Category Insights Manager, Cheese & Bakery - Remote

KeHE Distributors, LLC; Naperville (IL); Remote; USD 80,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the natural food distribution sector is seeking a Customer Insights & Growth Solutions Fresh Manager to leverage analytics and marketplace knowledge. The role focuses on identifying product trends and developing actionable solutions for customers. Candidates should possess a Bachelor’s degree and have experience within the food industry analytics, alongside strong communication and project management skills.

Benefits

Health/Rx

Dental

Vision

Flexible spending accounts

401(k)

Paid time off

Short and long term disability coverage

Employee stock ownership (ESOP)

Qualifications

• Minimum of three years prior experience in food industry analytics.
• Ability to effectively manage a variety of projects.
• Willingness to travel up to 20%.

Responsibilities

• Analyze trends specific to bakery and cheese products.
• Develop presentations showcasing category insights and merchandising concepts.
• Establish relationships with key alternate retailers.

Skills

Project management

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Natural product knowledge

Communication skills

Education

4-year Bachelor's Degree in Business

Tools

MS Office

SPINS

PowerBI

IBM Cognos Connection

Job description

Why Work for KeHE?

• Full-time
• Pay Range: $80,000.00/Yr. - $95,000.00/Yr.
• Shift Days: , Shift Time:
• Benefits on Day 1
  • Health/Rx
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Flexible and health spending accounts (FSA/HSA)
  • Supplemental life insurance
  • 401(k)
  • Paid time off
  • Paid sick time
  • Short term & long term disability coverage (STD/LTD)
  • Employee stock ownership (ESOP)
  • Holiday pay for company designated holidays
  
  Overview
  
  

  Good people, working with good people, for our common good.

  Sound good?

  KeHE-a natural, organic, specialty and fresh food distributor-is all about "good" and is growing, so there's never been a more exciting time to join our team. If you're enthusiastic about working in an environment with a people-first culture and an organization committed to good living, good food and good service, we'd love to talk to you!

  
  Primary Responsibilities
  
  

  The Customer Insights & Growth Solutions Fresh Manager is responsible for being a subject matter expert in cheese and bakery market dynamics affecting the alternate channel. By leveraging analytics and marketplace knowledge, this role is responsible for helping KeHE customers increase sales and trade area relevance though assortment and merchandising. As with all positions at KeHE, we expect that all actions will be consistent with KeHE's Mission, Vision and Values.

  
  Essential Functions
  
  
  • Identify bakery and cheese product trends specific to alternate channel retailers by analyzing: Category, attribute and marketplace trends; Consumer behavior shifts; Shopper purchase patterns.
  • Curate consumer, demographic, syndicated, and internal data to create optimum, innovative, and actionable assortment and merchandising solutions.
  • Develop PowerPoint presentations for alternate retailers showcasing category insights, hot trends, new and emerging items, and merchandising concepts.
  • Translate data into actionable and innovative insights to create turn-key, influential solutions for KeHE’s sales teams and retailer partners.
  • Lead webinars, present findings and recommendations in a clear and compelling manner.
  • Establish and maintain relationships with key alternate retailers based on trust, marketplace knowledge, and results.
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with Category Management and Sales Enablement teams.
  • Develop ROI reporting by analyzing implementation rate at retail, product success rates, and sales growth in independent retailers.
  • Support training and development of CI & GS team members.
  • Maintain safeguards of confidential company information.
  
  Minimum Requirements, Qualifications, Additional Skills, Aptitude
  
  
  • Knowledge in market dynamics, industry shifts, and retailer landscapes is mandatory.
  • Ability to effectively manage a wide variety of projects simultaneously and often with time-conflicting pressures.
  • Ability to multi-task in a very fast-paced business environment.
  • Natural, specialty and/or fresh product knowledge with ability to recognize brands and trends.
  • Project management, attention to detail, and organizational skills.
  • Demonstrated thought leadership and creativity skills.
  • Strong understanding of merchandising tactics and strategies.
  • Demonstrated strength in oral and written communication skills.
  • Willingness to take initiative on projects with minimal supervision.
  • Proficiency with MS Office, primarily Excel and PowerPoint.
  • Proficiency with SPINS, IRI, CSIA, ShopperSights, Mintel software.
  • Experience with visualization tools, such as PowerBI, a plus.
  • Experience with query writing and/or IBM Cognos Connection a plus.
  • Demonstrated high level of proficiency in presentation skills.
  • Ability to effectively manage a wide variety of retailer projects simultaneously and often with time conflicting pressures.
  • Willingness to travel up to 20%.

  EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

  • 4-year Bachelor's Degree in Business or related field of study.
  • Minimum of three years prior experience in food industry analytics (retailer, supplier, distributor or data provider).

  PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

  These physical demands are representative of the physical requirements necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.

  
  Requisition ID
  
  2025-26644
  Equal Employer Opportunity Statement
  
  KeHE Distributors provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits all forms of discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, religion or faith, sex, gender, age, ancestry, national origin, mental or physical disability or medical condition, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other category protected under federal, state, or local law. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training as well as the administration of all Human Resources and Talent Acquisition processes.