At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive category growth strategies and engage with key customers in Retail and Foodservice.
- Company: Join McCain, a global family-owned company dedicated to quality and sustainability.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible holidays, a generous car allowance, and a supportive work-life balance.
- Other info: Embrace hybrid working and explore exciting career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact while working with passionate individuals in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: 3-5 years in category management or related fields, with strong analytical skills.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 50000 £ per year.
About McCain. At McCain, we are feeding the world: from French fries to smiles, we contribute to the important role food plays in people's lives. That is why we are dedicated to ensuring our core values - Family, Authentic, Trusted, and Quality - shine through every day. As a privately owned family company with over 60 years of experience, a presence in more than 160 countries, and a global team of 22,000 people, our values and culture are at the heart of everything we do. We believe that we can work together, along with our business and community partners, to bring sustainable growth and positive change today, tomorrow, and for generations to come.
About the role. In every role, McCainers are ambitious, curious, and interested in helping each other create good work experiences. We think about the customer and make doing business with McCain easy. The Category Manager - Category Strategy & Own Label is a pivotal executional role, bringing category growth strategies to life across Retail and Foodservice channels. This role plays a key part in translating strategic direction into practical, customer- and consumer-led initiatives that accelerate growth for McCain.
Accountabilities:
- Insight Development & Category Foresight: Proactively analyse, synthesise and communicate insights from a broad range of data sources, including market, shopper, loyalty, panel, customer and operator data. Combine global trade flow, share and capacity data with local quantitative and qualitative insight to deliver robust competitor monitoring and performance reporting. Translate insight into clear foresight on trends, opportunities and risks - informing recommendations that drive growth for both customers and McCain.
- Deliver Customer Category Growth Plans: Execute category growth strategies in partnership with the Senior Category Manager and the wider Category Growth team. Work closely with environment and channel specialists to tailor initiatives for maximum impact across both Retail and Foodservice.
- Enable Marketing, Innovation & Digital Effectiveness: Support the development of new product, range and activation concepts that grow the Own Label portfolio, ensuring shared value for McCain, customers, consumers and operators. Contribute to the deployment and continual improvement of selling tools, using data and digital capability to increase customer engagement and effectiveness.
- Lead Customer & Stakeholder Engagement: Act as a trusted partner to key Retail and Foodservice customers, leveraging category expertise, the 3Cs framework and customer communication plans to build strong, value-added relationships. Collaborate with UK and European commercial and innovation teams to develop compelling, insight-led Own Label proposals for customer meetings, range reviews and new business development.
- Apply Advanced Data & Analytical Capability: Confidently query, interpret and translate complex data into actionable commercial recommendations. Leverage market research, loyalty card data, shopper panels and operator insights to inform category decisions.
Qualifications: 3-5 years' experience in category management, insight, commercial support or product development within FMCG/CPG, ideally with exposure to Retail and/or Foodservice environments. A strong track record of turning consumer and market insight into action, with the ability to develop clear, commercially relevant recommendations. Advanced analytical capability, with hands-on experience using key data sources and tools, including: Retail: Kantar, Circana (formerly IRI/Nielsen), dunnhumby; Foodservice: Lumina Intelligence, Circana CREST; Additional tools: PowerBI, SAP BI, Excel and CRM platforms (e.g. Salesforce).
The benefits of working for McCain. For working hard, you will also get a great salary and some pretty good benefits including: A generous Car Allowance, an achievable yearly bonus based on personal performance, an excellent pension where we will pay double what you do, up to a maximum of 12% of your pay, flexible holidays - where you can buy & sell up to 5 days holiday per year, optional health cash plan, Cycle to work scheme, 'Chips In' Volunteering Day Off.
Category Manager, Category Strategy & Own Label in Scarborough employer: McCain Foods (GB) Ltd
At McCain, we pride ourselves on being a family-owned company that values authenticity, trust, and quality. Our hybrid working model allows for flexibility while fostering collaboration in our Scarborough office, where employees can thrive in a supportive environment that prioritises personal growth and community impact. With competitive benefits, including a generous pension scheme and opportunities for career advancement, McCain is an excellent employer for those looking to make a meaningful contribution in the food industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Manager, Category Strategy & Own Label in Scarborough
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with McCain employees on LinkedIn. Building relationships can open doors that applications alone can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching McCain's values and recent initiatives. Show how your experience aligns with their mission of quality and sustainability. We want to see your passion for the brand!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to articulate your insights on category management and how you can contribute to McCain's growth. Confidence is key, so rehearse until it feels natural.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the McCain family.
We think you need these skills to ace Category Manager, Category Strategy & Own Label in Scarborough
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight how your experience aligns with the role of Category Manager. Use keywords from the job description to show that you understand what McCain is looking for.
Showcase Your Data Skills:Since this role involves a lot of data analysis, don’t forget to mention any relevant tools or software you’ve used. Whether it’s PowerBI or Excel, let us know how you’ve leveraged data to drive decisions in your previous roles.
Be Authentic:At McCain, we value authenticity. Don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through in your application. Share your passion for food and how you can contribute to our mission of feeding the world.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to the right people. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role and our company culture there!
How to prepare for a job interview at McCain Foods (GB) Ltd
✨Know Your Data
As a Category Manager, you'll need to leverage data effectively. Brush up on your analytical skills and be prepared to discuss how you've used data in past roles to drive category growth. Familiarise yourself with tools like Kantar and PowerBI, as these will likely come up in conversation.
✨Understand McCain's Values
McCain places a strong emphasis on their core values: Family, Authentic, Trusted, and Quality. Make sure you can articulate how your personal values align with theirs. Think of examples from your experience that demonstrate these values in action.
✨Prepare Insightful Questions
Interviews are a two-way street! Prepare thoughtful questions about McCain's category strategies and how they plan to innovate in the Own Label space. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if it's the right fit for you.
✨Showcase Collaboration Skills
This role involves working closely with various teams, so be ready to share examples of how you've successfully collaborated in the past. Highlight your communication skills and how you've built relationships with stakeholders to achieve common goals.
