Andrea Durning

Principal Consumer Insights Partner @Whole Foods Market

Austin, TX, US

Primary strategic insights partner for stakeholders in Marketing, Merchandising, and Amazon.• Collaborate with stakeholders and other functions across Whole Foods Market and Amazon to structure business questions and develop learning plans based on business questions and objectives. Provide input for annual roadmap, prioritizing strategic needs and identifying research gaps.• Develop, manage, and synthesize qualitative and quantitative research to address business needs related to category merchandising, in-store & online shopping patterns, branding, positioning, advertising, new store concepts, new product concepts, and category consumption. Translate insights into actionable recommendations. Present findings to stakeholders and senior leadership in a clean and concise manner. • Understand competitive landscape & synthesize data from both primary and secondary research sources to create a comprehensive understanding of learning around key business issues. • Serve as consumer advocate ensuring voice of consumer is represented in all business decisions.• Manage outside vendors/agency partners to execute consumer research and control costs. • Manage projects ensuring that they meet time and budget parameters, while working collaboratively and independently. Also balance short-term/urgent needs with longer-term strategic initiatives.• Mentor junior consumer insights partners.• Key Accomplishments: Provided strategic insights to Amazon and WFM on how to integrate the two banners from a consumer perspective when providing a unified shopping, delivery, and pickup service. Provided input on product development, assortment strategies and marketing/promotion opportunities for WFM culinary venues, perishables, and specialty areas. Developed insights and guidance on unmet needs, assortment, messaging, and marketing opportunities for an expanded global cuisine section in WFM stores.

Dalhousie University

Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Statistics