Category Analyst II - Kroger

What We Do 

At C.A. Fortune, we aspire to maintain our position as the nation’s leading consumer brands agency. We realize how fortunate we are (pun intended) to offer comprehensive solutions to our clients. From sales management to marketing, all the way down to insights and e-commerce, our boutique service model offers a breadth of services to our clients. 

Who We Are 

People. Passion. Purpose. Our people are the core of our business. Our unique boutique service model allows our people to follow their passions with a purpose, all while delivering excellent services to our clients. We are committed to living out our values. We are fearless and curious innovators who lead with solutions, empower others, and do the right thing, always. We are a family-first organization and recognize the importance of a healthy and flexible work-life balance, a positive support system, and the power of diversity and inclusion. 

Overview of the Role 

• The Category Analyst II will champion the development and maintenance of the go-to-market analytics designed to support, track, and grow core and new product initiatives for all Kroger divisions. They will act as a leader by providing the analytics and insights needed to optimize pricing, promotion, distribution, displays and shelf placement, and lead business update/review analyses. The position will develop and maintain value-added and actionable category management tools, incorporating customer learning and strategic brand insights that will guide sales and business managers to achieve volume and distribution objectives. This position will perform as if they are an internal consultant and trusted advisor to the business manager as their client.  
• Location: Fully remote but ideally local to Cincinnati, OH
• Salary range $60,000 - $65,000 based on experience, qualifications and skills.
• 5-10% travel requirements to aid in client presentations and team meetings
• At C.A. we’re not looking for perfection, just people that want to commit to a us and grow their careers long-term. We are on a mission to build better brands that inspire healthier lifestyles for consumers and their families. If you’re looking for a sign to apply, here it is! 

What You’ll Do at C.A. Fortune 

• Develop fact-based category reviews, business updates/reviews and selling stories 
  • Present business updates/reviews to client, clearly articulating trends and recommendations to optimize strategic planning and selling efforts  
  • Develop and deliver account presentations relative to new items, share of shelf, and/or efficient assortment 
• Create, maintain and perfect analytical tools, reporting and resources leveraged against the client 
• Improve methodology related to reporting, analysis, identifying distribution voids and quantifying opportunity gaps  
• Analyze shopper and consumer information and develop recommended actions based on insights 
• Track, monitor and provide actionable feedback on distribution & sales trends 
• Utilize Kroger systems (POS & shopper behavior), syndicated data, and consumer research to develop fact-based analysis and business reviews 
• Conduct promotional planning support via in-depth retailer specific analysis 
• Work with the Business Managers to manage the distribution priorities throughout Kroger and determine key opportunities 
• Evaluate effectiveness of programs and communicate strategy and best practices internally and externally 

What You Should Bring to the Table 

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, or Psychology plus 1+ years CPG industry sales or retailer-facing category management experience 
• Working knowledge of Kroger systems (Market 6/OnDemand & 84.51 Stratum); pulling and manipulating the datasets 
• Experience in selling story development, category reviews & knowledge of category management principles  
• Advanced analytical, Excel & PowerPoint skills  
• Have curiosity, have a detective-like mentality to find the root cause of a problem 

You Will Stand Out if  You Have

• CPG industry sales organization experience, in a sales/analytical capacity in Natural/Specialty food and/or beverage
• Experience in category management 
• Working knowledge of syndicated data (via SPINs (Satori), Nielsen, or IRI) 
• Working knowledge of Panel data and primary use cases. 
• Experience working with Kroger (exposure and can communicate in Kroger language – time frames, acronyms, etc.) 
• Advanced communications skills, ability to clearly articulate complex concepts in a concise manner  
• A demonstrated competency in multi-tasking and problem-solving with focus on meeting deadlines  
• Critical thinker & process-oriented: can turn self-developed strategies/efficient processes into execution  
• Demonstrated ability to achieve high performance goals and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment 

Perks 

• 16 days of PTO
• 11 paid company holidays per year 
• 2 paid volunteer days per year 
• 3 months fully paid parental leave (regardless of gender) 
• Medical, dental, and vision 
• Paid company life insurance 
• 401k with company match 
• Summer hours (half day Fridays from Memorial Day thru Labor Day) 
• Work from home flexibility 

Come As You Are 

C.A. is committed to making our company more inclusive. Diversity fuels our innovation and better connects us to our clients, our colleagues, and our communities. Based on research, we know that women and other marginalized groups tend to apply to roles only when their experience perfectly matches the job description. That said, we encourage you to apply if you meet the majority of qualifications, especially if this role aligns with your career trajectory.