Category Controller - Grocery - Global FMCG Drinks

New Chapter Consulting; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading consulting firm is seeking an experienced Category Management Lead – Grocery to influence major grocery retailers in the UK. This role involves leading a team of professionals to deliver strategic category management and drive growth in the soft drinks sector. The ideal candidate will have over 5 years of experience in category management and a strong background in grocery. This high-impact leadership position offers national responsibility and the chance to shape future commercial strategies.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in category management, sales or retail.
• Strong customer-facing background.
• Grocery experience is essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach and develop a team of Grocery Category Managers.
• Own and lead the grocery-specific category strategy.
• Be the soft drinks expert across core and emerging sub-categories.
• Contribute to overall commercial strategy and team culture.
• Contribute to overall commercial strategy and people development.

Skills

Strategic thinker with strong commercial acumen

Excellent coaching and people leadership skills

Confident senior-level influencer

Highly analytical with strong insight capability

Commercial acumen

Coaching

Job description

We are looking for an experienced Category Management Lead – Grocery to lead a high‑performing team and deliver best‑in‑class soft drinks category management across key UK grocery customers.

This role is responsible for building deep, strategic partnerships with major grocery retailers, driving category growth ahead of the market, and delivering “perfect store” execution with a strong focus on main placement.

You will operate at senior customer level, influencing Buying Managers, Heads of Merchandising and Category Directors, while shaping long‑term category strategy and future‑facing thought leadership.

Key Responsibilities

Lead & Coach the Grocery Category Team

• Lead, coach and develop a team of 4 Grocery Category Managers (overall team of 8)
• Build technical category expertise and coach individuals to their strengths.
• Create a strong talent pipeline for future category and commercial roles.

Develop & Deliver Grocery Category Strategy

• Own and lead the grocery‑specific category strategy in partnership with the Grocery Channel Manager.
• Develop category principles, projects and plans and deploy them across the channel.
• Drive availability and distribution agendas using store‑level data and insights.

Soft Drinks Category Expertise

• Be the soft drinks expert across core and emerging sub‑categories.
• Use world‑class shopper and sales insights to grow total category performance ahead of market.
• Stay ahead of market trends, regulation and industry changes (e.g. HFSS, DRS, Soft Drinks Industry Levy).
• Lead the delivery of the NPD pipeline within grocery.
• Use channel‑specific data to influence innovation strategy.
• Ensure strong, insight‑led selling stories and competitive distribution at launch.
• Build and manage multi‑tier relationships across key customers, including:
• Buying Managers
• Heads of Merchandising
• Category Directors
• Influence long‑term, strategic decisions that go beyond individual sub‑categories.

Leadership Within Customer Marketing

• Be a key leader within the Customer Marketing leadership team.
• Contribute to overall commercial strategy, team culture and people development.

What We’re Looking For

Experience

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in category management, sales or retail.
• Strong customer‑facing background.
• Grocery experience is essential.

Skills & Attributes

• Strategic thinker with strong commercial acumen.
• Confident senior‑level influencer.
• Excellent coaching and people leadership skills.
• Highly analytical with strong insight capability.

Why This Role?

This is a high‑impact leadership role with national responsibility, offering the opportunity to shape the future of the soft drinks category in one of the most competitive retail environments. You’ll work at the forefront of category strategy, influence major commercial decisions, and develop a best‑in‑class team.