Category Development Manager

CHEERS! Founded in 1981, Deutsch Family Wine and Spirits markets quality wines produced by prestigious families from major wine regions of the world. With our headquarters in Stamford, CT, DFWS is the 4th largest wine company with one of the fastest growing spirits portfolios. With our family values and unique culture, DFWS was recognized as one of the Top Workplaces in the U.S. in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits is currently seeking a Category Development Manager who will support our business at Total Wine & More, working closely with their sales counterparts to deliver the annual account plan by developing powerful selling stories and tools that drive an increased DFWS share and category performance.

This role provides critical support to and influences the account management process. Through their vision, thought leadership, and analytical expertise, the Category Development Manager directly supports the Account Directors/RCMs and the Category Development Team in developing consumer and customer focused strategies, tactics, and category grounded solutions.

Responsibilities:

• Thought leadership, serving as first point of contact for all questions related to assigned accounts performance - requires regular communication and collaboration with VP of Strategic Accounts, Retail Chain Director, and Sr. Director of Customer Development.
• Develop powerful fact-based selling stories that drive DFWS share growth through portfolio expansion, increase share of retailer items/shelf and increase quality of brand programming in assigned accounts (features/displays).
• Leverage data from multiple sources to proactively identify risk, opportunity, and performance gaps that impact business performance.
• Synthesize insights into concise and impactful selling stories to influence decision making.
• Proactively monitor depletions, Circana and retailer scan performance to understand the implications to the annual account plan and retailer strategies. Synthesize observations into a selling story with actionable recommendations and quantified impact.
• Monitor competitive set and identify new threats or opportunities; identify key distribution, feature and display voids.
• Customize national sales stories and sell sheets to meet chain specific needs.
• Ability to conduct deep analytics beyond canned data tools and able to manipulate and integrate multiple data sources into presentations including Circana/Nielsen, ShopperSights/Spectra, panel, Numerator, customer card/POS data, custom research, etc.
• Develop and maintain best-in-class tools to fully leverage the potential of retailer data to drive results for DFWS brands.
• Work with the Account Director to build an annual account plan; including programming, innovation, distribution goals that achieve DFWS targets.
• Attend retailer account calls focused on annual planning, innovation and distribution pitches, and quarterly programming meetings.
• Drive alignment on execution of goals and programming regionally with Business Intelligence and Field Sales counterparts to ensure local execution of national chain programs.
• Develop reporting and selling tools to be used by distributor and field sales teams to aid in the execution, sell-in, and up-sell of programming.
• Help in the preparation of the annual retailer top-to-tops with targeted chain account.
• Develop relationships with distributor Category Management counterparts to gain greater share of mind to assist with execution of plan goals.

Qualifications:

• Self-motivated professional with 5-10 years' category management experience in CPG or syndicated research industry (Circana/ACN).
• Experience working with multiple retail environments is preferred.
• Experience in the beverage alcohol category is highly desirable.
• Experience calling on Total Wine & More.
• Expert Excel and PowerPoint Skills must be competent in managing and manipulating large, complex data sets.
• Experience in sales planning and forecasting.
• Experience with retailer data scan data (e.g. Walmart Retail Link, Kroger M6, Target Partners, etc).
• Strong understanding of chain selling and execution process.
• Natural curiosity leads to the development of insights and drives to turn insights into action.
• Demonstrated ability to transform data into insights communicated through compelling stories.
• Creative thinker with the ability to tell a story with data.
• Develop and manage scope, timeline, work plan and deliverables for projects; manage incoming project requests and maintain project queue.
• Ability to multi-task and work in fast-paced, high demand environment.
• Self-motivated and highly detailed oriented.
• Strong negotiating and sales skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively interface and influence at all levels within the Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits organization, accounts and distributor network.
• Strong presentation skills.
• Bachelor's Degree
• Willingness to travel 25% of the time.
• Location flexible.

What We Offer:

• Competitive compensation
• Career development opportunities
• Medical, dental, vision and life insurance, PTO
• 401 (k) match
• Product allowance to enjoy on DFWS products
• Tuition Reimbursement and a Post Secondary education scholarship program for employees' children
• Gym reimbursement
• Employee Assistance Program

We Value Diversity

At DFWS, we believe that our differences are our strengths. We embrace and celebrate the diversity of our team members, our customers, and our communities. We strive to create a work environment that fosters inclusion, respect, and collaboration. We are constantly learning and growing from our diverse perspectives and experiences. Inclusion and diversity are not just goals for us, but the core of all we do. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates as we foster a culture of inclusion that provides fair and equal opportunities for all.

About Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits

Initially called W.J. Deutsch & Sons Ltd., the company was founded in 1981 by Chairman Bill Deutsch to market quality wines produced by prestigious families from major wine regions of the world. In 2009, it announced the expansion of the award-winning company to include a Spirits Portfolio. Today the company is renowned for its brand-building prowess and its ability to meet the needs of the modern consumer. Bill's son Peter Deutsch is CEO; thus two generations of the Deutsch family work side by side in their continuous quest to build strong brands and relationships throughout the wine and spirits industry.

The portfolio includes award-winning wines from Australia: [ yellow tail ], [ yellow tail ] Pure Bright; California: Force & Grace, Honest Thief, Josh Cellars, Josh Cellars Reserve, The Calling; France: Beau Joie, Cave de Lugny, Fleurs de Prairie, Hob Nob Vineyards, Sauvion et Fils; Italy: Barone Fini, Villa Pozzi; New Zealand: The Crossings; Portugal: Quinta Do Vale Meao; Argentina: Clos de los Siete; and award-winning spirits: Redemption Whiskey, Bib & Tucker Bourbon, Masterson's Rye, Gray Whale Gin, Luksusowa Vodka and Cantera Negra Tequila.

Learn more about Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits at www.deutschfamily.com

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