Category Insights Manager

About Valeo Foods

Our mission, at Valeo Foods Ireland, is simple yet powerful: to make every day moments taste better. We believe that great food has the power to create memories, bring people together, and transform an ordinary day into something special. This philosophy drives everything we do, from sourcing the finest ingredients to perfecting every recipe and product. In today’s fast-paced world, what we eat matters more than ever.

The story of Valeo Foods Ireland is really a story about heritage.

In 2010, a defining moment occurred. Two successful Irish food businesses, Origin Foods and Batchelors, came together to form Valeo Foods. The ambition was simple but powerful: bring together some of Ireland's best-loved food brands and build a business capable of preserving their heritage while preparing them for the future.

Over the years that followed, the business grew. New brands joined the family. Historic names such as Jacob Fruitfield, Robert Roberts, and Kelkin became part of the Valeo story. Yet despite acquisitions, expansion and international growth, the Irish heart of the business remained unchanged.

What makes our story exciting is not the corporate milestones. It is the people.

The mill workers who have spent decades ensuring that every bag of flour meets the highest standards. The food technologists creating products for new generations. The sales teams serving communities north to south, east to west. The hundreds of employees whose work touches more than a million Irish homes every day. Their contribution is often unseen, yet it forms the foundation of countless family moments.

Today, the business stands as one of Ireland's most significant food companies, built upon generations of trust and quality. Its brands have survived economic change, evolving consumer habits and changing ownership structures because they occupy a special place in Irish homes.

And so the story of Valeo Foods Ireland is not really about food at all. It is about connection. It is about the small moments that become lasting memories.

The Role

This is a key role, reporting to the Head of Category Development and the candidate will play a significant role in growing the business.

This role is responsible for turning data, shopper insight and market intelligence into actionable category strategies that deliver growth for the category, Valeo Foods and its retail partners. Working closely with Customer and Category Teams and the Head of Category Development, the successful candidate will help shape category vision, develop retailer-specific growth strategies and drive best-in-class category execution.

The role combines strategic thinking, category expertise and analytical capability to ensure Valeo Foods remains the trusted category partner of choice with customers.

Key Responsibilities

Category Strategy & Development

• Support the development and execution of category growth strategies across Valeo Foods' priority categories.
• Identify category growth opportunities through analysis of shopper, consumer, customer and market data.
• Develop retailer-specific category strategies aligned to customer objectives and Valeo Foods' commercial ambitions.
• Contribute to the development of annual category plans with key customers.
• Lead category analysis inputs into the Annual Business Planning process.
• Support the Head of Category Development in creating long-term category growth visions and strategic recommendations.

Retailer Category Leadership

• Build strong working relationships with retailer category teams and become a trusted category advisor.
• Lead agreed category reviews, range reviews and category projects with customers.
• Develop compelling retailer presentations and category selling stories that influence customer decision-making.
• Support Joint Business Planning and annual customer planning processes through robust category recommendations.
• Work collaboratively with Customer Business Managers to identify opportunities to grow category performance and Valeo Foods market share.

Insights & Thought Leadership

• Analyse Nielsen, Kantar, EPOS and shopper data to identify category trends, opportunities and risks.
• Translate complex data into clear, commercially actionable recommendations.
• Deliver regular category performance reviews to internal and external stakeholders.
• Develop retailer-specific insight packs, strategic narratives and category growth stories.
• Monitor competitor activity, consumer behaviour and emerging market trends, providing strategic implications and recommendations to the commercial team.

Perfect Store & Category Execution

• Support the development and implementation of Valeo Foods' Perfect Store toolkits.
• Own the tracking and reporting of Perfect Store KPIs across all channels.
• Identify compliance gaps and recommend actions to improve category execution.
• Support development of channel-specific ranging, merchandising, promotional and display strategies.
• Track implementation and effectiveness of category initiatives, ensuring agreed actions are executed successfully.

Space, Assortment & Range Optimisation

• Develop data-led recommendations on assortment, shelving and macro space opportunities.
• Lead analytical support for category range reviews and shelf optimisation projects.
• Identify ranging gaps, distribution opportunities and category performance improvement initiatives.
• Work cross-functionally to ensure successful implementation of agreed category changes.
• Evaluate category performance following implementation and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.

Capability & Process Development

• Champion the use of data and insights across the commercial organisation.
• Identify opportunities to improve category reporting, tools, systems and processes.
• Share category best practice and support capability building across sales and marketing teams.
• Support the Head of Category Development in embedding a category-led culture throughout the business.

What We’re Looking For

• 5+ years' experience in Category Management, Shopper Insights or Commercial Analytics.
• Experience delivering category growth strategies with FMCG retailers.
• Strong understanding of FMCG market dynamics and category management principles.
• Demonstrated experience influencing customer decisions through data-led recommendations.
• Experience using Nielsen, Kantar, dunnhumby and Symphony EYC.
• Experience supporting range reviews, assortment optimisation and category planning.
• Knowledge of space planning and merchandising principles would be advantageous.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong commercial acumen.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to convert data into compelling stories and actionable recommendations.
• Strong presentation and communication skills.
• Outstanding stakeholder management and relationship-building capability.
• High level of organisation and project management.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Self-starter with a proactive approach to identifying opportunities and solving problems.

Why Join Valeo Foods?

• Be part of a market-leading company with a portfolio of iconic brands in Snacking, Health & Wellness, Baking, Beverages, and Meal Ingredients.
• Thrive in a culture that values excellence, integrity, and innovation, and where collaboration and accountability are key.
• Enjoy the opportunity to drive strategic change, influence key decision-making, and shape the future of our categories in Ireland
• Benefit from a dynamic, supportive environment that offers ample opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Next Steps

If you have a passion for category management and insights, and driving category growth, we would love to hear from you. Join us and help shape the future of consumer foods at Valeo Foods Ireland.

Reward & Benefits

• Competitive Base Salary
• Bonus Scheme
• Pension