Category Development Manager

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners plc; Hawridge; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners plc in the UK seeks a Category Development Manager to lead the Soft Drinks category strategy across key environments and customers. You will work under the Senior Category Manager to unlock growth and deliver strategic plans with major accounts.

The role requires strategic thinking, strong influencing skills, and collaboration with internal teams such as National Accounts and Insights.

Qualifications

• Experience developing category strategies for soft drinks or FMCG.
• Ability to build plans with key accounts and drive growth.
• Proven ability to engage with buyers, merchandisers and category directors.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a category strategy to unlock growth.
• Land range relays, macro space resets, tenders and renegotiations.
• Engage with customers and stakeholders to align category plans.
• Deliver regular quality category analysis reports.

Skills

Category Management

Stakeholder Influence

Analytical Thinking

Data & Insights

FMCG Experience

Job description

Make an impact in ways that matter. Join a business built on trusted brands, great people and teamwork, where care and fresh ideas help keep things moving. Here, your contribution helps serve our customers, support our operations and enable our teams to do their best work. You'll be encouraged to bring your strengths, supported to grow, and welcomed into a team where we make a meaningful difference together.

Category Development Manager - AFH Location

Uxbridge Contract

Permanent Role closing date 20/10/2026

What you become part of: In an increasingly competitive and challenging market place, at CCEP we see the role of the Category Development Manager as pivotal to delivering our business performance.

The team's primary objective is to deliver an inspiring and insightful vision for the Soft Drinks category, today and in the future across the various Environments.

In order to unlock growth we need our team to be strategic, long term focused, analytical and great influencers to work in partnership with our customers and key internal stakeholders.

Reporting in to the Senior Category Manager you will be responsible for the development and implementation of a category strategy to unlock growth potential.

• Support in the development of a clear vision for the Soft Drinks category, creating a framework for growth with a clear and relevant category strategy across key environments and customers
• Develop strategic plans with key accounts that identify opportunities to drive performance
• Drive CCEP strategic thinking and value creation story with Customers by engaging with Buyers, Merchandisers and Category Directors
• Land range relays, macro space resets, tenders/ re-negotiations, channel strategy visions and Customer Business Planning Days
• Establish and maintain a mutually beneficial customer contact strategy and help broaden our engagement with customers
• Work in collaboration with key internal stakeholders (including National Accounts, Activation, R&MGM and Insights) to ensure alignment and execution against the category and brand strategies
• Ensure delivery of quality category analysis reports, delivering insight to our customers on a regular basis utilise external providers to ensure we have access to the highest quality data & insight available for our customers and environments.
• Drive change by launching strategic projects such as channel strategy across key customers

Skills & Experience

• Demonstrate passion, proactive ownership and resilience for growing the category
• Strong listening and influencing skills at various levels within the organisation and with customers
• Ability to influence diverse stakeholder groups
• Resilience, determination, and drive are key
• In-depth knowledge of Nielsen, CGA, Lumina, IGD and other data & insight providers
• Previous FMCG Category Management experience is desirable but not essential

Behaviours

• Drive for innovation, change, agile, curious mind set, resilience, determination, and drive are key

We are Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP), with 39,000 people serving 4 million customers across 31 markets.

We combine the scale of a large multinational business with expert local knowledge of the customers and communities we serve, investing, employing, manufacturing and distributing locally.

At CCEP, we welcome people from all backgrounds and value the experiences and perspectives they bring.

We are committed to an inclusive workplace where everyone can be themselves, feel respected and thrive.

This commitment is reflected in our recognition as a Top Employer by the Top Employers Institute and as a Disability Confident Leader.

If you need any adjustments or support during the recruitment process, please let us know when you apply so we can support you to perform at your best.

We recognise that some people may prefer not to participate in alcohol-related sales, interactions or promotions.

If this applies to you, please speak with your Talent Acquisition contact, who can advise whether this role includes activities related to our alcohol portfolio.