Shopper Insights Manager - Shelving and Assortment

Maple Leaf Foods Inc.; Mississauga; Hybrid; CAD 65,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Shopper Insights Manager to lead the development of shelving and assortment strategies. This role involves collaborating with various teams to create impactful merchandising standards and optimize retail space for growth. You will leverage analytical tools and shopper insights to drive category success across key retailers. Join a forward-thinking company committed to sustainability and innovation in the food industry, where your contributions will help shape the future of protein merchandising. This position offers a hybrid work model, competitive benefits, and a chance to make a meaningful impact in the community.

Benefits

Health and Wellness benefits

Defined Contribution Pension Plan

Learning and development opportunities

Tuition reimbursement program

Paid volunteer days

Qualifications

• Experience in shelving standards and category management is essential.
• Strong analytical skills with a focus on retail data and shopper insights.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of shelving standards and SKU prioritization.
• Execute shopper research and test plans to enhance in-store execution.

Skills

Shelving and assortment understanding

Analytical skills

Shopper research methodology

Category Management

Trade Marketing experience

Project management

Tools

Planogram software (JDA, Virtual Reality)

Shopper panel (Numerator)

Syndicated data (NIQ Markettrack)

Retailer-specific POS data

Job description

The Opportunity:

The Shopper Insights Manager, Shelving and Assortment will be responsible for leading the development and deployment of our shelving and assortment capabilities, standards, and vision to enable the success of MLF growth platforms. They will work to identify key strategic shelving opportunities and uniquely provide a future looking point of view as to where shoppers expect to see both Packaged and Fresh Meat categories in all retail channels to maximize overall sales. They will also work to ensure a cohesive implementation of broader externally focused category strategies and selling stories as relates to our shelf and assortment strategy, standards, and recommendations.

The incumbent will be responsible for executing shopper research with the help of our consumer insights team, as well as executing “test and learn” plans across retailers that would refine our in-store execution and inform our vision of the protein department of the future.

This position would be responsible for all customers with a focus on Loblaws, Walmart, Sobeys and Metro and on areas defined as our biggest priorities.

Any MLF team member interested in being considered for this role are encouraged to apply online by March 26. Applications received beyond that date are not guaranteed consideration.

Snapshot of a Day-in-the-Life:

• Lead the creation of best-in-class shelving standards and SKU prioritization objectives that all Customer Business Teams will be measured against and held accountable to delivering to ensure the success of our growth platforms at shelf; identify standard measurement and account-specific shelf opportunities to develop action plans to close gaps in collaboration with Category Sales Development and Customer Business Teams.
• Lead the best-in-class deployment of shelving and assortment capabilities while leveraging multiple analytical and selling tools, including planogram software (JDA, Virtual Reality), shopper panel (Numerator) and syndicated data (NIQ Markettrack), retailer-specific POS data, as well as NIQ Assortment and Space Optimization.
• Lead the integration of innovation into a broader holistic category merchandising strategy by channel, including gold standard planograms, secondary display opportunities, and category SKU prioritization. Collaborate with account-specific Customer Insights Managers as required to tailor strategies for key retailers.
• Lead the deployment of learnings from our “Protein Department of the Future” body of research to seamlessly enable the success of our Maple Leaf Foods growth platforms in a way that makes sense for the shopper and the retailer; act as project lead for “test & learn” merchandising plans, liaising with our vendors, and collaborating with key internal and external stakeholders as required.
• Develop relationships with our customers at multiple levels to influence space allocations, category locations within the store, and capital decisions to optimize the growth potential of key growth categories.
• Support the Walmart Vendor Advisor Team in the implementation of modular strategies during key seasons with analytical and planogram execution support.

What You’ll Bring:

• Strong shelving and assortment understanding via Vendor Advisor or Category Management experience.
• Analytical skills developed through experience selling with POS, Shipment, Markettrack, Panel and Qualitative data.
• Shopper research methodology understanding.
• Category Visionary work.
• Category Management / Vendor Advisor work with a retailer.
• Trade Marketing / Category Sales Development experience to align customer strategy to future company growth plans and innovation.
• Selling story creation and selling across categories / retailers.
• Shopper research implementation with agencies to gain retail advantage.
• Project management with internal and external resources at multiple levels.

What We Offer at Maple Leaf Foods:

• Being part of a high-performance, people-focused company that has an inspiring and unique vision to become the most sustainable protein company on earth, and a deep commitment to sustainable protein across North America.
• An inclusive company culture and a work environment that keeps our people safe, rewards excellence, and empowers everyone to learn and contribute their best.
• A hybrid work model that embraces remote work for eligible roles, helping team members achieve work-life balance—combining the best of both spending time working remotely, benefitting from focus time, and purposeful collaboration in the office setting.
• Competitive Health and Wellness benefits that offer flexibility to meet your individual or family needs, including programs focused on improving mental health and wellbeing. These benefits start on your first day of employment.
• Defined Contribution Pension Plan with company matching that starts on your first day of employment.
• Learning and development opportunities, including workshops, ‘speaker series’ events, and resources that allow you to develop your skills and progress your career.
• Comprehensive tuition reimbursement program that supports continuous learning and development of our team members through investment in eligible degrees, diplomas, professional certification, or trades programs.
• Supporting our deep commitment to community impact, we offer up to two paid days annually to volunteer at a cause of your choice.

About Us:

We’re a carbon neutral food company on a purposeful journey to Raise the Good in Food through better nutrition, safer food and workplaces, more humane animal care, and environmental sustainability efforts that protect our planet. We care about our communities and commit to reducing food insecurity in Canada. Join us on the journey. Let’s build a better future, together.

We’re passionate about food. For more than 100 years, we’ve made delicious, healthy protein that Canadians love under iconic national and regional brands, like Maple Leaf, Schneiders, and Greenfield Natural Meat Co. We’re on a journey to become the most sustainable protein company – not just in Canada – but on earth.

• We are carbon neutral.
• We are one of the only food companies in Canada to set science-based targets.

A diverse and inclusive work environment

Championing diversity and inclusion is a critical component to advancing our collective purpose and vision and living the Maple Leaf Leadership Values. We believe in building, investing in, recognizing, and rewarding remarkable people who value an inclusive workplace, embrace all forms of diversity, and commit to including every voice in our collaborative environment. We’re so much stronger when we know we’re accepted and valued for who we are and what we each bring to the workplace.

We embrace a strong, values-based culture

Our eight Leadership Values are our north star. They guide the decisions we make for all our stakeholders: our consumers, our customers, our people, our communities, our shareholders, and the environment.

• Doing What’s Right
• Shared Value
• High Performance
• Diverse and Inclusive Teams
• Disciplined Decision Making
• Our Accountability
• Intense Curiosity
• Transparency and Humility

We thank all applicants for their interest in exploring employment opportunities with Maple Leaf Foods; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Applicants may be subject to a background check and must meet the security criteria designated for the position.

Accommodation is available upon request for applicants with disabilities in the recruitment and assessment process and when hired; please contact our Talent Attraction Team at [e-mail].

Disclaimer: Please note that salaries posted on sites other than the MLF Careers Page are not a reflection of Maple Leaf Foods and are an estimated salary range provided by that particular job board. Maple Leaf Foods offers competitive wages and an attractive total rewards package, which will be discussed during an interview with our Talent Team.

#LI-Hybrid