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- Tasks: Lead category strategy and influence decisions for a major grocery retailer.
- Company: Join a top FMCG business known for its innovative approach and strong brand portfolio.
- Benefits: Hybrid working model, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with a focus on driving category growth and seasonal opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the grocery market with data-driven insights and strategic leadership.
- Qualifications: Experience as a Category Manager in FMCG and strong analytical skills required.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
Overview of the Business
Our client is a leading FMCG business with a strong presence across the UK grocery market and a portfolio of well-established brands. Operating as a category leader, the business is known for its insight-led approach, collaborative culture and ability to build high-impact retail partnerships. They are recognised as the number one partner for objective, data-driven category insight within their core category, and continue to invest heavily in strengthening customer relationships and driving category growth.
Overview of the Role
This is a pivotal Category Manager role with ownership of a highly strategic UK grocery retail account. Acting as the lead Category Advisor, you will play a critical role in influencing customer decision-making, shaping category strategy and delivering measurable growth. The role requires an established Category Manager who can confidently operate at a senior level with customers, particularly within range reviews and category planning. You will combine strong analytical capability with commercial acumen and storytelling to influence outcomes and deliver win-win solutions. In addition to customer ownership, you will lead a key internal project focused on expanding seasonal opportunities across the product range, driving incremental growth and unlocking new consumption occasions.
Responsibilities
- Customer & Category Leadership
- Act as the lead Category Advisor for a major grocery retailer, building strong, trusted relationships across Buying, Merchandising and Category teams.
- Influence and shape customer decisions through best-in-class category insight and strategic recommendations.
- Lead category input into range reviews, with a strong focus on delivering successful outcomes and winning space.
- Develop and execute category growth plans aligned to both customer strategy and internal objectives.
- Embed a clear category vision that identifies long- and short-term growth opportunities.
- Insight & Analysis
- Analyse market, shopper and customer data to identify trends, risks and opportunities.
- Translate complex data into clear, compelling and actionable recommendations.
- Develop category reporting, scorecards and performance tracking tools.
- Leverage multiple data sources to build robust, insight-led selling stories.
- Commercial & Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner closely with Sales teams to deliver insight-led customer presentations and support commercial negotiations.
- Act as the voice of the customer internally, ensuring insights shape business decisions and planning cycles.
- Collaborate with Brand, Marketing and Insights teams to align category strategy with wider business objectives.
- Strategic Projects
- Lead a high-profile internal project focused on expanding seasonal opportunities within the product portfolio.
- Identify new occasions, formats and activation opportunities to drive incremental category growth.
- Work cross-functionally to deliver seasonal initiatives from concept through to execution.
- Capability & Influence
- Upskill internal stakeholders on category thinking, tools and insight application.
- Share best practice across the wider commercial organisation.
- Support senior stakeholders with category input into business reviews and strategic planning.
Qualifications
- Degree educated or equivalent.
- Proven experience operating at Category Manager level within FMCG.
- Strong track record of influencing UK grocery retailers, particularly within range reviews.
- Advanced analytical capability with experience using market data (e.g. Nielsen, Kantar or similar).
- Strong commercial acumen with the ability to translate insight into action.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to influence at all levels.
- Advanced Excel and data manipulation capability.
Key Competencies:
- Strategic thinking and problem solving
- Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills
- Ability to communicate complex data in a clear, compelling way
- High levels of drive, resilience and accountability
The role works on a hybrid model and would need someone to be in the West London office 3 days a week.
Category Development Manager - Food in London employer: Vertical Advantage
Contact Detail:
Vertical Advantage Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Development Manager - Food in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the FMCG space. Attend industry events, join relevant online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by practising your storytelling skills. You’ll want to showcase your analytical prowess and how you’ve influenced decisions in past roles. Use real examples that highlight your impact and make sure to align them with the company’s goals.
✨Tip Number 3
Research the company thoroughly before any meeting. Understand their brands, market position, and recent news. This will not only help you tailor your responses but also show that you’re genuinely interested in the role and the business.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged with our platform. Let’s get you that Category Development Manager role!
We think you need these skills to ace Category Development Manager - Food in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Category Development Manager role. Highlight your experience in FMCG and any specific achievements that showcase your ability to influence customer decisions and drive category growth.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter should tell a story about your journey in category management. Use it to demonstrate your analytical skills and how you've successfully collaborated with cross-functional teams to achieve results.
Showcase Your Analytical Skills: Since this role requires strong analytical capabilities, be sure to mention any experience you have with market data analysis. Include examples of how you've translated complex data into actionable insights that led to successful outcomes.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. This way, we can easily track your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves!
How to prepare for a job interview at Vertical Advantage
✨Know Your Data
As a Category Development Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your analytical skills. Brush up on market data sources like Nielsen and Kantar, and be ready to discuss how you've used data to influence decisions in the past. Prepare specific examples that showcase your ability to translate complex data into actionable insights.
✨Build Your Story
Storytelling is key in this role. Think about how you can weave your experiences into a compelling narrative that highlights your achievements in category management. Practice articulating how you've shaped category strategies and influenced customer decisions, making sure to emphasise the impact of your work.
✨Showcase Collaboration Skills
This position requires strong cross-functional collaboration. Be prepared to discuss how you've worked with sales, marketing, and insights teams in the past. Highlight specific projects where your collaborative efforts led to successful outcomes, especially in range reviews or seasonal initiatives.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving and strategic thinking abilities. Think through potential challenges you might face in the role and how you would approach them. Practising these scenarios will help you articulate your thought process clearly during the interview.