Category Development Expert | Food

# Category Development Expert | Food & InnovationArdooieWie bij Darta start, komt terecht in een sterk groeiend familiebedrijf, waar sfeer en collegialiteit belangrijk zijn. We opteren voor duurzame groei, en dit merk je aan ons ultramodern machinepark, hoogkwalitatieve producten, competente medewerkers en continue investeringen.https://www.darta.com/solliciterenAbout DartaDarta is one of Europe's leading producers of frozen vegetables, fruits, herbs and ready-made meals. With production sites across Europe, we supply major retailers, foodservice operators and industrial customers with innovative and sustainable food solutions.
As part of our growth strategy, we are strengthening our Innovation Cell and are looking for a commercially driven Category Manager who can bridge customer needs with Darta's internal innovation, marketing and R&D capabilities.Your MissionAs Category Development Expert, you will act as the voice of the customer within Darta and the voice of Darta towards our key accounts. You will work closely with Category Managers at leading Foodservice and Retail customers to identify opportunities for category growth, product innovation and customer-specific development projects.
You will be a key member of Darta's Innovation Cell and help create stronger alignment between Sales, Marketing and R&D to accelerate value creation for both customers and Darta.Reporting to: Commercial Director / Co-CEO## ##

Key Responsibilities
Customer & Category Development1. Build strong relationships with Category Managers and Buying Teams at key retail accounts.2. Identify emerging consumer trends and category opportunities.3. Develop category growth plans and strategic recommendations for customers.4. Generate insights using market, shopper and category data.Innovation & Opportunity Identification1. Detect innovation opportunities within Darta's existing capabilities.2. Translate customer needs into concrete development projects.3. Work closely with R&D and Marketing to evaluate and prioritize opportunities.4. Support customer-specific innovation programs.Cross-Functional Collaboration1. Act as a central connector between:
* Sales
* Marketing
* R&D
* Operations
* Key Customers2. Ensure opportunities are effectively communicated and converted into business projects.3. Facilitate regular innovation review meetings.Commercial Support1. Support Key Account Managers during strategic customer discussions.2. Prepare customer presentations and category reviews.3. Help drive cross-selling of existing innovative products and concepts.4. Contribute to long-term account growth strategies.##

Your Profile
Education & Experience1. Master's degree in Business, Marketing, Economics, Food Technology or related field.2. 5-10 years of experience in Category Management, Trade Marketing, Business Development or Key Account Management.3. Experience within FMCG, Retail, Foodservice, Food or Consumer Goods is highly preferred.Competencies1. Strong commercial mindset.2. Highly analytical and data-driven.3. Excellent communication and presentation skills.4. Ability to influence without direct authority.5. Strong project management capabilities.6. Entrepreneurial and proactive attitude.7. A passion for trends in food and nutrition.Language Skills1. Fluent English is required.2. German, Italian, Dutch and/or French are strong assets.3. Additional European languages are a plus.# About DartaDarta is one of Europe's leading producers of frozen vegetables, fruits, herbs and ready-made meals. With production sites across Europe, we supply major retailers, foodservice operators and industrial customers with innovative and sustainable food solutions.
As part of our growth strategy, we are strengthening our Innovation Cell and are looking for a commercially driven Category Manager who can bridge customer needs with Darta's internal innovation, marketing and R&D capabilities.##

What We Offer
1. A strategic commercial position with direct impact on Darta's future growth.2. A dynamic and entrepreneurial environment.3. Opportunities to shape innovation and category strategies across international markets.4. Competitive salary package including company car, bonus and attractive benefits.## ## Why This Role Is UniqueThis is not a traditional Category Manager position.
You will help build the bridge between customer needs and Darta's innovation engine. You will work at the intersection of category management, sales, marketing and R&D, helping customers grow while unlocking new opportunities for Darta.
If you are passionate about food, innovation and customer value creation, we would love to hear from you.