Marketing Category Manager Fruit

BE - Ardooie HQ
Sales
Permanent contract

Ardo supplies its continuously growing markets around the world with high quality frozen vegetables, herbs, and fruit with 4000 employees and 17 production sites in 8 countries. The family business sells in more than 100 countries and has a turnover of more than 1.4 billion euros. Ardo's mission is to preserve the gift of nature as pure as possible. Ardo achieves this goal thanks to an integrated network of growing areas, production units, freezing units, packaging equipment, appropriate logistics and thorough quality control. The group's know-how and flexible structure ensure that it can respond quickly to new trends and that innovative products can be brought onto the market quickly. More info on www.ardo.com.

Your Scope

The Group Marketing Category Manager Fruit leads the fruit market intelligence and cascades insights & knowledge to key stakeholders (New Product Development/Group Marketing/Sales). Defines the Fruit product category hierarchy and applies to business plans to drive growth & profitability, both internally & externally. In this role, you work closely with our Fruit Business Unit / Group Segment Director Retail / Local Market Sales Teams to deliver segment objectives and Must Win Battle results according to strategic aspirations. The work locations that are in scope for this role are Belgium HQ or the UK. The focus of the role will be: 

  • Manage data/insights analysis to define the market and consumer trends (mainly retail) and identify synergies with food service where applicable/cross-over.
  • Manage Retail Cross Market Marketing Intelligence Tracking (Summer / Winter range reviews, new introductions, Retail Sales Prices tracking, etc.).
  • Create short/mid/long-term business strategies for markets, customers, and products with a focus on the increase of category profitability.
  • Deliver specific customer business plans to drive category performance within the Strategic and Premium Retail customers (in collaboration with Veg category management).
  • Manage & communicate internally, all new market product launches, supporting the Innovation team in re-applying proven ideas/concepts with a short go-to-market development cycle.
  • Manage Market food & flavor trend timetable defining key Innovation opportunities to bring in the outside perspective as input for our innovation funnel.
  • Develop exit strategies for non-successful products with customers to increase shelf space profitability on the customer side.
  • Provide strategic sector recommendations and business plans through the tracking & analysis of market trends, market data/competitor activity, identifying opportunities & defining the size of the prize.
  • Create and deliver viable new product propositions through close working with Innovation/Sales. 
  • Monitor Internal Sales performance and flag decreasing trends, recommendations & opportunities.
  • Provide strategic sector recommendations and business plans through the tracking & analysis of market trends, market data/competitor activity, identifying opportunities & defining the size of the prize.

Your profile

  • You have a master’s degree in business economics or similar. 
  • You have a proven experience as a Category Manager, Product Manager, or Product Project Manager which gave you a solid knowledge of category management, sales & marketing principles, and market data analysis. 
  • As a true entrepreneur, you see opportunities and formulate concrete actions to optimize processes and the business.
  • You are analytical, critical and a great problem solver, you tackle complex matters efficiently and thoughtfully.
  • Thanks to your curiosity, you are on top of all new trends and market information in the retail business. 
  • Persuasiveness is one of your strengths: you know how to communicate points of view and ideas clearly and confidently.
  • You can express yourself fluently in English. Any additional language skill is a plus (Dutch, French, German...).

We offer

We offer you the opportunity to be part of an authentic and sustainable international company, with real growth opportunities and the freedom to actively participate in shaping the business and the opportunity to develop professionally. You will receive a full remuneration package in line with the level of this position. We care for our people and create family-friendly surroundings by offering you the flexibility to work 2 days/week from home.

Sandra Rotsaert

Your contact person

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Why work for Ardo?

Global Impact, Local Touch

With 17 units across 8 countries, a turnover of 1.4 billion, and products exported to over 100 countries, your work at Ardo impacts people worldwide. Be a part of an international team that retains a close-knit, local feel.

Career Growth in a Thriving Industry

In our team of around 4000 employees, every individual matters. We offer various opportunities for career growth and skill enhancement in a robust and thriving industry, ensuring you evolve as we grow.

Diverse and Inclusive

Embrace the opportunity to work with diverse teams from around the globe. At Ardo, we celebrate different cultures, ideas, and innovations brought in by our international family of employees.