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- Tasks: Drive growth for bakery brands using data insights and build strong retailer partnerships.
- Company: Join one of the UK's fastest-growing bakery manufacturers with a stellar industry reputation.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, bonus, and hybrid work options for better work-life balance.
- Why this job: Be part of an award-winning team making a real impact in the food industry.
- Qualifications: 2-3 years in a Category or Insights role, strong analytical and relationship-building skills required.
- Other info: Work 2-3 days a week at our Bedfordshire head office.
The predicted salary is between 32000 - 42000 £ per year.
Are you a Category Executive or working in a junior Insights role and looking for your first Category Manager position? An exciting opportunity has arisen to join one of the UK’s fastest-growing bakery manufacturers as a Category Manager.
Their product range includes both branded and private label breads and morning goods. The business has secured national distribution across the Retail, Wholesale, and Foodservice channels and has also seen significant success in the Export market. Over the last five years, they have grown profitably from £200m to £400m, driven by category-leading NPD and the launch of the fastest growing bakery brand in the market. Their expansion into new markets includes the development of a state of the art production facility in Europe to support European growth.
With an outstanding reputation across the industry, their success has been recognised through multiple industry and supplier awards. Due to their continued growth and increased demand, they are now looking to add an additional Category Manager to their team.
Key ResponsibilitiesAs a Category Manager, you will play a pivotal role in driving growth for our brands and supporting our customers. Using data-driven insights and strong relationship-building skills, you will develop collaborative strategies that align with commercial priorities and deliver impactful results.
- Manage category performance across key UK Grocery accounts.
- Build strong partnerships with retailers, providing category insights and fulfilling ad hoc analysis requests.
- Identify market trends and opportunities to drive growth.
- Lead internal and external presentations, including retailer brand planning days and category reviews.
- Drive category rationale for securing product listings and expanding distribution.
- Conduct competitor analysis and store visits to stay ahead of market trends.
The ideal candidate will have 2-3 years of experience in a Category or Insights role within the food industry. They will possess strong analytical skills, with the ability to translate large datasets into meaningful insights. Excellent relationship-building, communication, and influencing skills are essential, as is the ability to engage both internal and external stakeholders. A strong commercial mindset, combined with an understanding of shopper behaviour and market trends, will be crucial to success in this role. Proficiency in Excel at an advanced level is required, along with the ability to present data in an engaging and actionable way.
LocationThis is a hybrid role, with the successful candidate spending 2-3 days per week at the company's Bedfordshire head office.
Benefits£40,000 – £50,000 + Bonus & Benefits
For more information, please contact Aidan Goodall on 01943 667280 or via email at Aidan@fmcgselection.co.uk.
Category Manager employer: FMCG Selection
Contact Detail:
FMCG Selection Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the bakery market and its key players. Understanding the competitive landscape will help you engage in meaningful conversations during interviews and demonstrate your knowledge of current trends.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the food industry, especially those in category management roles. Attend industry events or join relevant online forums to build connections that could lead to referrals or insider information about the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've used data to drive insights in your previous roles. Being able to articulate your analytical skills and how they can benefit our company will set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your relationship-building skills by preparing questions that demonstrate your interest in collaboration with retailers. This will highlight your understanding of the importance of partnerships in category management.
We think you need these skills to ace Category Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in category management or insights roles, particularly within the food industry. Use specific examples that demonstrate your analytical skills and ability to drive growth.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for the bakery sector and your understanding of market trends. Mention how your skills align with the responsibilities of the Category Manager role and how you can contribute to the company's success.
Highlight Analytical Skills: Emphasise your proficiency in Excel and your ability to translate data into actionable insights. Provide examples of how you've used data to influence decisions or drive category performance in previous roles.
Showcase Relationship-Building Abilities: In your application, illustrate your experience in building strong partnerships with retailers or stakeholders. Highlight any successful collaborations or presentations you've led that resulted in positive outcomes.
How to prepare for a job interview at FMCG Selection
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
As a Category Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to analyse data effectively. Prepare examples of how you've used data to drive decisions in previous roles, and be ready to discuss specific insights you've gained from large datasets.
✨Build Strong Relationships
Relationship-building is key in this role. Think about past experiences where you've successfully collaborated with others, whether internally or externally. Be prepared to share how you approach building partnerships and maintaining strong communication.
✨Understand Market Trends
Familiarise yourself with current trends in the bakery sector and the wider food industry. During the interview, be ready to discuss how these trends could impact the company's strategy and how you would leverage them to drive growth.
✨Prepare for Presentations
You'll likely need to lead presentations as a Category Manager. Practice presenting your ideas clearly and engagingly. Consider preparing a mock presentation on a relevant topic to showcase your skills and confidence in front of an audience.
