We are currently looking for a Category Planner to join the Grocery Food team here at Sainsbury’s. To succeed in the highly competitive landscape of grocery retail, you must be bold, make decisions quickly, and spot opportunities where others do not. We’re looking for a motivated, organised & commercially minded individual who is passionate about Retail and excited to play a pivotal role in the success of Sainsbury’s largest food category. Our Grocery Food team is a diverse group of problem solvers and strategic thinkers, passionate about delivering exceptional experiences for our customers. You’ll join a collaborative environment where ideas are valued, and innovation drives success.
More About The Role
As a Category Planner in the Grocery Food team, you’ll be responsible for coordinating and optimising the promotional strategy across all secondary space, key events, and channels. You will work alongside a range of stakeholders, from Buyers through to Marketing and Space teams, as well as external partners in our supply base.
Day-to-day, you will own and oversee the promotional plan across promotional space, in-aisle and online, ensuring messages land effectively with customers to drive incremental sales and volume. You’ll activate plans within required timelines, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and use insight and data to inform decisions and lead performance reviews.
More About You
To succeed in this role, you’ll need excellent project management and strong communication skills to build relationships and influence stakeholders. You should be highly organised, thrive on planning and prioritising, and demonstrate initiative to solve problems and improve processes.
We’re looking for someone who is ambitious, motivated, and eager to learn and grow. You’ll be confident using Excel and PowerPoint, and able to manage projects effectively to deliver results.
Essential Criteria
All candidates must demonstrate the following:
- Project management, organisational, and stakeholder management skills, with strong abilities to influence
- Demonstrable commitment to compliance, simplicity, and continuous improvement to processes
- Proven customer-centricity, with experience using qualitative and quantitative insights
- Basic Excel skills (VLookups) and understanding of commericals, advanced analysis not required
Starting off with colleague discount, you\'ll be able to get 10% off at Sainsbury\'s, Argos, TU and Habitat after 4 weeks. This increases to 15% off at Sainsbury’s every Friday and Saturday and 15% off at Argos every pay day. We\'ve also got you covered for your future with our pensions scheme and life cover. You\'ll also be able to share in our success as you may be eligible for a performance-related bonus of up to 20% of salary, depending on how we perform.
Your wellbeing is important to us too. You\'ll receive an annual holiday allowance, and you can buy additional holiday. We also offer other benefits that will help your money go further such as season ticket loans, interest free car loan of up to £10k, cycle to work scheme, health cash plans, pay advance (where you can access some of your pay before pay day) as well access to a great range of discounts from hundreds of other retailers. And if you ever need it there is also an Employee Assistance Programme, you will also be eligible for private healthcare too.
Moments that matter are as important to us as they are to you which is why we give up to 26 weeks’ pay for maternity or adoption leave and up to 4 weeks’ pay for paternity leave.
Please see www.sainsburys.jobs for a range of our benefits (note, length of service and eligibility criteria may apply).
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Planner - Grocery Food (C4) in Slough
✨Get Your Retail Game On
Start by getting to know the local retail scene. Make a list of stores that align with your vibe and visit them. You'll be surprised at how many job openings come from chatting with staff or managers in-store. Plus, showing that you have a genuine interest in their brand can make you stand out when applying for that full-time role!
✨Join Retail Networks and Forums
Tap into retail-specific communities and forums, whether online or in-person. Platforms like Retail Week or local retail meetups can provide invaluable insights and connections. You never know who might drop a tip about an upcoming job at companies like Sainsbury's, so don’t miss out on building those relationships!
✨Be Ready for Busy Season Opportunities
Keep your eyes peeled for seasonal hiring windows, especially in the run-up to major shopping periods. Retailers often look for full-time staff to carry through busy times and may even keep you on after the season. Stay proactive by regularly checking in with your favourite retailers about their hiring plans.
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail’s all about customer interactions, so make sure you showcase any relevant experience in your conversations and interviews. Share specific examples of your customer service skills and how they’ve led to positive outcomes. This is your moment to shine when applying to roles at places like Sainsbury's!
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Customer Service Skills:In retail, customer service is key! Make sure your CV highlights any experience where you've dealt with customers, whether it’s resolving issues or enhancing the shopping experience. Use concrete examples to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and ability to handle difficult situations with ease.
Tailor Your CV for Retail:When applying for a full-time role like this one at Sainsbury's, customise your CV to reflect retail-specific buzzwords. Include any relevant skills such as inventory management or visual merchandising, and if you have experience with POS systems, shout about it! This will show you’re serious about joining the retail team.
Craft a Genuine Cover Letter:Don’t just repeat your CV in your cover letter! Use it as a chance to explain why you're excited about the opportunity at Sainsbury's and how your values align with their brand. Mention specific aspects of the company that resonate with you and let your enthusiasm shine through!
Highlight Your Adaptability:In retail, things can get busy and unpredictable, so demonstrate how adaptable and flexible you are. Share examples of times you've had to adjust your approach on the fly or take on new responsibilities. This will show Sainsbury's that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sainsbury's
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail is all about providing an exceptional customer experience, so be ready to discuss your past customer service stories. We should have examples on hand of how we've handled difficult situations or gone above and beyond to meet a customer's needs. These anecdotes will bring your application to life!
✨Familiarity with Point of Sale Systems
Many retail roles require us to work with Point of Sale (POS) systems, so it's a good idea to brush up on any relevant software you’ve used before. If you’re familiar with systems like Shopify or Square, don’t forget to mention this during the interview. Highlighting technical proficiency can set us apart from other candidates!
✨Understand Product Knowledge
Be prepared to discuss the products that the store sells and how we can contribute to their sales. Showing enthusiasm for the products and a willingness to learn can impress interviewers. We should research popular items or trends in the industry before the interview, so we can speak confidently about them.
✨Be Ready for Role-Playing Scenarios
Many retail interviews include role-playing scenarios where we might have to deal with a difficult customer or upsell a product. Practising these scenarios with a friend or family member can help us feel more comfortable. The key here is to showcase our problem-solving skills and ability to remain calm under pressure!
