Category & Insights Analyst – Food CPG
📍 Chicago, IL (Downtown) | Full-time, Onsite (5 days/week)
🚫 No relocation assistance offered
We’re partnering with a private equity-backed food company with a portfolio of well-known brands to hire a Category & Insights Analyst. This is a unique opportunity to join a high-growth, build-mode organization where you’ll play a key role in shaping category strategy and supporting major retail relationships.
If you love working with data, building compelling selling stories, and influencing both internal teams and retail partners - this is a strong career-building role.
🌟 Why This Role Stands Out
- Join a fast-growing, entrepreneurial CPG business
- Work on iconic brands with strong retail presence
- High visibility with both sales teams and retail customers
- Opportunity to influence category strategy, assortment, and merchandising
- Broad exposure across insights, analytics, and customer-facing work
📊 What You’ll Own
Category Insights & Analytics
- Analyze syndicated data (Nielsen/IRI/SPINS), POS, and panel data to identify trends and opportunities
- Deliver ongoing consumption reporting and KPI tracking
- Translate complex data into clear, actionable insights
Customer & Sales Support
- Build fact-based selling stories for retail partners
- Support sales presentations, including innovation sell-in and assortment recommendations
- Provide retailer-specific insights to improve performance and drive growth
Category Strategy & Merchandising
- Develop recommendations on assortment, pricing, and merchandising strategies
- Support planogram (POG) development and optimization
- Leverage category expertise to influence retail decisions
Research & Trend Identification
- Identify opportunities for additional research to deepen consumer and category understanding
- Stay on top of emerging trends in food and CPG
✅ What We’re Looking For
- 2+ years of experience in Category Management, Insights, Market Research, Sales, or Marketing (CPG preferred)
- Strong experience with syndicated data (Nielsen, IRI, SPINS)
- Advanced skills in Excel and PowerPoint
- Strong analytical mindset with the ability to turn data into insights and recommendations
- Excellent communication skills and ability to influence stakeholders
🎓 Bachelor’s degree required
🎯 Ideal Profile
You are:
- Highly analytical and detail-oriented
- A proactive self-starter who thrives in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment
- Comfortable working cross-functionally and supporting sales teams
- Passionate about food, consumer behavior, and retail trends
