Senior Category Manager - Meat & Poultry
Senior Category Manager - Meat & Poultry

Senior Category Manager - Meat & Poultry

Ashford Full-Time 43200 - 72000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead category strategy for Meat & Poultry, driving sales and margin growth.
  • Company: Join Brakes, a top player in the foodservice industry, known for quality and innovation.
  • Benefits: Enjoy hybrid work, competitive salary, bonuses, and generous holiday allowance.
  • Why this job: Make an impact in a dynamic team while developing your career in a leading company.
  • Qualifications: Experience in retail or food manufacturing, strong commercial skills, and proficiency in data analysis required.
  • Other info: Flexible working with 1-2 days in Ashford; driving licence needed for UK travel.

The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.

Brakes are recruiting for a Senior Category Manager - Meat & Poultry to join the Merchandising team on a 9-12 month fixed term contract, reporting into the Category Merchandising Director.

As the Senior Category Manager – Meat & Poultry, it is your responsibility to develop and deliver a category plan that supports range development and delivers in-year margin budget (e.g. range management including NPD; promotions; cross sell; customer marketing activity and pricing). Deliver and evaluate brilliant category insight of total performance. Ownership of category presence in all customer and sales communications, including online to raise the profile of the category internally and externally. This role would suit a candidate with rounded commercial experience within a Head Office Retail, Foodservice or a blue-chip food manufacturer environment.

We are offering a hybrid contract with 1-2 days a week in our Ashford, Kent office, so you will ideally be located in the Southeast/London. Flexibility will be needed for team and supplier meetings across the UK, so a full, clean driving licence is required.

Key Accountabilities & Responsibilities:

  • Using customer, market and supplier insight for category performance analysis.
  • Focus the wider category team to create a strategy to meet in year sales and cash margin targets.
  • Review and analyse category performance each month, adapting the category strategy and marketing plan to maximise opportunities and presenting to the wider team.
  • Own and activate all in year deliverables, including range plan, NPD with gap analysis and activation / growth levers.
  • Project manage Sysco 6 Stage Category Management programme.
  • Run promotions and implement intelligent pricing recommendations to protect existing business and grow new opportunities.
  • Support delivery of strategic priorities such as Brakes Essentials, Sysco premium and partnership with Sysco Subsidiary companies e.g. Fresh Direct & Kff.
  • Develop strategic relationships with partner suppliers, to drive growth and support margin investment opportunities across range, promotions and marketing plans.
  • Manage the yearly marketing plan for the category, including supplier activation.
  • Supporting corporate sustainability policy, ensuring that all opportunities for recognition with accreditation bodies are realised e.g. Red Tractor and supporting business initiatives such as transition to higher welfare chicken.
  • Present to and train the sales teams on category knowledge and key strategic messages.
  • Ownership of category data, ensuring internal and external facing content is accurate. E.g. E-List, new product launches, discontinuations, marketing descriptions and website.

About you:

The successful candidate will be results-based with a demonstrated track record of applying financial, commercial or procurement skills to a range of business-related objectives, such as delivering cost savings or enhancing the quality of services provided to businesses. A high level of commercial ability is crucial for the role, combined with relevant commercial sourcing and / or category experience across a choice of categories and having experience of driving sales and margin. Ideally, you will have experience with customers and internal insight and data analytics to make fact-based decisions and create effective customer offerings. Be comfortable using consumer insights, competitive assessment, pricing, promotional planning, and financial analysis. You must be proficient in the use of Microsoft Office including Excel, (VLOOKUP, Formula, Pivot Tables) and PowerPoint and have experience of using Tableau. It is desirable for candidates to hold a professional Qualification in Marketing, Category Management, Merchandising or CIPS.

