Category Development Manager
Category Development Manager

Category Development Manager

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

  • Tasks: Lead category strategy and shopper insights for top grocery customers in the coffee sector.
  • Company: Join JDE, a global leader in coffee, passionate about delivering quality brews worldwide.
  • Benefits: Enjoy flexible working options, a vibrant company culture, and opportunities for personal growth.
  • Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team driving coffee innovation and making a real impact in retail.
  • Qualifications: Ideal for graduates with 4+ years in Category Development or Account Management in FMCG.
  • Other info: Full rights to work in the UK required; travel for customer meetings may be necessary.

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

As a Category Development Manager you will be part of the Category Development and Shopper Marketing team, which forms part of the wider Sales function. You will report to the Demand Accelerator Controller working cross functionally with other departments to deliver the Coffee Category goals.This role is responsible for delivering best in class category leadership for JDE Peet\’s UK.Primarily, as a Customer Category Development Manager you are accountable for leading the category vision & strategy, analysis of shopper behaviour and opportunities, range reviews and developing and implementing customer specific category plans in co-operation with the customer, National Account Manager and Sales Controller.This role requires a keen and detailed ability to acquire relevant category data and apply critical thinking and data analysis to generate leading-edge actionable insights and a strong customer facing story, told in a simple and compelling way. The role is omni channel, responsible for all store formats in the allocated customer/customers (convenience, super, hyper, online etc.)You will be responsible for 2 priority customers (Top 4 grocery).Responsibilities Delivering best in class Category Management for 2 priority (Top 4 grocery) customers (externally focused):External Develop a trusted relationship with your customers to ensure JDE is their supplier of choice, via regular in person contact.Tailor the JDE Category Vision to align to your customers\’ strategy to deliver long-term coffee category growth both for JDE and your customer, as identified in the Value Creation Plan and Brand Plans. Monitor the implementation and defined targets.Lead on going promotional analysis, identifying what to stop, start or continue in order to maximise promotional effectiveness for JDE and your customers – in collaboration with sales, category strategy / RGM and your buyer.Advise sales on the distribution and assortment strategy as well as developing customer specific planograms, if required.Full range review support for the customer – in store and online – proactively managing this conversation through-out the year.On-going evaluation of range, space, sales driving activity and advising both the national account manager and the customer on how they can increase sales and profit. Regular performance reports with key insights / actions.Deliver quarterly PQA\’s (Product Quadrant Analysis) and collaboratively manage under-performing skus with the customer and internally.Deliver a quarterly Coffee Market Insights deck for your customer regarding future trends, customer competitor executions etc. and lead a bi-annual category opp / vision (including coffee education).Deliver the annual customer brand planning day – tailored for your customers.Internal (for your customers only) Own the customer range review calendar and ensure alignment with marketing and other key stakeholders on optimum launch dates and customer shelf requirements.Work with category strategy and brand teams to successfully implement NPD\’s and re-launches, to ensure distribution, market share and profit.Feed into Perfect Store reporting for your customers – identifying areas to action.PQA quarterly – proactively manage risk skus internally.Input to monthly commercial reviews for your customers – performance, risk and ops.Deliver / input the category elements of the annual customer business planning process.Collaborate with shopper on activation and evaluation.Qualifications This role would suit a graduate with a minimum of 4 years-experience predominately gained in Category Development, Buying or Account Management roles in FMCG.Deep knowledge of UK retail shoppers and customers.Proven at working in x-functional teams, especially across sales and marketing.Marketing literate, able to navigate strategic consumer and brand strategy and executional, commercial detail to develop an integrated strategy.Has knowledge of several information system tools (Nielsen, IRI, Kantar, Dunnhumby etc).Excellent Excel and PowerPoint skills.Able to work closely with numbers and break down complexity to deliver clear messaging.Self-Motivated – highly disciplined.Influencing skills and the ability to manage and lead multiple stakeholders at all levels.Brilliant impact presenting to senior management & customers and also credible with Account Managers.Be accountable and have a drive to deliver results.Be mobile and willing to travel as required for customer meetings.Full rights to work in the UK without company sponsorship.Additional Information #li-hybridCompany Description Here at JACOBS DOUWE EGBERTS (JDE) we are inspired by our belief that it is amazing what can happen over a cup of coffee. We are a company of coffee enthusiasts who are passionate about delivering great quality coffee, this passion drives our ambition to become the world\’s number 1 coffee company.In 2015 when D.E Master Blenders and MondelΓ¨z International combined their respective coffee businesses JDE was born. As the world\’s leading pure play coffee company, we have built a brand portfolio that includes household names such as Tassimo, Kenco, L\’Or and Douwe Egberts.Dedicated to creating and building brands our consumers love it is our belief that everyone deserves the coffee they love. It is thanks to the passion and commitment of our 120,000+ global associates that our brands are enjoyed in over 100 countries worldwide.JDE UK is the number 2 branded coffee supplier to the UK retail trade with approx. 30% market share of this growing Β£1bn + RSV category. JDE is a growth engine for the category driving premiumisation through the Tassimo, L\’OR and Kenco brands.

