Job Overview
We are seeking a diligent and conscientious individual to join our team working for a successful company based south of Norwich. Your new role will play a vital part in our growth plans and will help ensure the continued success of the business.
This role combines category analysis, market insight and reporting with first-hand marketplace observation. The Category & Market Insight Executive is responsible for collecting, validating, organising and interpreting category, retailer and competitor information to support category reviews, innovation projects and commercial decision-making. Role involves spending time out in retail and foodservice environments, tracking and capturing competitor activity. A key responsibility is ensuring the accuracy, integrity and consistency of all data and insight outputs through robust validation and sanity-checking processes.
About the company
Lakeside Food Group was established in 1989 and is situated in the beautiful grounds of Ketteringham Hall. We are a significant player in the food distribution market with a reputation for quality, innovation and integrity with a strong team based and working across the UK, EU and Asia.
Lakeside is passionate about what it does and appreciates the value of a happy and motivated workforce. We are looking for those who can align with:
· Being customer focused
· Being committed to Quality
· Being driven and innovative
· Being environmentally responsible
· Being empowered
· Being ethical and transparent
If you are interested in working for a company committed to a culture of professionalism, growth, integrity, positivity and innovation, we would love to hear from you.
We offer successful candidates a supportive working environment, hybrid working at least 2 days in the office per week, free parking onsite, competitive salary and bonuses (depending on the success of the company).
Due to the nature of our business and the importance of team work, you must be able to travel to the office as this is not a fully remote role.
Key Duties:
Market Intelligence & Competitor Analysis
- Conduct regular retail and foodservice store visits to assess ranging, pricing, promotions, packaging and new product launches.
- Monitor competitor activity and benchmark products.
- Capture photography and marketplace information for category reviews, data collection and presentations.
- Maintain competitor and category trackers and databases.
- Identify emerging category and market trends.
Category Analysis & Commercial Opportunity Analysis
- Identify gaps in Lakeside's product range against what competitors and the wider market are stocking, retailer by retailer.
- Build the commercial case behind each gap identified — e.g. quantifying the scale of opportunity where a retailer is missing products that are otherwise widely stocked — to support range and listing recommendations.
- Support product benchmarking, comparisons and structured gap analysis against competitor and own-label products.
Reporting & Presentation Development
- Collect, organise and analyse market, retailer and competitor information; perform data entry into category and competitor databases.
- Produce category reports, market reviews and insight summaries, and maintain reporting templates and category records.
- Build and format presentations for both internal stakeholders and retailer/customer audiences, ensuring they are accurate, professional and delivered to agreed deadlines.
- Support the creation of customer-ready documentation for category reviews, benchmarking reports and innovation projects.
Product Development & Benchmarking Support
- Organise and support benchmark cook-ups and tasting sessions, working closely with the kitchen/sampling team.
- Capture, collate and summarise product feedback from cooking and tasting sessions.
- Support sample dispatch preparation (labelling and packing at peak times) and maintain the cooking instruction log and freezer sample stock log.
AI, Systems & Continuous Improvement
- Utilise AI tools to support data collection, insight generation and reporting.
- Ensure all category, retailer and competitor data is accurately captured, maintained and validated.
- Perform regular data validation, reconciliation, and sanity checks to identify anomalies and errors.
- Review AI-generated outputs for accuracy and relevance.
Supporting the NPD Category Lead
- Work closely with the NPD Category Lead to support delivery of category plans and innovation projects.
- Assist with customer meetings, supplier visits and presentations. (Occasional travel and staying away)
- Provide administrative and organisational support across assigned categories, including ad hoc duties such as artwork proofing and raising purchase orders.
- Adhere to company hybrid working policy.
Experience: We are looking for someone who has experience in an administration role, ideally in the food industry. Candidates who are highly organised, have general experience working in a fast-paced environment can also be considered.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, PowerPoint and Word (essential).
- Experience within category, insight, commercial, retail, FMCG or food manufacturing environments preferred, or a demonstrable interest in the FMCG industry and market trends.
- Experience analysing data and producing reports and presentations.
- Experience using AI tools to support research, data analysis, insight generation, reporting and presentation development is desirable.
Person Specification:
- Strong analytical and commercial mindset, with the ability to interpret data, identify anomalies, validate findings and translate insights into clear, actionable recommendations.
- Excellent attention to detail, organisational and administrative skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
- Strong verbal, written and presentation skills, with the confidence to communicate insights and recommendations to a range of stakeholders.
- Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external contacts.
- Adaptable, self-motivated and resilient, with the ability to remain calm and effective in a fast-paced environment.
- Flexible and open to change, with a proactive approach to continuous improvement.
Please send your CV to the HR Manager via email to [email protected]
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £30,000.00-£35,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company pension
- Free parking
- On-site parking
- Work from home
Work Location: In person
