Commercial Category Analyst Own Brand FTC

Applegreen; Dublin; On-site; EUR 52,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

Applegreen is seeking a Commercial Category Analyst (Own Brand) for a 12-month maternity cover contract. The role sits within the Commercial Food team and reports to the Senior Category Manager.

You will own weekly Own Brand performance reports, manage KPIs, and lead range planning and forecasting to optimise sales and margins across store networks. The ideal candidate has 4+ years in a similar analytics role within food-related sectors, advanced Excel/PowerPoint, and experience with Power BI.

Qualifications

• 4+ years in a Commercial Analyst, Category Analyst, Merchandise Planning, Buying, Food Operations, Trading or similar Food role.
• Experience in foodservice, QSR, convenience retail, grocery or FMCG environments is highly desirable.
• Advanced Excel and PowerPoint proficiency.
• Experience using Power BI or similar reporting tools; SAP experience is advantageous.
• Strong ability to influence decisions with clear, commercial recommendations.
• Proven ability to build relationships with internal stakeholders and external suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Produce, interpret, and present weekly Own Brand performance reports.
• Own KPIs: sales, margin, waste, availability, stockholding and product performance.
• Lead range planning using insights to optimise assortment and gaps.
• Develop space and display plans to maximise sales and margin.
• Forecast and distribute products to stores, allocate stock to maximise sales and minimise waste.
• Lead waste reduction initiatives across forecasting, ordering and shelf life.
• Maintain Own Brand SOPs with clear standards for handling and execution.
• Collaborate with Commercial, Operations & Supply Chain for insights and recommendations.
• Analyze brand performance, trends, promotions, pricing and mix for growth opportunities.
• Build relationships with internal teams and external suppliers.

Skills

Commercial acumen

Analytical ability

Presentation skills

Stakeholder management

Tools

Power BI

SAP

Job description

Commercial Category Analyst (Own Brand) - 12-month contract - Maternity Cover

Role Introduction:

Established in 1992, Applegreen is a leading convenience roadside retailer in the Republic of Ireland, the UK and the US in both large-scale Motorway Service Areas and Travel Plazas, as well as smaller petrol stations. The business has grown to over €4BN in annual revenue, operating 430 Motorway Service Plazas and forecourt sites internationally and employing over 17,000 people. Applegreen is in a rapid growth phase and to support this ambitious growth, we are seeking to onboard a Commercial Category Analyst (Own Brand) to join our team for a fixed term of 12 months to cover a maternity leave. This role will form part of the Commercial Food team and reports to Senior Category Manager. The successful candidate will be a confident people person who can fit into Applegreenseamlessly and adopt a hands-on approach to their role.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assume full responsibility for the production, interpretation, and presentation of weekly Own Brand performance reports.
• Own and monitor key Own Brand KPIs including sales, margin, waste, availability, stockholding, and product performance.
• Own the range planning process, using customer, sales and product performance insights to optimise assortment, identify range gaps, rationalise underperforming SKUs and support new product development.
• Develop and maintain space and display plans to maximise sales and margin, while ensuring ranges are practical to execute at store level.
• Manage the forecasting and distribution of products to stores, allocating stock where required to maximise sales opportunities, maintain availability and minimise waste.
• Lead waste reduction initiatives, identifying root causes of waste and implementing improvements across forecasting, ordering, range, allocation, shelf life and store execution.
• Develop, maintain and continuously improve Own Brand SOPs, ensuring clear standards are in place for product handling, merchandising, availability, quality, waste management and operational execution.
• Partner closely with Commercial, Operations & Supply Chain teams to provide commercial insights and recommendations.
• Conduct detailed analysis of brand performance, customer trends, promotional activity, pricing strategies and product mix to identify opportunities for profitable growth.
• Develop and maintain strong collaborative relationships internally with key departments and externally with suppliers.
• Stay informed on market and industry trends through competitor analysis and customer insights to ensure the continued competitiveness of our Own Brand offering.
• Support the development and execution of strategic plans at both product and category level.
• Lead and support cross-functional projects, range reviews, new product launches and initiatives that drive commercial performance and operational excellence.
• Implement change, introduce processes and drive efficiencies within the department.

Qualifications, Experience & Skills

• Minimum 4+ years' experience in a Commercial Analyst, Category Analyst, Merchandise Planning, Buying, Food Operations, Trading, or similar Food role.
• Experience within foodservice, QSR, convenience retail, grocery retail, or FMCG environments highly desirable.
• High proficiency in Microsoft Office software, particularly Excel and PowerPoint.
• Strong analytical ability with experience manipulating and interpreting large volumes of commercial data.
• Strong understanding of food operations and the key drivers of sales, margin, waste, and availability performance.
• Experience using Power BI or similar reporting tools beneficial.
• SAP experience advantageous.
• Proven ability to influence decision-making through clear and commercially focused recommendations.
• Proven ability to develop strong relationships with internal stakeholders and external suppliers.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills.
• Energetic and enthusiastic with a desire to achieve success.

Additional key skills & attributes:

• Strong commercial acumen with an understanding of Food to Go market dynamics, category management, and consumer behaviour.
• Ability to identify trends, risks, and opportunities and translate insights into actionable recommendations.
• Strong understanding of KPI performance and the operational drivers that impact store performance.
• Ability to effectively communicate and influence stakeholders at all levels of the business.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• High attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to prioritise workload and perform effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong project management skills with experience delivering business initiatives.
• A collaborative team player who can work effectively across multiple functions.
• Self-starter with a proactive mindset and a focus on continuous improvement.
• Resilient, adaptable, and calm under pressure.
• Highly organised with the ability to manage changing priorities.
• Willing to travel ad hoc if required.