interim insight and category manager

I am a highly skilled and experienced in analysis, category understanding and management, consumer and shopper research, insight and strategic thinking, helping businesses get understanding of the categories that they operate, allowing them to develop their relationships with their consumers and retailer customers and grow the business With almost 30 years of experience within the FMCG industry I have a proven track record for not only delivering but exceeding targets by influencing, having a can-do attitude and by inspiring others.

• To help the business to gain a competitive advantage and improve market share (return on investment) via provision of channel, customer, consumer and shopper insights and supporting key business opportunities to ensure a clear Brand and category strategy. • Assess and develop the overall research & insight capability to become Best in class; Deliver all consumer, shopper and category research to plan including all aspects of NPD research (concept development, packaging, messaging, product development etc.) Shopper and retailer specific Category projects; annual data and research budget C£320k.• Consumer & shopper champion; Integral part of the brand and category teams delivering consumer led growth priorities, whilst ensuring strong category rational to deliver growth for both brand and category – Develop trend presentations to ensure Brand/Category teams are aware of the relevant demographic, socio economic, food and eating trends and what they mean to the business shaping brand and category activity including NPD (new product development) effective marketing communications, category influences.• Identifying & clearly defining business issues/opportunities & clearly presenting them internally & externally• Answering questions like: How will the world change in the future? What does this mean for us? Who is the target consumer for this product? How do we best reach them? What are they willing to pay for it? What would this new product mean to the business in terms of volume and profit? How can we create exciting in-store & on-line shopper experiences? And…What’s next? • Managing all data requirements e.g. IRI, Kantar, HIM, Customer data etc. negotiating contracts and managing the ongoing delivery of services and data budgets • Created and delivered best in class category and brand reporting scorecards which are being adopted across sister companies within Samworth• Mentoring and coaching colleagues across the local Samworth bakeries and laboratories