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- Tasks: Lead category strategy and drive trading performance in the pet food sector.
- Company: Join Pet Drugs Online, a top UK supplier of veterinary medicines and pet products.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, inclusive culture, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on pet health and happiness while shaping the future of retail.
- Qualifications: 5-7 years in category management with strong negotiation and analytical skills.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace committed to your success.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Pet Drugs Online is proud to be one of the UK’s leading suppliers of affordable veterinary medicines and pet products, committed to ensuring the best possible care for every pet. As a major retailer and a member of IVC Evidensia, the largest veterinary group in the UK and Europe, we work to enhance the health and happiness of pets nationwide!
About the role
This is a high-impact role with end-to-end responsibility for category strategy, trading performance, supplier partnerships, pricing, promotional planning, and customer experience across both VEF and Retail Food. If you thrive on autonomy, commercial accountability and delivering tangible results, this is the role for you.
What you’ll do
- Develop strong range architecture and run reviews to optimise performance and customer relevance.
- Identify opportunities for growth, innovation and line exits.
- Negotiate costs, terms and funding, securing vendor income across all streams.
- Build strong supplier partnerships to drive collaboration and innovation.
- Track trading results and act quickly to maximise sales and margin.
- Partner with Supply Chain to improve availability, forecasting and OTIF.
- Implement plans to address underperformance.
- Maintain competitive pricing and develop promotional and seasonal plans with supplier support.
- Collaborate with Digital Trading to execute promotions online.
- Ensure accurate product data, imagery and compliance across all touchpoints.
- Work with Digital, Content and Ops to improve discoverability and conversion.
- Partner with Supply Chain, Pricing, Marketing, Digital, Operations and Finance.
- Deliver plans through clear commercial storytelling and data-led insight.
What you’ll bring
- 5–7+ years’ experience in category management, buying or commercial trading.
- Proven expertise within grocery, FMCG, pet food or multi-SKU retail.
- Strong negotiation skills with a track record of securing vendor income.
- Excellent analytical capability and confidence owning a P&L.
- Experience building ranges, pricing strategies and trading plans.
- Strong communication and influencing skills across all levels.
- A proactive, organised and commercially sharp mindset.
Ready to make an impact? Apply today and help us build the future of Pet Food retail.
At IVC Evidensia we are committed to Diversity, Equality, Inclusion and Belonging, we are keen to hear from candidates from all minority and diverse groups. As a Disability Confident Employer, we are keen to hear from candidates with disabilities and long-term health conditions and would be happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments needed during the recruitment process.
Any questions before applying? Speak to Danielle Hughes from our recruitment team who would be happy to help you with any questions you have before applying for this role.
Senior Category Manager - Pet Food in Keynsham employer: VC Evidensia UK
Contact Detail:
VC Evidensia UK Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Category Manager - Pet Food in Keynsham
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Before your interview, dive into Pet Drugs Online’s history and values. This will not only help you tailor your answers but also show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their journey.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare some solid questions to ask during your interview. Think about what you want to know regarding their category strategy or how they measure success in trading performance. This shows you’re engaged and ready to contribute!
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your negotiation skills! Be ready to discuss past experiences where you’ve successfully secured vendor income or improved supplier partnerships. Real-life examples can make a huge impact!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it gives you a chance to showcase your enthusiasm for the role right from the start.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Category Manager - Pet Food in Keynsham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Senior Category Manager role. Highlight your experience in category management, especially within the pet food or FMCG sectors. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about pet care and how your background makes you the perfect fit for our team. Keep it engaging and relevant to the role.
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! Use numbers and examples to demonstrate how you've driven trading performance or secured vendor income in previous roles. We love seeing tangible results!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smooth application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from our team!
