Category Development Manager

Lactalis UK & Ireland; Redhill; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 26 days + bank holidays

Enhanced pension

Hybrid and flexible working

Enhanced parental leave

Employee Assistance Programme

Global learning platform access

Grocery Aid support

Job summary

Lactalis UK & Ireland is seeking a Category Development Manager to join our Sales team at Redhill. You will deliver insight-led category recommendations and execute customer-facing plans across cheese and wider dairy categories, translating strategies into actionable range, space and in-store recommendations.

You will work with Commercial, Marketing, RGM & Innovation to build compelling category narratives, support range reviews and new product launches, and drive measurable commercial outcomes

Qualifications

• Experience in Category Development within UK grocery sector.
• Ability to turn data into commercially focused recommendations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Deliver insight-led category recommendations across cheese & wider dairy.
• Execute customer-facing category plans and in-store recommendations.
• Collaborate with Commercial, Marketing, RGM & Innovation to build compelling category stories.
• Support range reviews and new product launches to drive measurable commercial outcomes.

Skills

Analytical skills

Excel

PowerPoint

Storytelling

Influencing stakeholders

Job description

We are looking for a Category Development Manager to join our Sales team based at our Redhill office. The role will be responsible in delivering insight-led category recommendations and execute customer-facing category plans across cheese & wider dairy categories. This will include supporting the development of category strategies and translating them into actionable range, space and in-store recommendations. The role will also work closely with Commercial, Marketing, RGM & Innovation to build compelling category stories, support range reviews and new product launches helping to drive measurable commercial outcomes with key retail customers.

We would like someone who is experienced in Category Development within the UK grocery sector (or a comparable retail market), with strong analytical skills and the ability to turn data and insights into commercially focused recommendations. Skilled at influencing both customers and internal stakeholders through evidence-based storytelling, with a solid understanding of shopper behaviour, category performance, and customer dynamics. Highly proficient in Excel and PowerPoint, with excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to create clear, compelling narratives for a range of audiences.

What you'll get:

26 days annual leave (including bank holidays) + 8 flex days

Enhanced pension, life & critical illness cover

Hybrid and flexible working

Enhanced parental leave

Employee Assistance Programme

Access to our award-winning global learning platform

We’re proud to be a Gold Partner of Grocery Aid and committed to DE&I

About Us:

Lactalis is the world’s largest dairy company, operating in nearly 100 countries. In the UK, we’re home to global brands like Président, Galbani, and Leerdammer, and beloved local names like Seriously, Galloway, and Cricket St. Thomas.