DRAFT Best Brands Job Description Job Title: Category Development Analyst Responsibilities: Analyze the business unit’s sales to customers by product group and individual sku. Prepare analysis report for sales, marketing and senior management personnel. Collect and track competitive products movement to provide a total category understanding and Best Brands relative performance comparisons. Collect, analyze and report sku profit and ROI performance of the business unit and overall In-Store bakery products category. Understand each customer’s schematic settings and in-store merchandising activities. Develop and provide the sales team with viable customer plan-o-grams which will vary by individual store taking into account variables such as demographics and category store penetration. Use information analysis to help sales develop penetration strategies that correlate with core product strengths, goals and vision. Develop and present pricing strategies for individual products and groupings to maximize movement and profit margins. Monitor and report related competitive activities to fellow Business Unit members. Develop contacts with key opinion leaders such as store buyers, merchandisers’ company field sales team. Have successful interaction with customers with accurate, timely, information analysis, giving them what they want and useful solutions before they ask, to create an ambience of trust for the entire team.
Understand consumer purchasing habits in terms of the overall category and specific product items to help with product rationalization to include new products development. Become the eyes ears and conduit of analytic information for the business unit. Make new product recommendations to marketing based upon industry and customer knowledge. Utilize Business Unit’s existing forecasting and production planning models such as MRP II to develop ongoing forecasts for the company’s production, marketing sales fellow team members. This information will be available to customers for them to assist in their inventory control and planning processes. Establish pro-active two way communication with replenishment for global understanding of upcoming demands on and efficient use of our supply stream.
Make presentations to cross functional team members and senior management. Assist the sales force by attending key account customer presentations. Become the Business Unit’s In-Store Baked Goods Category expert. Requirements: Minimum of 5 to 7 years of sales and category analysis within the perishable food products segment. Good understanding of the utilization of Space Planning i.e. Plan-O-Gram software. Strong analytical skills in terms of data gathering, understanding, interpretation and the ability to format and present results in logical easy to understand reports for the sales force, customers and the Business Unit’s senior management. These reports should help in determining specific action steps for the business. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Ability to collaborate as a team and reach a workable solution. Ability to work in a fast paced environment with the continual need to change daily priorities. Good computer skills to include: Word, Excel, Database access tools and PowerPoint software programs. Strong leadership skills with the ability to take charge of a given project and see it through to a final resolution. Ability to make a decision based upon data, experience and input from others. Bakery Operations or other Business Operations experience preferred Four year bachelor’s degree preferred.