At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead category strategies for Spreads, Bakery, and Biscuits to drive market growth.
- Company: Join Ferrero, a global leader in the FMCG sector with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development, and a vibrant team culture.
- Other info: Opportunity to lead and develop a high-performance team.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping market-winning strategies in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in category or trade marketing with strong analytical skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
At Ferrero, we are committed to winning in market through strong category leadership, insight, and execution excellence. As a Category Development Controller – Spreads, Bakery, Biscuits, you will be the key Trade Marketing lead for your assigned categories, responsible for shaping and delivering market‑winning category strategies across multiple channels.
Reporting to the Head of Category Development, you will lead the development of bottom‑up category plans, translating brand strategy into actionable, commercially driven plans across modern trade, traditional channels, OOH, and eCommerce. You will define the role each customer and channel plays within the category, ensuring plans are clearly communicated and effectively executed by Sales teams. This is a highly visible leadership role, requiring strong commercial acumen, strategic thinking, and the ability to influence cross‑functional stakeholders to drive sustainable category growth and market share.
Main Responsibilities:- You will be accountable for the development and delivery of Trade Marketing category plans, ensuring full alignment with brand strategy and wider business objectives. This includes identifying growth opportunities, defining listing strategies, shaping activation guidelines, and building clear channel and customer roles within the category.
- You will lead category and customer performance analysis, using internal and external data sources to identify key drivers, risks, and opportunities. You will translate complex data into compelling insights and recommendations, supporting strategic decisions and ensuring clear communication across the business.
- Working closely with Sales teams, you will play a key role in customer planning and negotiations, ensuring category strategies are effectively translated into customer plans. You will oversee the customer offer process, ensuring consistency, quality, and alignment with business priorities, while also tracking execution and performance in store.
- You will take ownership of category leadership, developing and embedding multi‑channel “winning plans”, including defining the role of packs, creating “Picture of Success” guidelines, and delivering category growth stories to both internal and external stakeholders. You will ensure strong execution through planograms, assortment strategies, and merchandising principles, driving consistency and impact across channels.
- You will also lead price and promotional strategy at category level, working closely with Revenue Growth Management to translate pricing frameworks and promotional strategies into actionable plans. You will evaluate performance, optimise plans, and ensure delivery of revenue, margin, and market share objectives.
- As a people leader, you will manage, coach, and develop your team, fostering a high‑performance culture aligned with Ferrero values. You will support capability development, empower individuals, and ensure strong collaboration across functions.
You are an experienced and commercially driven category or trade marketing leader, with a strong track record of delivering growth within a complex FMCG environment. You bring deep expertise in category strategy, shopper insight, and customer engagement, with the ability to translate data into compelling, actionable plans.
You are confident influencing at senior levels, working cross‑functionally with Sales, Marketing, Finance, and external partners to drive alignment and execution. Your strategic mindset allows you to anticipate market trends, define clear category roles, and build plans that deliver both short‑term performance and long‑term value.
You are a strong people leader, with experience managing and developing teams, and a passion for building capability and driving high performance. You combine attention to detail with a big‑picture mindset and are comfortable operating in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment.
Category Growth Lead – Spreads, Bakery & Biscuits in London employer: Ferrero International S.A.
Ferrero is an exceptional employer that champions a culture of innovation and collaboration, particularly in the vibrant FMCG sector. With a strong commitment to employee development, we offer numerous growth opportunities and foster a high-performance environment where your contributions are valued. Located in a dynamic market, our team thrives on shaping category strategies that not only drive business success but also create meaningful impact in the industry.
Contact Details:
Ferrero International S.A. Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Growth Lead – Spreads, Bakery & Biscuits in London
✨Show Your Creative Side
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We think you need these skills to ace Category Growth Lead – Spreads, Bakery & Biscuits in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Craft an Impactful Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Focus on your passion for marketing communications and how your previous experiences can benefit Ferrero International S.A.. Make sure to mention specific campaigns or projects you’ve worked on that showcase your creativity and strategic thinking.
Showcase Your Writing Skills:As you're diving into a marketing communications role, your writing ability is crucial. Include samples of your work, like blog posts, press releases, or social media campaigns in your application. This lets us see your style and how you engage with different audiences.
Tailor Your CV to Marketing:Your CV should highlight relevant marketing skills and experiences! Include specific tools or platforms you’ve used, like Google Analytics or social media management software. Mention any certifications or workshops related to marketing that you've completed – they can give you an edge!
Demonstrate Your Understanding of Ferrero International S.A.:Show us that you’ve done your homework! In your application, briefly mention what you admire about Ferrero International S.A.’s marketing approach or any recent campaigns that caught your attention. This can reveal your enthusiasm for the role and your genuine interest in joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Ferrero International S.A.
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Get ready to flaunt your portfolio! Include examples of previous marketing campaigns you've worked on, especially those that showcase your creativity and strategy. Recruiters at Ferrero International S.A. will be keen to see how you conceptualise and execute campaigns, so highlight any measurable outcomes to back up your claims.
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At Ferrero International S.A., they may throw some scenario-based questions your way, aimed at testing your problem-solving skills in real-life marketing situations. Think through potential challenges you’ve faced, how you navigated them, and be prepared to discuss your thought process and outcome.
✨Demonstrate Your Passion for Marketing
As you’re applying for a full-time position, show that you're not just looking for a job, but a career in marketing. Talk about the latest trends in marketing communications, your favourite campaigns, and why they inspire you. Your enthusiasm can really make you stand out and demonstrate that you’re committed to growing within the field.
