Category Partners
Category Partners LLC is a US consulting firm that delivers category management analytics and consumer research services to CPG/food suppliers and retailers in the retail perishables industry, combining proprietary forecasting, pricing, assortment, and primary research methodologies into project-based engagements.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersIdaho Falls, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Category Partners does
Category Partners LLC is a privately held US consulting firm specializing in category management analytics and consumer research for the retail perishables industry (produce, deli, bakery, prepared foods). Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Idaho Falls, Idaho, the firm operates from a single location with approximately 11 employees. Its two service lines — Analytics and Research — combine quantitative modeling (demand forecasting, promotional strategy optimization, pricing and elasticity studies, assortment studies, and category reviews) with primary consumer research methodologies (online and mobile surveys, omnibus surveys, focus groups, in-store intercepts, trade interviews, in-store audits, and in-store tests). The firm integrates syndicated retailer data with loyalty card data and bespoke qualitative research to produce fact-based category recommendations for its clients.
The firm's primary customers are CPG/food suppliers and retailer category-management teams, with consumer brands identified as a secondary segment. Its value proposition is the translation of data — which clients typically already possess — into trusted, retailer-ready insights that support merchandising, assortment refinement, promotional planning, pricing decisions, and the achievement of category captain status. The company positions itself as filling the gap between data-rich and insights-rich organizations. GTM is sales-led and relationship-driven, anchored on direct engagement, thought leadership content, case studies, and speaking appearances at industry events such as the IDDBA's "What's in Store Live."
The business model is project-based professional services: consulting and analytics engagements priced via quote and structured around category management deliverables and custom research studies, with no SaaS, subscription, or self-service tier. Revenue has reportedly doubled since 2016 under President & CEO Tom Barnes, supported by the addition of senior domain leaders — including SVP of Research Cara Ammon (ex-Nielsen Perishables Group, ex-Beacon Research Solutions), SVP of Business Development Julie DeWolf, and Director of Analytics Walter Liu (ex-Del Monte Fresh Produce) — and ongoing hiring of data analysts and software engineering capacity. The firm remains founder/management-owned with no disclosed outside funding.
Category Partners firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Category Partners
- Legal name
- Category Partners LLC
- Website
- https://categorypartners.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Category Partners LLC is a US consulting firm that delivers category management analytics and consumer research services to CPG/food suppliers and retailers in the retail perishables industry, combining proprietary forecasting, pricing, assortment, and primary research methodologies into project-based engagements.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Category Partners industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Retail Category Management Consulting
- NAICS
- Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (541910), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Category Management & Assortment Strategy Services (CRAOAOAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Market, Shopper & Category Insights / Research Services (CRAOAOAI), Category Management & Retail Analytics (MPAAAJAI)
Keywords
Where Category Partners is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Idaho Falls
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Category Partners business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Analytics and Consulting Services: Category management consulting and analytics services for CPG suppliers and retailers. Services include syndicated data analysis, custom research, assortment optimization, and strategic recommendations delivered through engagement projects.
- Custom Research Projects: Primary consumer research services including surveys, focus groups, in-store intercepts, and buyer behavior analysis. Projects range from large-scale custom initiatives to quick-turn single-question surveys.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Category Partners product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Category Partners provides category management consulting, data analytics, and primary consumer research services for CPG suppliers and retailers in the perishables category (produce, deli, meats, bakery). Its Analytics offering delivers forecasting, promotional strategy optimization, pricing/elasticity studies, assortment analysis, and demand forecasting, while its Research offering delivers custom surveys, focus groups, in-store intercepts, buyer behavior studies, trade interviews, in-store audits, and in-store tests to transform syndicated and primary data into actionable category strategies.
Product overview
Category Partners is a consulting firm specializing in category management and business insights for the retail perishables industry. The company offers two core service offerings: Analytics and Research. The Analytics service provides data-driven insights including forecasting, promotional strategy optimization, pricing elasticity studies, assortment analysis, and demand forecasting. The Research service delivers custom primary research methodologies including consumer surveys, focus groups, in-store intercepts, and trade interviews to uncover insights not available in syndicated data. These services work together to help clients transform data into actionable business strategies.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Doubled annual revenue between 2016 and present under current leadership
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Category Partners
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Category Partners technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature14 records
Category Partners partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Category Partners competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Category Partners social profiles
Digital presenceCategory Partners financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Category Partners leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Category Partners funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Category Partners M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Category Partners
What does Category Partners do?
Category Partners provides category management consulting, data analytics, and primary consumer research services for CPG suppliers and retailers in the perishables category (produce, deli, meats, bakery). Its Analytics offering delivers forecasting, promotional strategy optimization, pricing/elasticity studies, assortment analysis, and demand forecasting, while its Research offering delivers custom surveys, focus groups, in-store intercepts, buyer behavior studies, trade interviews, in-store audits, and in-store tests to transform syndicated and primary data into actionable category strategies.
Is Category Partners a public or private company?
Category Partners is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Category Partners founded?
Category Partners was founded in 2008. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Category Partners based?
Category Partners is headquartered in Idaho Falls, United States, in the North America region.
How does Category Partners make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Analytics and Consulting Services are the primary driver. The others are custom Research Projects.
Does Category Partners have an API?
No public API is recorded for Category Partners.
What industry is Category Partners in?
Category Partners's product category is Retail Category Management Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAOAOAA, Category Management & Assortment Strategy Services, with a secondary code of CRAOAOAI, Market, Shopper & Category Insights / Research Services. Its NAICS code is 541910.