Company Description

For more than 265 years, JACOBS DOUWE EGBERTS (JDE) is inspired by its belief that it’s amazing what can happen over a cup of coffee or tea. We are fuelled by our purpose of creating coffee to make amazing moments happen, to become the most chosen coffee in the UK.  Today, our coffee & tea portfolio is available in more than 100 developed and emerging markets, through a portfolio of over 50 brands that collectively cover the entire category landscape led by leading household names such as L’OR, Jacobs, Senseo, Tassimo, Douwe Egberts, Old Town, Super, Pickwick and Moccona.  

JDE is part of JDE Peet’s, the world’s largest pure-play coffee and tea company, headquartered in The Netherlands. 

What’s it like to work at JDE? 

We are proud of our passionate, driven associates that challenge the status quo and pursue mastery in everything they do. Our goal is simple and ambitious – JDE: A coffee & tea for every cup. 

Job Descr

Job Description

As a Category Development Specialist you will be part of the Category Development and Shopper Marketing team, which forms part of the wider Sales function. You will report to the Demand Accelerator Controller working cross functionally with other departments to deliver the Coffee Category goals.

You will be accountable for, analysis of shopper behaviour and opportunities, range reviews and developing and implementing customer specific category plans in co-operation with the customer, National Account Manager and Sales Controller.

You will deliver and implement the category ‘Big Rock’ JDE priorities including our ‘love’ and ‘launch’ NPD, ensuring they are “Ready to Sell”.

You will be responsible a number of our smaller ‘gold’ priority retail customers.

Key responsibilities of the role

Supported by the Category Development Grocery lead you will be responsible for:  

• External
• Develop a trusted relationship with your customers to ensure JDE is their supplier of choice, via regular in person contact.
• Present the Category Vision and align to your customers’ strategy to deliver long-term coffee category growth both for JDE and your customer, as identified in the Value Creation Plan and Brand Plans. Monitor the implementation and defined targets.
• Lead on going promotional analysis, identifying what to stop, start or continue in order to maximise promotional effectiveness for JDE and your customers – in collaboration with sales, category strategy / RGM and your buyer.
• Advise sales on the distribution and assortment strategy as well as developing customer specific planograms, if required.
• Range review support for some of your customers, not all will have the data to do full range reviews plus prioritization is required.
• On-going evaluation of range, space, sales driving activity and advising both the national account manager and the customer on how they can increase sales and profit. Regular performance reports with key insights / actions
• Deliver quarterly PQA’s (Product Quadrant Analysis) and collaboratively manage under-performing skus with the customer and internally
• Deliver the annual customer brand planning day – tailored for your customers.

• Internal (for your customers only)
• Own the customer range review calendar and ensure alignment with marketing and other key stakeholders on optimum launch dates and customer shelf requirements.
• Work with category strategy and brand teams to successfully implement NPD’s and re-launches, to ensure distribution, market share and profit.
• Feed into Perfect Store reporting for your customers – identifying areas to action.
• PQA quarterly – proactively manage risk skus internally
• Input to monthly commercial reviews for your customers - performance, risk and ops.
• Deliver / input the category elements of the annual customer business planning process.
• Collaborate with shopper on activation and evaluation

Qualifications

• This role would suit a graduate with a minimum of 2 years-experience predominately gained in Category Development, Buying or Account Management roles in FMCG:
• Deep knowledge of UK retail shoppers and customers
• Proven at working in x-functional teams, especially across sales and marketing
• Marketing literate, able to navigate strategic consumer and brand strategy and executional, commercial detail to develop an integrated strategy
• Has knowledge of several information system tools (Nielsen, IRI, Kantar, Dunnhumby etc)
• Excellent Excel and PowePoint skills
• Able to work closely with numbers and break down complexity to deliver clear messaging
• Self-Motivated – highly disciplined
• Influencing skills and the ability to manage and lead multiple stakeholders at all levels.
• Brilliant impact presenting to senior management & customers and also credible with Account Managers
• Be accountable and have a drive to deliver results
• Be degree educated (or equivalent)
• Be mobile and willing to travel as required for customer meetings
• Fluent English

Additional Information

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