Category Insights Analyst (Hybrid)

Overview

Topco Associates is currently seeking a Category Insights Analyst for the Insights team in Itasca, IL. This position will be a hybrid role, with the successful candidate conducting work in our Itasca office three times per week and virtual twice per week.

Topco's mission is to provide solutions for our member owners, regional retailers, and wholesalers, and help them achieve a competitive advantage in the markets they serve. We aspire to develop high-performing teams to resemble the diversity of our members' shopper communities to drive greater innovation and creativity that ultimately enhances our business results, and the value Topco provides to its membership.

One of Topco’s three core strategies is “Knowledge Management”. Recently, this strategy has taken on a much more important role, and additional focus is required at the business unit level. In this role, the Category Insights Analyst will serve as analytic and category management advisor using the category management process as a decision platform for all initiatives designed to optimize category strategy, assortment, distribution merchandising, pricing and promotional mix for Topco. The Category Insights Analyst will provide data-driven customer-focused insights to help meet and exceed volume and market share objectives.

Responsibilities

• Support efforts in delivery of data-driven customer centric category business plans and insights to support category strategy within center store business units.
• Utilize syndicated, market, and internal data sources to derive insight, synthesize, and make actionable recommendations to business unit category teams.
• Assist in new item launches from ideation through launch, provide relevant insights for the initial launch of the product(s) as well as track, measure and communicate the progress of these new products.
• Provide ongoing tracking and support for business unit category team performance and opportunities using established (sales, contribution margin, fill rate, flow rate, etc) and newly developed KPIs.
• Support ad hoc business questions and analysis to identify opportunities to drive business strategy and performance.
• Coordinate, execute, analyze, and present findings from research related to category and item-level studies, that drives incremental value for Topco and its Members.
• Concisely deliver key findings and research details to non-technical audiences focusing on the business implications in written and verbal format.
• Perform research to identify best-in-class retailer/Member strategies and tactics and identify key industry trends or best practices.
• All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree

Technical skills:

• Experience working with Circana/Nielsen, Numerator, 84.51, SPINS, Circana/Nielsen, Mintel, SymphonyAI & other syndicated, retailer and insights platforms.
• Experience with the Microsoft Office Suite, specifically seeking expertise in Excel allowing for creation of spreadsheets and pivot tables summarizing complex, large data sets.
• Experience with team collaboration tools such as Teams & Zoom preferred.
• Experience working with SQL & Tableau is a big plus.
• Ability to create PowerPoint presentations that turn numerical data into a easily digestible graphical story.
• Experience performing business analysis and reporting data in order to identify issues, trends, or exceptions to drive business performance.
• Experience using time management skills to prioritize deliverables and project components to meet deadlines of multiple projects.

Previous Experience:

• 2 years of experience as an Analyst and/or 1 year of experience in retail/CPG promotions, marketing, retail analytics, insights, consumer research and/or business analysis.

 Other qualifications:

• Detail oriented.
• Superior communication skills.
• Problem-solver who can think analytically to solve unique business challenges.

Topco strives for a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace that reflects our member shopper’s communities. If your experience similarly reflects what you see listed in the job description, please consider applying, as individuals come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and excellence; therefore, we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply to our positions.

Topco is an equal employment opportunity employer, dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in employment on any basis, including age, sex, color, race, creed, national origin, ancestry, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, political belief, veteran's status, or disability that does not prohibit performance of essential job functions. Please let us know if you require accommodations during the interview process.