Category Manager

Category Manager

Full-Time 36000 - 60000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Uncover data stories and turn insights into impactful recommendations.
  • Company: Join Pilgrim's Europe, a leader in category growth and innovation.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, enhanced pension, career progression, and employee wellbeing support.
  • Why this job: Be an agent of change and influence major UK retailers.
  • Qualifications: 2+ years in FMCG roles with strong analytical and communication skills.
  • Other info: Collaborative culture where your ideas truly matter.

The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.

Location: Uxbridge (office-based)

Reports to: Category Controller

Are you a storyteller with a commercial edge? Do you thrive on turning data into opportunities? Are you ready to influence some of the biggest retailers in the UK? At Pilgrim's Europe, we're on a mission to drive category growth, shape shopper behaviour, and create long-term wins for our customers — and we're looking for someone exceptional to help lead the way. This is your chance to own the category conversation, challenge the norm, and become the go-to trusted advisor for our retail partners.

What You'll Be Doing

  • Dive into data and uncover the stories behind the numbers.
  • Turn insights into clear, compelling recommendations that inspire action.
  • Bring the shopper and consumer voice to every internal decision.
  • Share regular category updates that get teams thinking differently and moving faster.
  • Build strong, trusted relationships with our retailers.
  • Influence customers with clear category vision and thought leadership.
  • Lead total category range reviews and shape the future product landscape.
  • Become the expert voice customers rely on to drive growth — not just for Pilgrim's, but for the whole category.
  • Support the development of category strategies that unlock new opportunities across channel, shopper and occasion.
  • Tailor strategies into customer-ready plans that deliver true triple wins (Category, Customer, Pilgrim's).
  • Make category-first thinking contagious across your cross‑functional team.
  • Partner with internal teams and external agencies to bring bold ideas to life.

What You'll Bring

  • Confident and engaging communication with strong storytelling flair.
  • Ability to build trusted, influential customer relationships.
  • Analytical strength and ease working with multiple data sources.
  • Curiosity, commercial awareness and a genuine love for understanding shoppers.
  • Confidence to translate insight into simple, powerful messages.
  • Passion for collaboration and driving positive change.

Experience Desired:

  • 2+ years in FMCG roles.
  • Category management experience (own label or brand‑led).
  • Working with UK Grocery Multiples.
  • Experience partnering with external agencies.

Who You Are

You’ll thrive at Pilgrim's if you:

  • Stay open, receptive and ready for new challenges (Availability).
  • Respect and value other viewpoints (Humility).
  • Deliver on commitments, even under pressure (Discipline).
  • Lead with honesty and authenticity (Sincerity).
  • Focus on what really matters to drive impact (Simplicity).
  • Take full accountability and push hard for success (Ownership & Determination).

You're not just a Category Manager — you're an agent of change, a champion of insight, and a driver of growth.

Why Pilgrim's Europe?

Because here, your voice matters and your impact is real. You'll enjoy:

  • A competitive salary with regular performance reviews.
  • Enhanced pension contributions.
  • A clear path for professional development and career progression.
  • Opportunities to influence some of the UK's biggest retailers.
  • A supportive, collaborative culture where your ideas are heard.
  • Employee wellbeing support.
  • Recognition programmes to celebrate innovation and results.
  • Access to employee savings and discount schemes.

Ready to influence the future of the category? Apply now and take your next step with Pilgrim's Europe — where insight meets opportunity, and where you can make a real difference.

Category Manager employer: Pilgrims Europe

At Pilgrim's Europe, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that values your voice and impact. Located in Uxbridge, our supportive and collaborative culture fosters innovation and personal growth, offering a clear path for professional development alongside competitive salaries and enhanced pension contributions. Join us to influence leading UK retailers while enjoying employee wellbeing support and recognition programmes that celebrate your contributions.
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Contact Detail:

Pilgrims Europe Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Category Manager

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, or even reach out to folks on LinkedIn. The more connections you make, the better your chances of landing that Category Manager role.

✨Tip Number 2

Show off your storytelling skills! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, share how you've turned data into actionable insights in past roles. Make it relatable and engaging — they want to see your passion for influencing shopper behaviour.

✨Tip Number 3

Prepare for those interviews by diving deep into the company’s category strategies. Know their products, understand their market position, and be ready to discuss how you can help shape their future product landscape. This shows you're not just interested, but invested!

✨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 are proactive about joining our team at Pilgrim's Europe. Let’s make that impact together!

We think you need these skills to ace Category Manager

Data Analysis
Storytelling
Communication Skills
Relationship Building
Category Management
Commercial Awareness
Insight Translation
Collaboration
Influencing Skills
Strategic Thinking
Problem-Solving
Curiosity
Adaptability
Project Management

Some tips for your application 🫡

Craft Your Story: We want to hear your unique story! Make sure to weave in your experiences and how they relate to the role of Category Manager. Highlight your storytelling flair and how you've turned data into actionable insights in past roles.

Showcase Your Analytical Skills: Dive deep into your application by showcasing your analytical strengths. Use specific examples where you've worked with data to influence decisions or drive growth. Remember, we love a good data-driven narrative!

Build Relationships: Since building trusted relationships is key, share instances where you've successfully collaborated with teams or external partners. We’re looking for those who can influence and inspire, so let that shine through in your application.

Keep It Simple and Impactful: When writing your application, focus on clarity and simplicity. Avoid jargon and make your points easy to understand. We appreciate straightforward communication that gets to the heart of your message — just like we do at Pilgrim's!

How to prepare for a job interview at Pilgrims Europe

✨Know Your Data Inside Out

As a Category Manager, you'll need to dive deep into data. Before the interview, familiarise yourself with key metrics and trends in the FMCG sector. Be ready to discuss how you've turned data into actionable insights in your previous roles.

✨Craft Your Storytelling Skills

Since storytelling is crucial for this role, practice articulating your experiences in a compelling way. Think about how you can weave data insights into narratives that resonate with retailers and showcase your impact.

✨Build Relationships Virtually

Demonstrate your ability to build trusted relationships even before you step into the role. Prepare examples of how you've successfully collaborated with cross-functional teams or external agencies to drive category growth.

✨Showcase Your Curiosity and Commercial Awareness

Be prepared to discuss recent trends in shopper behaviour and how they might influence category strategies. Show your enthusiasm for understanding what drives consumers and how you can leverage that knowledge to create winning plans.

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