Category Insights Analyst - Kroger

Critical Mass Group works with some of the most innovative, exciting brands in the food and beverage space. Our extensive expertise, strategic relationships and relentless execution in sales and distribution provides our unique brands the foundation and pathway for sustainable growth. Our team of experts build outstanding brands.

Job Summary:

The Category Insights Analyst is responsible for researching, analyzing, and communicating performance summaries that support strategic decision-making and drive sales growth. In this role, you will analyze and synthesize data from multiple sources to uncover actionable insights that fuel strategic selling initiatives and enhance growth for both our clients and Kroger. You will work collaboratively with internal teams and external partners to ensure data integrity, track performance, and develop compelling, insight-driven stories that elevate category performance across the omnichannel landscape.

Responsibilities and Duties:

General

• Provide analysis and interpretation of internal/external market data, highlighting any underlying trends to identify new market opportunities and recommend strategies to increase the organization's profitability.
• Work with the management team to understand business and functional requirements, implement solutions to support their analytical and reporting needs, and assist them in identifying patterns and anomalies.
• Optimize sales and operational efficiency through innovative thinking, process improvement, data manipulation, system enhancement and best practices.
• Prepare, develop and deliver daily/weekly/monthly metrics and analytical reports that give the internal team and brand partners timely, flexible and structured access to their business information.
• Track new products, promotions, and special products, and report clients and distributors spending.
• Prepare presentations for department and executive management.
• Maintain weekly scorecards and manage distribution of weekly reporting to key stakeholders.
• Prepares feature submission materials in a timely and extremely accurate, manner for all assigned categories, meet established submission deadlines.
• Utilizes account review system to develop specific reporting capabilities inclusive of volume and tracking reports, as necessary.
• Creates and/or finalize monthly retail sales slides for assigned categories.
  
  

Systems – Data/Analytics

• Extract and aggregate data and perform detailed analysis and research
• Develop and maintain sales analytics reports and dashboards that provide actionable insights to support data-driven decision making for sales and management team.
• Build reports and dashboards (Excel, Repsly, CMG Brand Portal, etc.)
• Generates reports out of specialized system/software for the sales team and field sales representatives.
• Maintain weekly, monthly and annual reporting to include but not limited to Dashboard reports, costing reports, store listing, etc. and as post as required.
  
  

Brand Management/Relations

• Ability to understand, create and deliver high-quality audience-appropriate communication with Company brand partners.
• Contribute to overall team effort by accomplishing related sales and operational duties as needed (Ad hoc sales reporting and administrative paperwork as needed).
• Ensure all processes are workable, scalable and profitable for the Company.
• Build and maintain relationships with the internal sales team.
• Work with the sales team and cross functional team members to gather quantitative information, share findings and fill potential gaps or opportunities.
• Engage and work with aligned operations and sales teams (and other lines of business) to more effectively achieve data needs, analysis and results
• Report back progress, successes and challenges to management in timely manner.
  
  

Miscellaneous

• Demonstrate a passion for all of the Company's products.
• Embrace our brand image and model the Company's cultures, values, and behavior – always represents the Company in a positive and energetic manner!
  
  

Qualifications, Skills, and Education:

• This position should be passionate about food and beverages. He or she considers themselves an independent thinker and doer, and some who loves to introduce friends to new things they've discovered, especially food and beverages.
• Bachelor's degree in a technical or business-oriented field.
• 2-5 years CPG analytics experience across sales, category management and/or retail.
• Experience working with Kroger or similar retail accounts is a plus.
• Proven experience in developing, building and delivering quantitative metrics in a business context.
• Strong experience in collecting and evaluating sales information and using that information to maximize sales productivity.
• Experience designing, developing and scripting reports and dashboards.
• Working knowledge of financials used in the sales process such as costing, margin, profitability, promotional spending, and allowances.
• Strong planning and organizational skills along with excellent interpersonal, written/oral communication, and presentation skills.
• Full competence with Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, and Word). Proficient in Syndicated Data Tools including, but not limited to SPINs, IRI, Nielsen, 84.51 data, Stratum, Loyalty Card Data, etc.
• Demonstrated ability to excel in a hands-on, fast paced entrepreneurial environment.
• Proven ability to work independently as well as collaboratively.