What you will receive:

  • A competitive salary & Annual Bonus
  • Company Car or Cash Allowance of £7,000 per annum
  • Enrolment into the Sysco Pension Scheme
  • Life Assurance
  • Private medical healthcare cover
  • Generous holiday allowance of 25 days + bank holidays, with option to purchase additional holidays
  • Huge discounts on all sorts of lovely food and award-wining products through our staff shop
  • Discounts on Cinema tickets, shopping and earn cashback on purchases through Sysco benefits portal
  • Recognition awards and Incentives
  • Real career opportunities - being part of Sysco, the world’s leading foodservice business, opens a world of possibility

Senior Category Manager - Meat & Poultry employer: Brakes

Brakes is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Ashford, Kent, where you can thrive as a Senior Category Manager - Meat & Poultry. With a strong focus on employee growth, competitive benefits including a company car or cash allowance, and generous holiday allowances, we foster a culture of recognition and support. Join us to be part of Sysco, the world’s leading foodservice business, and unlock real career opportunities while enjoying substantial discounts on our award-winning products.
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Contact Detail:

Brakes Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Category Manager - Meat & Poultry

✨Tip Number 1

Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in the meat and poultry sector. Understanding current market dynamics and consumer preferences will help you engage in meaningful conversations during interviews and demonstrate your expertise.

✨Tip Number 2

Network with professionals in the foodservice and retail industries. Attend relevant events or join online forums to connect with others who can provide insights or even refer you to opportunities within their organisations.

✨Tip Number 3

Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've successfully managed category performance in previous roles. Highlight your experience with NPD, promotions, and strategic relationships with suppliers to showcase your fit for the role.

✨Tip Number 4

Brush up on your data analysis skills, particularly with tools like Excel and Tableau. Being able to present data-driven insights effectively will be crucial in this role, so practice interpreting and communicating complex information clearly.

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Category Manager - Meat & Poultry

Category Management
Commercial Acumen
Financial Analysis
Data Analytics
Market Insight
Promotional Planning
Pricing Strategy
Supplier Relationship Management
Project Management
Microsoft Excel (VLOOKUP, Formulas, Pivot Tables)
Microsoft PowerPoint
Tableau
Communication Skills
Presentation Skills
Negotiation Skills

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in category management, particularly in the meat and poultry sector. Use specific examples of how you've driven sales and margin in previous roles.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for the food industry and detail your understanding of category performance analysis. Mention any specific achievements that align with the responsibilities outlined in the job description.

Showcase Relevant Skills: Emphasise your proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel and PowerPoint, as well as any experience with data analytics tools like Tableau. Highlight your ability to use consumer insights and financial analysis to make informed decisions.

Demonstrate Commercial Acumen: Provide examples of how you've applied financial and commercial skills to achieve business objectives. Discuss your experience with strategic relationships and how you've successfully managed marketing plans or promotions in past roles.

How to prepare for a job interview at Brakes

✨Know Your Category Inside Out

Make sure you have a deep understanding of the meat and poultry category. Familiarise yourself with current trends, key players, and market dynamics. This will help you demonstrate your expertise and show that you're ready to hit the ground running.

✨Prepare for Data-Driven Questions

Given the emphasis on data analysis in this role, be prepared to discuss how you've used data to drive decisions in previous positions. Bring examples of how you've analysed category performance and adapted strategies based on insights.

✨Showcase Your Commercial Acumen

Highlight your experience in managing margins and driving sales. Be ready to discuss specific strategies you've implemented in the past that resulted in cost savings or enhanced service quality. This will demonstrate your ability to meet the company's financial objectives.

✨Demonstrate Strong Communication Skills

As you'll be presenting to sales teams and managing supplier relationships, it's crucial to showcase your communication skills. Prepare to discuss how you've effectively conveyed category insights and trained teams in previous roles.

Senior Category Manager - Meat & Poultry
Brakes
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  • Senior Category Manager - Meat & Poultry

    Ashford
    Full-Time
    43200 - 72000 £ / year (est.)

    Application deadline: 2027-05-07

  • B

    Brakes

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