Head of Category Management- Wine in Wellingborough

We’re looking for an exceptional wine leader to take full ownership of the Wine category across one of the UK’s largest and most diverse retail and catering businesses. This is a rare role — the kind that genuinely influences the wine landscape at scale. You’ll set the long‑term vision for Wine across both on- and off‑trade, lead a high‑performing team, and work with some of the world’s most respected producers. You’ll shape a portfolio that reaches independent retailers, restaurants, pubs, hotels and specialist wine‑led businesses across the UK. If you have deep wine expertise (WSET Diploma or Master of Wine), strong commercial leadership, and a passion for building a truly best‑in‑class wine offer, this is the platform to make a national impact.

Responsibilities

• Own and deliver the Wine category strategy: range, sourcing, pricing, quality, customer experience and long‑term growth.
• Guide and develop a talented team, role‑modeling expert leadership and elevating wine capability across the business.
• Shape the wine offer for both on‑and off‑trade, ensuring it meets the needs of traditional wine customers and emerging market opportunities.
• Lead supplier relationships with major global producers, negotiating annual terms and building partnerships that drive mutual growth.
• Drive innovation across branded and own‑brand ranges, using your wine expertise to enhance quality, consistency and customer appeal.
• Use customer insight and market intelligence to refine the category plan, ensuring it stays ahead of trends in the UK wine market.
• Play a senior role in BWS leadership, influencing major strategic programmes including supply chain modernisation and on‑trade expansion.
• Represent the category with credibility and authority across the business, up to Director and ExCo levels.

Qualifications

• WSET Diploma as a minimum — Master of Wine (advantageous), or equivalent senior industry expertise.
• Significant wine experience across on‑trade and off‑trade, ideally with exposure to global sourcing, brand partnerships or industry bodies.
• Proven leadership of a commercial or buying team with accountability for major P&L delivery.
• Strong negotiation experience with senior stakeholders across producers, agents, and global wine brands.
• A deep understanding of the UK wine market, evolving consumer tastes, and emerging regions.
• Excellent strategic thinking — able to balance commercial performance with customer experience and category innovation.
• A collaborative, confident communicator able to influence at the most senior levels.

Booker is the UK’s leading food & drink wholesaler. We are privileged to serve independent retailers, caterers and small businesses, from locations across the country. We operate over 190 cash and carry branches, eight distribution centres, five Best Food Logistics sites, as well as six support centre locations across the UK. Diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) at Booker means that whoever you are and whatever your background, we always want you to feel represented and that you can be yourself at work. In short, we’re a place where Everyone’s Welcome.

We know life looks a little different for each of us. That’s why at Booker and Best, we always welcome conversations about flexible working. Some people are at the start of their careers, some want the freedom to do the things they love. Others are going through life‑changing moments like becoming a carer, nearing retirement, adapting to parenthood, or something else. So, talk to us throughout your application about how we may be able to support you.

We’re proud that Booker is a Disability Confident Committed employer and we’re committed to providing a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process. For further information on the accessibility support you can expect, please contact recruitment@bookergroup.com

Please note we can only accept candidates over the age of 18 if the role requires working before 6:15 am or after 9:45 pm or involves working in areas such as the warehouse, beers, wines & spirits, and driving roles. On the occasions where we have high volumes of applicants, some roles may close earlier than the advertised end date in order for us to manage all of the applicants appropriately. We will only be able to offer individual feedback to those candidates who attend an interview.