Shopper Insights Manager

Description:

Maple Leaf Foods Inc., a carbon-neutral, sustainability-driven food company with a 100+ year legacy in Canada, is hiring a Shopper Insights Manager – Shelving and Assortment based in Mississauga, ON. This is a hybrid full-time position ideal for professionals with deep expertise in category management, shelving strategy, and shopper insight analytics.

As a strategic lead for shelving and assortment vision across major Canadian retailers like Loblaws, Walmart, Sobeys, and Metro, you’ll drive the company’s growth by ensuring the success of its protein platforms through optimized shelf standards, SKU prioritization, and test-and-learn strategies. Your work will shape how Maple Leaf Foods delivers on its mission to “Raise the Good in Food” across both Packaged and Fresh Meat categories.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and lead best-in-class shelving standards and assortment strategies, ensuring customer teams are aligned to growth platform expectations.

• Analyze and close performance gaps using syndicated data tools (NIQ Markettrack, Numerator, POS data), shelf planning software (JDA, Virtual Reality), and other relevant tools.

• Lead the integration of innovation into holistic category merchandising, including optimal planograms, secondary placements, and SKU strategies.

• Act as project lead for shopper-focused merchandising tests, integrating findings from “Protein Department of the Future” research into actionable strategies.

• Partner with Customer Insights Managers to tailor strategies by retailer and align with broader marketing and innovation plans.

• Establish and nurture retailer relationships, influencing shelf space allocation, category placement, and merchandising investments.

• Provide ongoing support to the Walmart Vendor Advisor Team, contributing to modular strategy execution through analytical and planogram support.

What You Bring:

• Strong knowledge of shelving and assortment tactics gained through Vendor Advisor or Category Management experience.

• High-level analytical skills using a combination of POS, shipment, panel, syndicated, and qualitative data.

• Experience executing and interpreting shopper research methodologies.

• Demonstrated ability to align merchandising strategies with trade marketing, innovation, and customer priorities.

• Proven record in selling story creation across retailers and categories.

• Effective cross-functional project management capabilities and strong collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.

• Familiarity with software such as JDA/VR for planogramming and data tools like NIQ, Numerator, and panel data analytics.

What Maple Leaf Foods Offers:

• A purpose-driven culture focused on sustainability, innovation, and community impact.

• A hybrid work model offering flexibility, work-life balance, and purposeful in-office collaboration.

• Health & Wellness benefits from day one, including mental health and well-being programs.

• A Defined Contribution Pension Plan with company matching that starts immediately upon hire.

• Investment in continuous learning, with access to workshops, speaker events, and a tuition reimbursement program.

• Two paid volunteer days annually to support causes meaningful to you.

• Inclusion in a diverse, inclusive, and people-focused work environment built on Maple Leaf’s Leadership Values.

About the Company:

Maple Leaf Foods Inc. is a leading Canadian protein company operating under national brands like Maple Leaf®, Schneiders®, and Greenfield Natural Meat Co.®. With over 13,500 team members across Canada, the U.S., Mexico, and Asia, the company is committed to sustainability, food security, and inclusive growth. As a carbon-neutral enterprise with science-based environmental goals, MLF is on a journey to become the most sustainable protein company on earth.