Founded in Parma in 1877, Barilla is now a global company present in more than 100 countries worldwide. Recognized as a symbol of Italian know-how, “The Joy of Food for a Better Life” is Barilla’s purpose to bring people closer to the joy of good food and making quality the choice for a better life. It's a commitment from field to fork, to bring to the world tasty, joyful and wholesome products, made with selected raw materials from responsible supply chains. Because what we eat today can change our tomorrow. Because good food is a joy for the present and a choice for a better future.
Job Purpose:
Grow Barilla’s shares leading the Category Development Team in Canada by leveraging category information (e.g. Nielsen) to position Barilla for sustainable, long-term growth. Key resource and support person for Canada Sales Team in areas of category leadership, data analysis, reporting and delivery.
Key Accountabilities:
- Grow the Barilla business by leading with best-in-class category management practices that supports our growth plans
- Development of a Category Management Platform that provides us a competitive advantage, yet simply to communicate and execute at all levels
- Prepare and distribute analyses and sales presentations to help drive Barilla’s expansion at key and emerging customers
- Train and guide Account Teams to leverage category management as a tool to enhance Barilla’s position in the market
- Serve as primary data contact for initiatives that require cross functional coordination to address customer specific issues and opportunities
- Manage relationship with data providers by clearly articulating our business needs and challenges to ensure data objectives and deliverables align
- Work closely with sales and marketing teams to better understand business issues/programs and provide actionable data solutions
- Go-to-shelf strategy that maximizes our on-shelf presence and share growth
- Serve as key communication link for all category related information, updates and projects
- Recommend portfolio adjustments based on existing and/or changing needs, practical product shifts, white space growth opportunities, competitive erosion, and the most effective routes to maximized volume and profits
- Manage preparation, release, and monthly update of category plans, working closely with Marketing and Sales to ensure and maintain timely and accurate plan information
- Translate research project results and consumer insights into selling communications and recommendations
- Assist in new product launches by developing customer presentations and results tracking
- Other related duties as needed
Additional Informaiton:
- 4-year university degree required, MBA a plus
- Minimum 3-5 years’ Sales/Sales Planning/Category Management experience in the Canadian food industry
- Minimum 3-5 years’ Category Management leadership experience including Space Planning and IRI/Nielsen syndicated data
- Minimum 5 years’ internal/external Canadian food industry knowledge
- Proficient in MS Office software
- Detail-oriented and strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to juggle several projects, bringing each from idea generation to completion
- Understanding of marketing and financial objectives
- Ability to travel 20% throughout North America
- Fluency in French an asset
