Category Development Manager

Lotus Bakeries; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Plans

Mental Health support

401(k) Retirement Plan with employer

Disability Programs

Health Savings and Flexible Spending

Family-forming benefits

Life and Serious Injury Benefits

Paid leave of absence programs

Job summary

Lotus Bakeries in San Francisco is seeking a Category Development Manager to lead category management initiatives, aligning growth strategies with retailer opportunities and brand goals.

You will collaborate with Sales, Marketing, and external partners to develop shelf-ready plans, analyze Nielsen/IRI data, and translate insights into actionable recommendations that boost shopper engagement and in-store performance. Experience in CPG is required.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years in Category management or Trade marketing in the CPG industry.
• Experience with syndicated data tools such as Nielsen/IRI and retailer POS systems.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking with the ability to translate data into actions.

Responsibilities

• Partner with sales to translate national growth strategy into customer/category plans across assortment, shelves and promotions.
• Define targets, track performance, and optimize execution to drive category and brand success.
• Develop recommendations for product assortment, promotions, and in-store visibility.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Sales to align category strategies with brand goals.
• Turn data into actionable insights and provide regular performance updates to stakeholders.
• Monitor competitor activity and evolving trends to inform strategic decisions.

Skills

Category management

Data analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Presentation skills

Shopper behavior analysis

Tools

Nielsen

IRI

POS systems

Job description

Lotus Bakeries is an international, dynamic and sustainable player in the CPG industry. We are a proud and passionate company that builds some of the fastest growing brands across different categories like Biscoff and Bear. We bring people together with our delicious products and create small moments of happiness and joy.

THE ROLE

The Category Development Manager plays a leading role in the strategic and operational execution of category management initiatives, driving the growth and profitability of Lotus Bakeries' brands by aligning category strategies with corporate objectives and market opportunities. Central to this role is the close collaboration with Sales, Marketing, and external retail partners to develop and implement category growth strategies. These strategies enhance shopper engagement, optimize in-store performance, and strengthen retailer relationships. This is achieved through the creation of compelling category growth stories, utilizing data sources such as Nielsen, and internal account-level insights to deliver actionable opportunities for growth across our retail channels.

SCOPE

Category Management Strategy:

• Act as key partner for sales teams, translating the national growth strategy into actionable customer/category plans across assortment, shelves and promotions.
• Define targets, track performance, and optimize execution to drive category and brand success
• Develop strategic recommendations for product assortment, promotional plans, and in-store visibility to optimize shopper engagement and sales performance.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Sales to ensure alignment of category strategies with brand strategies.

Business Insights & Analysis:

• Analyze multiple data sources, including syndicated data (e.g., Nielsen), retailer POS data, and internal sales metrics, to identify trends, consumer behaviors, and actionable opportunities.
• Provide actionable insights and regular performance updates, including market share, distribution, pricing, and promotional effectiveness, to inform strategic decision-making for internal stakeholders.
• Monitor and assess competitor strategies, market positioning, and emerging trends to make predictive recommendations and stay ahead of the market.
• Turn complex data sets into clear, impactful insights and stories to inform decision-making for internal stakeholders and retail partners.

Process Optimization & Reporting:

• Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the success of category strategies.
• Develop tools and processes to monitor performance and provide actionable insights to leadership and stakeholders.
• Utilize data and analytics to refine methodologies, ensure operational efficiency, and drive continuous improvement across category management initiatives.

EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of 3-5 years in Category management, Trade marketing, or a similar role in the CPG industry. Experience within other consumer focused industries with a focus on data analysis/inisghts is also valued.
• Proven experience with syndicated data tools such as Nielsen, IRI, and retailer-specific POS systems.
• Experience in cross-functional collaboration.
• Strong track record of driving category growth through data-driven insights and strategies.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to synthesize complex data into actionable insights.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, both written and verbal.
• Expertise in shopper behavior analysis and in-store marketing strategies.

BENEFITS

• Health Plans
• Mental Health support
• a 401(k) Retirement Plan with employer match
• Disability Programs
• Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts
• Family-forming benefits
• Life and Serious Injury Benefits
• paid leave of absence programs including paid time off and sick leave