Category Development Manager

Kruger, Inc.

$95K — $105K *
Retail & Consumer Goods
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Post-secondary degree in Business, Marketing, or related field.
  • 5+ years of experience in Category Management or Consumer Packaged Goods.
  • Strong proficiency in syndicated and shopper data sources.
  • Excellent interpersonal and presentation skills.
  • Exceptional organization and project management capabilities.
  • Experience with third-party loyalty data like LDIA and dunnhumby.
  • Proficient in Microsoft applications (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, Power BI).

Responsibilities

  • Lead Category Management initiatives with Sales and key customers.
  • Analyze market trends and translate them into actionable strategies.
  • Serve as a subject matter expert on data sources and tools for insights.
  • Evaluate innovations and develop selling stories for new product listings.
  • Deliver category reviews and performance tracking to identify growth opportunities.
  • Champion best practices in Category Management with customer partners.
  • Support cross-functional projects with analytical expertise and presentations.

Benefits

  • Recognition as a Greater Toronto Top Employer since 2013.
  • Honored as one of Deloitte's Best Managed Companies since 2018.
  • Named among Forbes Best Employers in Canada.
  • Focus on competitive compensation practices and career advancement opportunities.
  • Encouragement for innovative ideas that contribute to company success.
Full Job Description
What you will do

The Category Development Manager will partner with Sales to grow Kruger Products' categories across assigned customer partners by identifying business-building opportunities, delivering data-driven insights, and recommending strategic category initiatives. The role supports customer growth through strong Category Management expertise, analytics, and cross-functional collaboration, while reinforcing Kruger Products' leadership in Category Management best practices.

In this role, you can expect to:
• Lead Category Management initiatives across assigned customer partners, partnering closely with Sales and the Director, Category Development to drive growth and align with customer strategies and priorities.
• Analyze and synthesize industry, shopper, and market trends, translating insights into actionable recommendations across assortment, merchandising, promotion, and pricing.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on internal and external data sources and tools (e.g., NIQ Discover, MarketTrack, Homescan, Spaceman, Numerator, loyalty platforms), providing insights, reporting, and training to support decision-making across Sales and Marketing.
• Evaluate marketplace innovation and develop compelling selling stories to support new product listings and strengthen category positioning with customers.
• Proactively develop and deliver category reviews, reports, and ongoing performance tracking to identify risks and opportunities and recommend strategies to address them.
• Champion Category Management best practices and contribute ideas that enhance Kruger Products' category leadership with customer partners.
• Provide analytical support and Category Management expertise on project-based requests, and represent the function in cross-functional collaboration, including customer meetings and presentations.

What you will bring
• Post-secondary degree from a recognized university, with a specialization in Business, Marketing, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of progressive experience in Category Management and/or Consumer Packaged Goods, with strong proficiency in syndicated and shopper data sources.
• Strong interpersonal, written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Strong organizational, prioritization, and project management skills.
• Keen attention to detail and the ability to manage deadlines independently with minimal supervision.
• Experience working with and interpreting third-party loyalty data, such as LDIA, Circana, and dunnhumby.
• Thorough knowledge of NIQ Discover, MarketTrack, Homescan, Cross Outlet Facts/Shopper Tracking, Category Shopping Fundamentals, Numerator, and Spaceman.
• Proficiency in Microsoft applications, including Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, Power BI, and Copilot.

At Kruger Products, we see greatness in everyone and what they bring to the organization. We monitor the market to ensure our total compensation practices are competitive. The starting range for this role $95,000 to $105,000 - or higher, depending on your experience. Our pay philosophy is to attract the best talent at the best pay while offering real opportunities for career advancement. Performance and ideas that make us better are recognized.

Our mission is to make everyday life more comfortable. Together we bring this mission to life. As an ever-evolving business, there are always exciting new challenges, diverse career paths, and opportunities to innovate. Be part of a recognized employer - Greater Toronto Top Employer since 2013, Deloitte's Best Managed Companies since 2018, and Forbes Best Employers in Canada.

Join Kruger Products and Expect to do Something Great.

We thank all applicants for their interest in Kruger Products; only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

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