Category Insights Analyst

OVERVIEW

Perfetti Van Melle (makers of Mentos, Airheads, Dentyne, Trident and Bubblicious!) is one of the world's largest manufacturers and distributors of confectionery and chewing gum with global brands that are being enjoyed in more than 150 countries worldwide. We're currently seeking an enthusiastic Category Insights Analyst to join our growing team.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

The Category Insights Analyst serves as a strategic analytics partner to Sales and Commercial teams, delivering data-driven insights that unlock category growth opportunities and strengthen customer partnerships. This role transforms complex retail and shopper data into compelling selling stories, actionable insights, and category strategies that position the company as a trusted advisor to retail customers. The role also plays a critical part in shaping assortment and merchandising strategies, developing data-driven recommendations on product mix, shelf placement, and planogram optimization to help retailers maximize category performance and shopper engagement. By leveraging syndicated data, shopper loyalty insights, and category trends, the analyst identifies growth drivers, uncovers whitespace opportunities, and develops recommendations that drive mutual value for both customers and the organization.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Category Insights
• Translate complex datasets into clear, fact-based category insights and customer selling stories used in account reviews, customer calls, and sales meetings.
• Analyze category, segment, brand, and item performance to identify growth drivers, root causes of performance shifts, and emerging trends.
• Deliver actionable recommendations that support category expansion, innovation launches, and portfolio optimization.
Customer & Sales Partnership
• Serve as a strategic thought partner to the Sales organization, collaborating closely to support customer strategies and business objectives.
• Prepare insights, presentations, and analytics for customer meetings and joint business planning sessions.
• Present insights with confidence in both internal and customer-facing settings to position the company as a value-added category advisor.

Assortment & Merchandising Optimization
• Conduct comprehensive category reviews and planogram evaluations to identify assortment opportunities, distribution gaps, and merchandising improvements that support category growth.
• Develop data-driven assortment and shelving recommendations that optimize product mix, improve shopper navigation, and increase category productivity.
• Provide customer-specific planogram and assortment recommendations grounded in category performance data, shopper insights, and best-in-class merchandising principles.
• Partner with Sales to present and support these recommendations in customer meetings, helping retailers maximize category performance, shopper satisfaction, and overall sales growth.
• Validate proposed changes through analytics and category management best practices to ensure recommendations deliver measurable results for both the retailer and the organization.
Data & Analytics Leadership
• Leverage multiple data sources including syndicated retail data, shopper loyalty data, and internal sales reporting to develop holistic category insights.
• Conduct deep-dive analyses to identify sales voids, distribution gaps, assortment opportunities, and category growth strategies.
• Track and analyze new product distribution and performance to support innovation strategy and sales planning.
Market Intelligence & Reporting
• Monitor and communicate in-market performance trends, competitive dynamics, and shopper insights across the organization.
• Develop and deliver monthly and quarterly performance reporting tied to key business objectives.
• Inform cross-functional teams on category performance, trends, and emerging opportunities.
Process Improvement & Capability Development
• Continuously improve reporting, analytical tools, and workflows to increase efficiency and insight generation.
• Stay current on evolving analytics tools, data platforms, and industry best practices through training, webinars, and professional development.
• Build scalable reporting and insight frameworks that enable faster, more effective decision-making.

WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Analytics, or related field
• 2-4 years of experience in Category Management, Sales Analytics, or Consumer Insights
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate data into business insights and recommendations
• Proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint
• Experience working with syndicated retail data platforms (e.g., Circana/Nielsen) preferred
• Strong communication and presentation skills with the ability to influence stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships and collaborate across cross-functional teams
• Solid understanding of retail dynamics, category management principles, and business drivers

WHAT WE OFFER

At Perfetti Van Melle, we are committed to fostering a welcoming workplace, where all individuals, regardless of background or identity, are valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives to the sweet success of our candy-loving community. Additionally, we have a core value of Care For Our People and we are proud to offer benefit programs that support our team members' goals and well-being including:

• PTO package including vacation, wellness, personal, and pay it forward time off
• 13 paid holidays
• 401k with Company Match up to 8%, ranking in the top 1% of the country
• Annual Bonus potential and merit-based increases
• Comprehensive Health Insurance
• Annual well-being subsidy
• 20 weeks Maternity & 12 weeks Paternity leave options
• Sam's Club or Costco annual membership reimbursement
• Tuition-Free College Program or Free Continued Education (BA, Masters, etc.)
• Modest monthly candy allotment (Airheads, Airheads Xtremes, and Mentos)

Perfetti Van Melle, USA is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other applicable statutorily protected group status under local, state, or federal law.


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