ORGANISATION
Partner in Pet Food (PPF) is an innovative, leading European pet food producer, supplying over 470 customers, including major grocery retailers, supermarkets, specialized pet shops, and veterinarians in the 40 markets in which it operates. PPF is the second largest producer of Retailer Brand wet and dry pet food in Europe, offering a full range of high quality cat and dog food products including dry, cans, pouches, semi moist, snacks and cat milk. The share of PPF’s branded products, which include Bozita, Shelma and Reno, is also continuously increasing, with that trend expected to continue. Their private label products are sold out through the Netherlands, including all large retailers and discounters.
With a very high service level and quality/price ratio in every market amongst private label producers, they achieve the same KPI’s as the major global branded market leaders. And they aspire to become the undisputed number one. Innovation is key for the company. Their newest additions are influenced by trends in human food like, grain free products, more fresh and natural ingredients and focus on sustainability.
The company culture is characterized by flexibility, cost efficiency, quick problem solving and high performance. The company’s core values are: integrity, openness and honesty. At the Dutch office there are about 40 employees working to meet the high growing standards. At this moment we are looking for a:
HEAD OF CATEGORY MANAGEMENT
POSITION
PPF is changing from an internal product pushed organization to a more consumer and customer driven organization. PPF started the new vision end 2020 and in this role as Senior Category Manager your role is to further develop the team. As Senior Category Manager, amongst others you will help retailers to develop their category and enable the company to develop the right propositions (both A-brand as well private label). You will be the lead of the Trade Marketing team for West-Europe, with the focus on the Benelux, additionally on Germany, Scandinavia and France, starting with 1 direct report. Besides you will be the right hand of the General Manager in terms of e.g OGSM development. Commercially the Sr. Category Manager will be in the lead of key innovation projects and is the commercial link between Sales, Product Development and Trade Partners. Together with your team you will develop the 3-years category vision. Therefore analyzing sell-out (Nielsen) data and translating this into category insights and actions, and keeping track of the competitive landscape (new product introductions, competitor assortment mapping). You are in lead of data sources of West-Europe; negotiating Nielsen contracts and keeping track of new data opportunities. You will report to Eric Arnoldussen (General Manager), worked in the past at Upfield and Procter & Gamble.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Analytical and advisory role towards PPF’s trade partners and their assortment;
- Analytical preparation of customer meetings together with KAM’s;
- Translating growth opportunities for sales (new leads, new channels, NPD) and Product Development;
- Integrating knowledge and feedback from specialist towards sales/clients;
- Executing the business plan at clients (new and existing) and in new channels;
- Analyzing growth opportunities in the markets, reasons for wins/ losses (vs. competitors), progress of opportunities in relation to sales and NPD, top performing sales activities and competitive advantage of sales and products;
- Manage 1 direct report and possible further grow of your team.
PROFILE CANDIDATE
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
- University degree;
- Relevant experience within an FMCG environment;
- Working experience within Business Development and/or Trade Marketing;
- Fluent in Dutch and English.
RELEVANT COMPETENCES
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written;
- Analytical skills, love data;
- Innovative, pragmatic, accurate, critical, objective;
- Pro-active, open-minded and straight forward;
- Able to work under pressure, with an analytical and problem solving approach to the upcoming issues.
