Category Development Manager – Food Full Time NEW

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.