Category Manager

Who We Are

At Lindt, we are a global fast-growing consumer goods company, enchanting the world with premium chocolate. We are driven by our passion for excellence and go the extra mile ensuring that every Lindt experience is nothing short of exceptional. Our collective efforts are geared towards making a positive impact, not only in the world of premium chocolate but also in the lives of our employees, customers, and communities.

Our company embraces a culture defined by the core values of Excellence, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Responsibility, and Collaboration, fostering a dynamic and collaborative environment where these principles drive our success.

At Lindt, we are a global fast-growing consumer goods company, enchanting the world with premium chocolate. We are driven by our passion for excellence and go the extra mile ensuring that every Lindt experience is nothing short of exceptional. Our collective efforts are geared towards making a positive impact, not only in the world of premium chocolate but also in the lives of our employees, customers, and communities.

Our company embraces a culture defined by the core values of Excellence, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Responsibility, and Collaboration, fostering a dynamic and collaborative environment where these principles drive our success.

The individual in this role will help Lindt expand category influence, grow sales and deliver against category management specific KPIs such as distribution, secondary placement and best in class merchandising. This will be accomplished by acting as a strategic partner for ADUSA by providing best in class shopper insights and analytics to maximize category growth.

This role can be based in the New England, PA, or North/South Carolina regions.

• Ensure expertise in customer strategy and shopper behavior across relevant confection segments (impulse, gifting, dark chocolate, indulgence, etc.) to influence business planning initiatives and plans that mutually grow KPIs for Lindt and the category.
• Bring best in class shopper insights to ADUSA, to influence customer strategy and support Lindt initiatives.
• Support Lindt strategy and selling initiatives through the development of a best in class Grocery channel strategy and selling stories that are tailored to be specific to key retailers. This includes analyzing and synthesizing syndicated and shopper data coupled with trend and shopper insight information.
• Act as a consultant and strategic partner to ADUSA providing unbiased recommendations to drive overall category growth.
• Develop strategic planogram recommendations, combining proven merchandising theory, retailer case studies and Lindt strategy with solid analysis to maximize category sales.
• Synthesize multiple data sources including POS, Panel, Shopper card and Insights to craft compelling, concise and actionable selling stories. Lead the creation of everyday line reviews, seasonal reviews and check lane reviews.
• Play a leadership role in conducting category management reviews, analyzing business issues, and providing business insights and recommendations in the areas of assortment, pricing, and promotion to improve business results.
• Present analysis, trend information and category opportunities directly to ADUSA building a strong relationship directly with the buyers or retailer category managers to influence retailer strategy and support Lindt business objectives.
• In collaboration with the Category team and specific Brand Managers, lead the creation of seasonal and key initiative selling presentations contributing insights while also combining inputs into a comprehensive selling story.

• Influence the development of strategic sales and category action plans for the Grocery channel through the sharing of knowledge gained from customer specific shopper card information. Help to establish priorities that are consistent with Lindt and key account goals and objectives, market share and overall category profitability.
• Actively participate in weekly team calls or meetings with respective Sales Managers and/or Marketing.

• Serve as the expert on the Grocery Channel and ADUSA by fully understanding shopper motivations, triggers and barriers through available shopper card, custom research or panel information.
• Be the information expert in the analysis of syndicated data, shopper card data, household panel data, and customer…