Category Insights & Growth Manager

Valeo Foods Ireland; Dublin; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive Base Salary

Bonus Scheme

Pension

Job summary

Valeo Foods Ireland is seeking a senior Category Manager to drive growth across priority categories by translating shopper insights, market intelligence and data into actionable strategies. You will partner with Customer Business Managers and retailer teams to shape category vision, develop retailer-specific growth plans, and lead category reviews.

The role blends strategic thinking with analytical execution and requires expertise in FMCG dynamics, range planning and performance reporting.

Qualifications

• 5+ years' experience in Category Management, Shopper Insights or Commercial Analytics.
• Experience delivering category growth strategies with FMCG retailers.
• Strong understanding of FMCG market dynamics and category management principles.
• Demonstrated experience influencing customer decisions through data-led recommendations.
• Experience using Nielsen, Kantar, dunnhumby and Symphony EYC.
• Experience supporting range reviews, assortment optimisation and category planning.
• Knowledge of space planning and merchandising principles would be advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Support the development and execution of category growth strategies across Valeo Foods' priority categories.
• Identify category growth opportunities through analysis of shopper, consumer, customer and market data.
• Develop retailer-specific category strategies aligned to customer objectives and Valeo Foods' commercial ambitions.
• Contribute to the development of annual category plans with key customers.
• Lead category analysis inputs into the Annual Business Planning process.
• Support the Head of Category Development in creating long-term category growth visions and strategic recommendations.
• Build strong working relationships with retailer category teams and become a trusted category advisor.
• Lead agreed category reviews, range reviews and category projects with customers.
• Develop compelling retailer presentations and category selling stories that influence customer decision-making.
• Support Joint Business Planning and annual customer planning processes through robust category recommendations.
• Work collaboratively with Customer Business Managers to identify opportunities to grow category performance and Valeo Foods market share.
• Analyse Nielsen, Kantar, EPOS and shopper data to identify category trends, opportunities and risks.
• Translate complex data into clear, commercially actionable recommendations.
• Deliver regular category performance reviews to internal and external stakeholders.
• Develop retailer-specific insight packs, strategic narratives and category growth stories.
• Monitor competitor activity, consumer behaviour and emerging market trends, providing strategic implications and recommendations to the commercial team.
• Support the development and implementation of Valeo Foods' Perfect Store toolkits.
• Own the tracking and reporting of Perfect Store KPIs across all channels.
• Identify compliance gaps and recommend actions to improve category execution.
• Support development of channel-specific ranging, merchandising, promotional and display strategies.
• Track implementation and effectiveness of category initiatives, ensuring agreed actions are executed successfully.
• Develop data-led recommendations on assortment, shelving and macro space opportunities.
• Lead analytical support for category range reviews and shelf optimisation projects.
• Identify ranging gaps, distribution opportunities and category performance improvement initiatives.
• Work cross-functionally to ensure successful implementation of agreed category changes.
• Evaluate category performance following implementation and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Champion the use of data and insights across the commercial organisation.
• Identify opportunities to improve category reporting, tools, systems and processes.
• Share category best practice and support capability building across sales and marketing teams.
• Support the Head of Category Development in embedding a category-led culture throughout the business.
• 5+ years' experience in Category Management, Shopper Insights or Commercial Analytics.

Skills

Category management

Analytics

Stakeholder management

Data storytelling

Presentation skills

FMCG knowledge

Tools

Nielsen

Kantar

dunnhumby

Symphony EYC

Job description

Valeo Foods Ireland is seeking a senior Category Manager to drive growth across priority categories by translating shopper insights, market intelligence and data into actionable strategies. You will partner with Customer Business Managers and retailer teams to shape category vision, develop retailer-specific growth plans, and lead category reviews.

The role blends strategic thinking with analytical execution and requires expertise in FMCG dynamics, range planning and performance reporting.