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Category Development Manager employer: Jdeprofessional

At JDE, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters collaboration and innovation within the coffee category. Our employees benefit from extensive growth opportunities, including cross-functional teamwork and access to industry-leading insights, all while enjoying the flexibility of a hybrid working model in the vibrant UK market. Join us to be part of a passionate team dedicated to delivering exceptional coffee experiences and driving category growth.
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Contact Detail:

Jdeprofessional Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🀫

We think this is how you could land Category Development Manager

✨Tip Number 1

Familiarise yourself with the coffee category and its trends in the UK market. Understanding consumer behaviour and preferences will help you tailor your approach when discussing strategies with potential employers.

✨Tip Number 2

Network with professionals in the FMCG sector, especially those involved in category management or account management. Attend industry events or webinars to build connections that could lead to job opportunities at JDE.

✨Tip Number 3

Brush up on your data analysis skills, particularly with tools like Nielsen and IRI. Being able to demonstrate your ability to analyse shopper data and derive actionable insights will set you apart from other candidates.

✨Tip Number 4

Prepare to showcase your influencing and presentation skills. Practice presenting category strategies or insights in a clear and compelling manner, as this is crucial for engaging with senior management and customers.

We think you need these skills to ace Category Development Manager

Category Management
Data Analysis
Customer Relationship Management
Promotional Analysis
Range Review Expertise
Planogram Development
Market Insights Generation
Performance Reporting
Cross-Functional Collaboration
FMCG Knowledge
Excel Proficiency
PowerPoint Skills
Strategic Thinking
Influencing Skills
Presentation Skills

Some tips for your application 🫑

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in Category Development, Buying, or Account Management roles. Emphasise your knowledge of UK retail shoppers and your ability to work cross-functionally.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, demonstrate your passion for coffee and how it aligns with JDE's mission. Discuss your experience in developing category strategies and your ability to analyse shopper behaviour.

Showcase Analytical Skills: Provide examples of how you've used data analysis tools like Nielsen or IRI in previous roles. Highlight specific instances where your insights led to actionable outcomes or improved sales performance.

Prepare for Interviews: Be ready to discuss your approach to building customer relationships and tailoring category visions. Prepare to present your ideas clearly and compellingly, as this role requires strong presentation skills.

How to prepare for a job interview at Jdeprofessional

✨Know Your Category Inside Out

Make sure you have a deep understanding of the coffee category and its trends. Familiarise yourself with key data sources like Nielsen and IRI, and be prepared to discuss how you would leverage this data to drive category growth.

✨Build Relationships

Demonstrate your ability to build trusted relationships with customers. Share examples from your past experiences where you successfully collaborated with clients to achieve mutual goals, highlighting your interpersonal skills.

✨Showcase Analytical Skills

Prepare to discuss how you analyse shopper behaviour and market trends. Bring examples of how you've used data analysis to inform category strategies or promotional effectiveness in previous roles.

✨Present with Impact

Since you'll be presenting to senior management and customers, practice delivering clear and compelling presentations. Use PowerPoint effectively to convey your ideas and ensure you can communicate complex information simply.

Category Development Manager
Jdeprofessional
Location: Maidenhead

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