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IRCA is a prominent international provider of semi-finished ingredients for the bakery, pastry, and gelato markets. We cater to independent producers as well as large food manufacturers, including consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies. The company's core product offerings consist of chocolate, chocolate decorations, creams, pastry mixes, gelato ingredients, and various other bakery and pastry ingredients. Headquartered in Italy, IRCA was acquired by Advent International, a global private equity firm, in July 2022. The company has demonstrated a strong history of growth over the past decade. As part of its growth strategy, IRCA made two bolt-on acquisitions in 2022. They acquired Cesarin, a provider of candied fruits, and Anastasi, a supplier of pistachio ingredients. These acquisitions expanded IRCA's product portfolio and market reach. More recently, IRCA acquired the leading manufacturer of sweet and cereal products in Europe and the US. The target company focuses on high-value specialty ingredients for the Food Manufacturers segment. Their product range includes sweet particulates, chocolate confections, baked inclusions, variegates, and fruit purées. This deal, successfully completed in March of 2023, is a transformative move for IRCA, establishing them as a global leader in the semi-finished ingredients industry. With this acquisition, IRCA has a combined revenue of €1 billion in 2023 and a presence in 22 manufacturing facilities across Europe, the US, and Vietnam. This expanded manufacturing footprint and diversified product portfolio positions IRCA as a key player in the market, serving a wide range of customers in the bakery, pastry, and gelato sectors, as well as food manufacturers. The Brand Manager, IRCA Group will be responsible for developing and executing Portfolio, Category, Brand strategies and Plans for the Americas region. This role requires a strategic thinker with strong leadership skills to manage brand positioning, marketing campaigns, product development, push and initiatives including driving our customer journey for the different segments in the Americas. The ideal candidate will have a passion for brand management, a keen understanding of market trends and sales insights, and the ability to drive cross-functional collaboration, while bringing proximity within the Chefs community. This is a hybrid role and our office in located in River North, Chicago. We do offer flexible schedules. Responsibilities
- Brand Strategy Development
- Develop and implement comprehensive brand strategies for IRCA Brands
- Conduct market research to identify trends, insights, and competitive landscape
- Define and communicate the brand vision, mission, and value proposition
- Define the multi-brand approach per segment
- Develop and implement our IRCA Group Customer journey
- Lead our Ambassador Network strategy for the region
- Trade shows strategy in alignment with the end-user markets leads
- Marketing Campaigns
- Plan and execute integrated marketing campaigns to build brand equity and increase brand awareness in the Americas
- Collaborate with the creative team to develop compelling marketing materials and campaigns
- Monitor and analyze campaign performance, providing actionable insights and recommendations
- Category management & Product Development
- Analyze and define Categories ‘must win’ battles in close collaboration with the regional CCOs
- Work closely with product development teams to ensure alignment with brand strategy
- Provide input on product features, design, and positioning to meet group needs
- Oversee the launch of new products/services aimed at group markets
- Cross-functional Collaboration
- Partner with IRCA Academy chefs, sales, customer service, and other departments to ensure brand consistency
- Facilitate training and support for internal and external teams on brand guidelines and messaging
- Manage relationships with external agencies and vendors
- Brand Performance Monitoring
- Track and analyze brand performance metrics
- Prepare regular reports on brand health, market share, and ROI
- Implement corrective actions based on data-driven insights
- Budget Management:
- Develop and manage the budget for group brand activities in alignment with our regional and global departments
- Ensure efficient allocation of resources to maximize ROI
- Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business Administration, or a related field; MBA preferred
- 5+ years of experience in brand management, preferably in a group-oriented context
- Sales experience is a plus
- Proven track record of developing and executing successful brand strategies
- Strong analytical skills and the ability to interpret data to drive decision-making
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Creative thinking and problem-solving abilities
- Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
- Proficiency in marketing tools and software, including digital marketing platforms
- Experience working in B2B, food related manufacturing is ideal.
- Must be open to business travel up to 20-30%
- Preferred experience in Chocolate & Food related Ingredients
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