Category Development Manager - Food

Vertical Advantage; City Of London; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Vertical Advantage is partnering with a leading FMCG business in Greater London seeking a Category Manager to unlock category value and growth with retailers. The role focuses on translating market data and insights into actionable plans, building relationships with retail customers, and collaborating with brand marketing, Innovation, and MS&P teams.

You will drive long-term category plans, support NPD initiatives, and deliver financial and strategic objectives across major accounts.

Qualifications

• Experience in category / Category Insight within the FMCG sector.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
• Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills.
• Understanding of category development.

Responsibilities

• Establish the category by developing and executing a long-term plan and strategy.
• Collaborate with commercial and marketing teams to support NPD initiatives.
• Generate category insights by analysing consumer behaviours and market trends.
• Lead Category Management projects to optimise ranges.
• Help deliver financial and strategic objectives.
• Unlock category growth in the grocery channel with key accounts.

Skills

Category insights

Interpersonal skills

Negotiation

Market data interpretation

Education

Degree or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Microsoft Office

Job description

Greater London - Commutable from South/Central London in 30/35 mins

The Business:

We've partnered with a category-leading FMCG business working in the Food & Drink industry that owns some of the most well‑known brands in the category. The company generates a turnover of well over £1 billion globally and is a business that offers loads of great benefits, an exciting culture, training, and progression opportunities.

The Role:

You will be focused on unlocking category value and growth opportunities with retailers through the translation of market data & insight into actionable plans. You will need to broaden the sphere of influence and build close relationships with key external contacts with the retail customers.

Work closely with the brand marketing, Innovation, and MS&P teams and ensure clear category, consumer, shopper, and retailer rationale for the brands and retailer considerations are operated on in the planning/innovation process.

Main Responsibilities

• Establish the category by developing and executing a long-term plan and strategy
• Work with the commercial and marketing teams to support NPD initiatives according to category and customer‑centric thinking
• Generate key category insights by overlooking and analysing consumer behaviours and market trends, identifying new business opportunities
• Optimise ranges by developing and leading Category Management projects
• Help deliver financial and strategic objectives
• Unlock category growth in the grocery channel within 2 of the most strategic accounts

Key Requirements

• Experience in category / Category Insight within the FMCG sector
• Proficient skills in Microsoft Office, including Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint
• Effective interpersonal skills and a strong ability to negotiate
• Strong understanding of category development
• Degree or equivalent