Location: Maldon, Essex (Wycke Hill Business Park, shortly relocating to Oval Park CM9 6QD)
Hours: 37.5 hours per week | Monday–Friday | 9:00am–5:00pm
Salary: Competitive + excellent benefits package
Key Requirements
- Minimum 2–3 years’ experience in Category Management, Insights or Commercial Analysis within FMCG
- Strong experience using NielsenIQ, Kantar and retailer data platforms (e.g. Dunnhumby, Nectar360, Retail Link)
- Advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills; Power BI experience advantageous
- Strong understanding of UK Retail and HORECA/Foodservice channels
- Ability to turn complex data into clear, actionable commercial recommendations
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
- Highly organised, analytical and commercially minded
- Experience working with EPOS data and performance reporting
- Exposure to international markets and distributor models advantageous
About Maldon Salt
Maldon Salt is a fourth-generation family-owned business with a proud heritage dating back to 1882. Our iconic pyramid-shaped salt flakes are still crafted using the same traditional artisan methods in the coastal town of Maldon, Essex.
Today, Maldon Salt is recognised globally as one of the world’s finest sea salts and has proudly held the Royal Warrant as official purveyors of sea salt since 2012.
As a business, we are deeply committed to sustainability and corporate responsibility. We continue to invest in initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, improve packaging sustainability and support global conservation projects through our partnership with the World Land Trust.
About the Role
We are looking for a commercially driven and analytically minded Category Analyst to strengthen our UK and International Category & Insight capabilities across Retail, Wholesale/Cash & Carry, and HORECA channels.
This role will play a key part in driving category growth through robust data analysis, insight generation and compelling category storytelling that supports both customer and internal decision-making.
You will work across:
- UK Retail customers including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Ocado
- UK HORECA/Foodservice customers including Brakes, Bidfood and Costco Business Centre
- International markets including Australia, Spain, the Nordics and Canada
The successful candidate will support strategic planning, customer sell-in activity, commercial forecasting and long-term brand growth.
Key ResponsibilitiesCategory & Insight Analysis
- Analyse category, customer and channel performance using NielsenIQ, Kantar, retailer data portals, EPOS and market reports
- Identify key drivers of performance including distribution, rate of sale, pricing, promotions, NPD and seasonality
- Monitor competitor activity, innovation pipelines and category developments
- Deliver clear, actionable recommendations based on data insights
- Produce regular dashboards, scorecards and performance updates for internal stakeholders
- Support the development of compelling retailer-facing category stories and presentations
- Assist National Account Managers with customer briefs, category decks and promotional evaluations
- Evaluate trade activations and customer marketing initiatives
- Support Joint Business Planning (JBP) and activation planning
- Conduct ad-hoc commercial analysis to support strategic business decisions
International Category Support
- Consolidate and interpret data from international distributors and partners
- Produce quarterly market and competitor insight reports for priority markets
- Identify emerging global food, premiumisation and sustainability trends
- Develop scalable reporting templates and insight tools for distributor partners
- Support annual international market planning with data-driven insights
- Manage Maldon Salt’s CMS platform for international partners
Commercial Planning & Forecasting
- Track brand and SKU performance across multiple channels
- Support forecasting and planning cycles with volume, value and share analysis
- Deliver scenario modelling around pricing, promotions and distribution changes
Internal Collaboration
You will work closely with:
- Customer Marketing Manager
- Brand Manager
- Digital Marketing team
- Head of Sales
- National Account Managers
- International Sales Manager
You will also act as a centre of excellence for insight and data literacy across the business.
Knowledge, Skills & Experience
- Minimum 2–3 years’ experience in FMCG category, insight or commercial analysis
- Strong understanding of UK Retail and HORECA/Foodservice sectors
- Experience using NielsenIQ, Kantar and retailer insight platforms
- Confident working with EPOS datasets and performance reporting
- Exposure to international distributor markets preferred
- Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities
- Ability to simplify complex data into compelling commercial narratives
- Excellent communication and presentation skills
- Strong commercial awareness and business acumen
- Passion for food, brands and consumer behaviour
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively
- Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills
Leadership Behaviours & Attributes
In line with Maldon Salt’s values of Integrity, Teamwork and Innovation, we are looking for someone who is:
- Collaborative, curious and commercially minded
- Detail-oriented, accurate and conscientious
- Comfortable influencing cross-functional stakeholders
- Humble, proactive and eager to learn
- Creative and practical in problem-solving
- Discreet and able to handle confidential information
- Able to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences
- Respectful of different cultures and international ways of working
Qualifications
- Degree or equivalent experience in Business, Marketing, Economics, Data/Analytics or related field
- Category management or insight training beneficial (e.g. NielsenIQ/Kantar accreditation)
- Additional languages advantageous due to international market interaction
Salary & Benefits
- Competitive salary aligned to market rates
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- Christmas shutdown
- Company sick pay scheme
- Income protection scheme
- Life Assurance (4x salary)
- Private Medical Insurance
- Enhanced salary sacrifice pension scheme with 4% matched contributions
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Employee discounts with high street retailers
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- Company events
- Free tea and coffee
- Ongoing opportunities for professional development and career growth
How to Apply
Please send applications or enquiries to:
[email protected]
01621 502321
Benefits:
- Company events
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Employee discount
- Free parking
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
- Private medical insurance
- Store discount
Application question(s):
- The role initially will be based in Maldon, but we will be relocating to Langford, which is not serviced by public transport, therefore please confirm you are able to drive to and from work each day independently.
- Please confirm that you have degree in Food Science, nutrition or a related field, confirming details of this qualification
- Do you have a HACCP qualification?
- Please share details of your experience with BRC or other audits
Experience:
- Food Labelling Legislation: 2 years (required)
- NPD : 3 years (required)
Licence/Certification:
- Full UK Driving Licence and access to a car every day (required)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
