevant internal stakeholders to support shaping the Commercial (Account) Plan together with the (Sales) team
Your Profile:
- University degree (Masters/Bachelor) in economics, marketing or equivalent
- Minimum 2 years working experience in a Category Management/data analysis or similar function for food/FMCG brands, GS1 Category Management certificate preferred
- Knowledge of the German trade landscape
- Proven experience of converting large amounts of raw data into actionable insights with proven commercial benefits with particular experience on retail/household/shopper data (IRI/Circana, Nielsen, GfK)
- Excellent numerical accuracy with attention to detail
- Profound conceptual skills turning insight into compelling trade and category stories
- Fluent in German (full professional proficiency), strong understanding of English (written and spoken)
Personal qualifications:
- You are a team player, approachable, pro-active, positive and strong communicator
- You have a great passion for data insights and the ability to persuade others of your ideas
- You promote an hands-on mentality, working independently with organization skills
- You show strong ownership for your tasks and projects to progress and achieve results
- You enjoy working successfully in a small, highly networked team and dynamic environment
- You want to take an active role in identifying and shaping today’s and future potentials of the business
- You are passionate about our brands and want to become a brand ambassador
What Lotus offers:
- Active role in co-shaping the German business with huge future potential
- An exciting job and challenge to have end to end responsibility in which you can leave your own signature
- Professional working environment with an interpersonal atmosphere fostering an open dialogue
- Permanent position in a modern office in Düsseldorf with the flexibility of one day home office per week & 30 days vacation
- And as we love our brands and products, you can enjoy them every day in the office with a coffee
