Associate Principal Analyst – Food & Drink

 

Help shape the future of Food & Drink

What will consumers want from food and drink next? Which emerging needs will reshape categories? And where should brands look for their next growth opportunities?

At Mintel, answering these questions requires more than tracking market data. It takes a deep understanding of consumers, categories, brands and innovation, combined with the ability to connect the dots and see what others might miss.

We are looking for an Associate Principal Analyst who brings a strong understanding of the Food & Drink industry and a passion for uncovering what comes next . You will explore how consumer behaviour, cultural shifts, product innovation and market dynamics are changing India's food and beverage landscape, developing original insights that help brands make better strategic decisions.

Through Mintel's research, reports and thought leadership, you will help clients understand not only what is happening, but why it matters and how they can respond.

This is an opportunity to build a recognised industry voice, influence how businesses think about their categories and turn your knowledge of Food & Drink into insights that drive growth.

What you'll do

Understand the industry and identify what comes next

· Build deep knowledge of India's Food & Drink markets, tracking consumer needs, category developments, brand strategies, product innovation and competitive dynamics.

· Identify emerging behaviours, unmet needs and structural shifts that could influence the future of food and drink.

· Connect developments across categories, consumer culture and wider market trends to uncover new perspectives and opportunities.

Turn industry knowledge into original insights

· Develop and author high-quality reports that combine consumer understanding, market intelligence, product innovation and wider industry evidence into compelling narratives.

· Go beyond describing trends to explain their underlying drivers, commercial implications and potential opportunities for brands.

· Develop evidence-based recommendations that help clients identify opportunities in product development, positioning, marketing and category growth.

· Use Mintel's proprietary intelligence alongside primary and secondary research to build a distinctive, well-supported point of view.

Engage clients and influence business thinking

· Present insights to clients and help them understand the implications of changing consumer behaviour and market dynamics for their businesses.

· Contribute to client briefings, workshops and bespoke advisory engagements, working with commercial colleagues to address client challenges and demonstrate the value of Mintel's expertise.

· Represent Mintel at industry events, webinars and media engagements, sharing informed perspectives on India's Food & Drink industry.

· Collaborate with colleagues across Mintel's global network, contributing local market expertise and learning from international perspectives.

Develop and deliver rigorous research

· Identify meaningful research questions and translate them into clear research objectives.

· Contribute to the design of quantitative consumer research, including questionnaire development, and interpret findings alongside qualitative research, market intelligence and product innovation data.

· Ensure research is accurate, analytically sound, original and delivered to agreed publishing schedules.

What you'll bring

A strong understanding of Food & Drink . You have substantial experience working with the industry and understand its consumers, categories, brands, innovation and commercial realities. You are interested in how the market is evolving and can discuss the developments that matter and why.

An instinct for identifying opportunities . You look beyond the obvious, question established assumptions and connect different pieces of evidence to uncover emerging needs and potential growth spaces.

The ability to think and communicate with clarity . You can turn complex information into a compelling argument, develop a clear point of view and write insightful, well-structured reports in English. You understand that strong analysis needs an equally strong narrative.

Commercial awareness. You can connect consumer and market developments to the decisions brands need to make, whether around innovation, positioning, marketing or growth.

Analytical curiosity . You are comfortable working with data and evidence, evaluating competing explanations and drawing sound conclusions. You may already have experience designing quantitative research, or you may be keen to strengthen these skills as part of the role.

Confidence and initiative . You can work independently, manage competing priorities, present your thinking to senior stakeholders and develop relationships with clients and industry contacts.

Experience and qualifications

· A bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience.

· 5–8 years of relevant experience in the Food & Drink or FMCG industry, with demonstrable knowledge of categories, consumer behaviour, product innovation, brand strategy or market development.

· Experience in areas such as category management, innovation, consumer insights, marketing, brand strategy, market intelligence, industry analysis or specialist consulting.

· A track record of interpreting consumer or market information and translating it into insights, recommendations or business opportunities.

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex ideas clearly and persuasively.

· Strong analytical thinking, commercial judgement and the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.

Experience in quantitative research design and questionnaire development is beneficial, but deep Food & Drink knowledge, original thinking and strong communication skills are the priorities . You do not need to come from a traditional market research background to succeed in this role.

We welcome candidates from FMCG businesses, specialist Food & Drink intelligence firms, innovation consultancies, brand strategy teams, consumer insights agencies, advertising/communications agencies and other relevant organisations, provided they bring substantial industry understanding and the ability to develop meaningful insights.

What success looks like

You'll succeed by developing distinctive insights that help clients see their markets differently, identifying emerging opportunities before they become obvious, and building a reputation as a trusted voice on India's Food & Drink industry.

Your work will combine industry knowledge, analytical rigour and compelling storytelling to influence client thinking, strengthen Mintel's reputation and contribute to commercial growth.

Why Mintel?

Mintel helps businesses understand consumers, anticipate change and identify opportunities for growth. Our proprietary consumer, product and market intelligence gives our analysts a rich evidence base from which to develop original perspectives.

You'll have the opportunity to deepen your expertise, work with local and international clients, collaborate with a global network of specialists and share your thinking through reports, presentations, conferences, webinars and media engagement.

If you are passionate about Food & Drink and want to turn your understanding of the industry into insights that shape business decisions, we'd like to hear from you.

Location : Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Work arrangement : Hybrid, with two days per week in the Mumbai office.

 

 

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