At a Glance
- Tasks: Develop and execute customer category plans for leading wholesale and convenience accounts.
- Company: Join Nestlé, a global leader in confectionery with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous holidays, and personal development opportunities.
- Other info: Flexible working options and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make an impact with iconic brands while driving category growth and insights.
- Qualifications: Experience in FMCG category management and a passion for data-driven decision making.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 45000 £ per year.
Business Area: Nestlé UK&I - Confectionery
Customer Category Manager – Wholesale & Convenience: Fixed Term Contract up to 12 months
Location: York (Hybrid working – approx. 2-3 flexible days a week at our office)
Salary: £40k to £45k pro rata dependent upon experience
Some of our other fantastic benefits:
- Potential, discretionary annual bonus
- Generous pension scheme
- 12 flexible days on top of 25 days annual holiday entitlement pro rata
- 2 paid volunteering days
- A focus on personal development and growth
Although this is a full time temporary opportunity, please speak to us about what flexibility means to you as we are always open to discussing individual’s flexible working needs, don’t let this stop you from applying.
Position Summary:
Nestlé Confectionery is an exciting and forward-thinking place to work. As part of the Nestlé Confectionery UK team, you could be working with some of the world’s best-known and most-loved brands, many of which have been enjoyed for generations. We strive to put the consumer at the heart of everything we do and deliver the best-tasting and most permissible treats for consumers day after day.
Across our category function we are a hugely supportive team, sharing the value of open communication whilst working towards common but ambitious strategic goals.
We are recruiting for a Customer Category Manager to join the team on a 12 month fixed term contract, reporting into the Customer Category Lead. This is an exciting and pivotal role that will see you develop, manage and execute our customer category plans working in partnership with some of our key wholesale & convenience accounts. We are looking for an experienced professional who has the ability to be category centric, always ‘put the category first’ ensuring we operate as a partner to our customers.
What’s key is that we deliver value adding insight that drives category growth for the long term with our customers and which enables Nestlé to build plans which support that growth.
Your impact:
You will be responsible for developing and deploying tailored channel and category plans at a customer level, including point of purchase solutions to deliver overall category performance resulting in market share growth for Nestlé, whilst ensuring impartiality with the customer. You will also:
- Build great external relationships to become the leader of our customers’ thinking and actions and by being their first port of call as a trusted source for Buying / Merchandising / Ranging Teams relating to any category questions, insight and growth recommendations
- Execute Nestlé category strategy, personalisation of the category strategy to meet the retailer’s needs and generate engagement and commitment
- Successfully execute the category drivers for the channel within your customer via the delivery of the point of purchase (POP) Vision, through adjacency and flow recommendations to retailers at range reviews and throughout the year to deliver the Perfect Store
- Deliver best in class insight to influence retailers to land best in class executions online & in store.
- Have a deep understanding of the role of the shopper across different store formats and online within the market
- Closely monitor industry and competitor activity, to ensure our strategic commercial vision is in line with market demands in a constantly changing, competitive environment that we work in
- Work closely with internal teams at Nestlé to bring the outside in and ensure our NPD / brand pipelines suit the customer and consumer need.
Your ingredients for success:
To be successful, you will already have some fantastic category and / or commercial experience within FMCG with proven delivery in a previous category role. You will be passionate, tenacious, results driven and enjoy working in a highly energetic and exciting environment. Acting as an ambassador for our Nestlé Confectionery brands, you will be commercially aware and have experience of influencing across all levels internally and externally, ideally within a matrix structure.
You will also:
- Have a great analytical approach to drive insight and be able to transform data into compelling stories that drives actions and return on investment
- Be curious to understand the changing shopper dynamics, and have an energy to translate insights into clear recommendations that drive category growth
- Ideally, have experience of creating and selling winning category plans within an FMCG environment
- Be resilient, adaptable, demonstrating an agility to use your initiative to solve challenges rapidly and often in a creative way
- Understand the importance and benefits of working in a customer centric way
- Be courageous, we’re not afraid to think differently and embrace new ideas. We embrace new thinking to drive great results and change
- Love of learning, understanding 'why?' and ability to share this both externally and internally in a compelling way
- A desire to step beyond the role to get involved in activities that benefit communities and groups we share support.
What you need to know:
Advert posting date: 04/06/2026
Advert closing date: 19/06/2026
We will be considering candidates as they apply and we will occasionally close job advertisements early in the event we receive sufficient applicants, so please don’t delay in submitting your application.
At Nestlé, our values are rooted in respect and we believe that embracing diversity and fostering an inclusive environment allows everyone to reach their full potential and drives innovative thinking. We strongly encourage applications from individuals of all gender identities, ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities, parents, carers and members of the LGBT+ community. Please let us know if we can provide accommodations to ensure your full participation in the application process.
We take pride in championing inclusion and diversity. We proudly signed the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter, are committed to Disability Confidence, and have been recognised as a Times Top 50 Employer for gender equality for three consecutive years. Additionally, we are a headline partner of Diversity and Inclusion in grocery.
To find out more about Nestle’s commitment to DEI: Nestlé's Commitment to a Diverse and Inclusive Workplace
To find out more about your recruitment journey with Nestle: Recruitment Journey | Nestlé UK & Ireland
Customer Category Manager - Wholesale & Convenience employer: Nestlé Global
Nestlé UK&I is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in York with hybrid working options that promote flexibility and work-life balance. Employees benefit from a generous pension scheme, additional holiday entitlements, and a strong focus on personal development, ensuring that team members can grow and thrive within the company. With a commitment to diversity and inclusion, Nestlé fosters a supportive culture where innovative thinking is encouraged, making it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding careers.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Customer Category Manager - Wholesale & Convenience
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its products. Understand their values and how they align with your own. This will help you answer questions confidently and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of the team.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain why you're the perfect fit for the Customer Category Manager role. Highlight your experience in FMCG and how you can drive category growth. Keep it concise and engaging!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Customer Category Manager - Wholesale & Convenience
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Customer Category Manager role. Highlight your relevant experience in FMCG and how it aligns with Nestlé's values and goals. We want to see how you can bring your unique skills to our team!
Showcase Your Insights:Demonstrate your analytical skills by sharing examples of how you've transformed data into actionable insights in previous roles. We love candidates who can tell a compelling story with numbers, so don’t hold back on showcasing your successes!
Be Authentic:Let your personality shine through in your application. We value creativity and fresh ideas, so don’t be afraid to express your passion for the confectionery industry and how you can contribute to our mission at Nestlé.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. 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 Nestlé Global
✨Know Your Category Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into the confectionery market and understand the latest trends, consumer behaviours, and key competitors. This knowledge will help you demonstrate your analytical skills and show that you're ready to drive category growth.
✨Showcase Your Relationship-Building Skills
Prepare examples of how you've built strong relationships with customers or stakeholders in previous roles. Nestlé values collaboration, so be ready to discuss how you can become a trusted partner for their wholesale and convenience accounts.
✨Bring Data to Life
Think about how you can transform data into compelling stories. Prepare to share specific instances where your insights led to actionable results. This will highlight your ability to influence decisions and drive performance.
✨Embrace Flexibility and Curiosity
Nestlé appreciates candidates who are adaptable and eager to learn. Be prepared to discuss how you've navigated changes in your previous roles and how your curiosity has driven your success. This will resonate well with their customer-centric approach.