Category Manager (Convenience) - FMCG Food in Windsor

An opportunity to join one of the UK's most recognisable food businesses. This is a genuinely influential role within a commercially ambitious, award-winning culture - sitting at the intersection of category strategy and customer partnership across some of the most dynamic channels in the UK convenience and travel landscape. The business forms part of a major European food group, with significant scale, a strong branded portfolio and a clear commitment to both commercial performance and sustainability. The culture is collaborative, high-energy and genuinely supportive - with real investment in people and progression.

This role takes ownership of category relationships across a defined set of convenience & impulse customers. It is a dual-facing position - equally important internally and externally - with responsibility for translating data and insight into compelling category strategies that drive growth for both the customer and the business. This is a role for someone who thrives on complexity, enjoys building relationships, and can turn data into a clear commercial story. The Category Manager will be expected to lead with insight, influence without authority, and deliver recommendations that genuinely shape how products are ranged, merchandised and activated in-store.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the category relationship across a portfolio of travel, forecourt and convenience customers - acting as a trusted category advisor and building partnerships across multiple levels of the customer organisation.
• Develop and deliver category growth plans, covering range, space, merchandising and promotional recommendations, underpinned by rigorous data analysis from Nielsen, Circana and other relevant sources.
• Own the strategic category agenda for travel and forecourt channels, setting priorities and ensuring internal teams are aligned on the commercial opportunity.
• Manage and maintain the accuracy of market data platforms, translating outputs into regular reporting and actionable insight for sales and marketing stakeholders.
• Create and update convenience channel guides and customer-facing category presentations, ensuring content is insight-led and commercially relevant.
• Support cross-functional projects, acting as the voice of the impulse channel and contributing to the development of customer sell-in materials.
• Monitor market trends and competitor activity, attending relevant industry events and ensuring the wider business remains well-informed on channel dynamics.

The Ideal Candidate

This role requires proven experience in a FMCG category management function, ideally with exposure to convenience & impulse customers. Strong analytical capability is essential - this company needs someone who is genuinely comfortable working across multiple data sources and distilling complex information into clear, persuasive recommendations.

You will bring:

• Demonstrable category management experience within an FMCG or consumer goods environment.
• Hands-on experience with Nielsen and/or Circana data platforms.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to link category insight to business outcomes.
• Excellent Excel skills and the ability to manage large, complex data sets with accuracy.
• Confident communicator with strong presentation skills and the ability to influence internally and externally.
• A proactive, self-starting approach and the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.

Familiarity with Lumina CTP data or independent retail channels would be advantageous, though not essential.

Location

Slough, Berkshire - hybrid working arrangements in place.

Package

To £52,000 + £5.5K Car Allowance + Bonus