Category Executive

BBF Limited; Hull and East Yorkshire; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK manufacturer based in Hull is seeking a Category Executive for a 12-month contract. The role focuses on capturing category insights to support decision-making across various functions. Ideal candidates should have strong analytical skills and be knowledgeable about the retail environment. This position offers a hybrid working model and various employee benefits including competitive salary, pension, and dedicated development support.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Pension

Life Assurance

Online GP service

Free on-site parking

25 days holiday

Qualifications

• Graduate with commercial role experience preferred.
• Experience in Private Label is beneficial.
• Strong numeric skills to interpret data.

Responsibilities

• Utilise category insight from various data sources.
• Support category development with insights.
• Collaborate with teams to deliver insights.

Skills

Business acumen

Relationship building

Analytical skills

Knowledge of retail environment

Proficient in Microsoft Office

Education

Graduate (Business preferred)

Tools

EPOS systems

Consumer data systems (e.g., IRI, Nielsen)

Job description

Category Executive (12 month Fixed Term Contract)

Hull, Humberside; Hybrid Working; BBF Limited

Overview

We are currently recruiting a Category Executive to join either our Hull or Blackburn site on a 12/13 month contract. The role will capture category intelligence and shopper behaviour to support category, NPD and commercial decision‑making, customer plans, activation and engagement.

Responsibilities

• Utilise category insight from multiple data sources (internal and retailer) to fulfill data requirements.
• Support category development by following the retailer’s marketing cycle with Category & Insight leaders.
• Provide ad‑hoc and continuous reporting of category insights to internal and external stakeholders.
• Manage ongoing category relationships with commercial and NPD colleagues.
• Collaborate with commercial & NPD teams to deliver insights on market opportunities.
• Work with Head of Category & Insight to deliver key insights and recommendations for category/range reviews and retailer initiatives.
• Create, manage and deliver continuous reports and deliverables to key customers and internal stakeholders.

Qualifications & Experience

• Graduate (Business preferred but not essential) and/or some commercial role experience.
• Gap/sandwich year at university beneficial.
• Experience in Private Label (beneficial).
• Previous customer‑facing experience & relationship building track record (beneficial).
• Use of EPOS and consumer data (IRI, Nielsen, Kantar WorldOnline) beneficial.
• Experience with other data systems (Co Op Hive, M&S Unify, i2C, Dunnhumby) advantageous.
• Use of social media advantageous.

Skills & Knowledge

• Good all‑round business acumen.
• Knowledge of the retail environment and grocery channel outlook.
• Understanding of the bakery and chilled desserts markets (beneficial).
• Knowledge of Private Label differentiation and marketplace interactions.
• Proficient use of Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word).
• Ability to work collaboratively in a fast‑paced environment.
• Attention to detail and ability to work under pressure.
• Strong numeric and analytical skills to interpret data and make confident recommendations.
• Full driver’s licence.

Benefits

• Competitive salary depending on experience.
• Pension.
• 4× Life Assurance/Death in Service Benefit.
• Access to the company Benefits Hub and Company Shop discount.
• 25 days holiday (plus bank holidays).
• 24/7 Online GP service.
• Dedicated in‑house Learning & Development team and online training platform.
• Free on‑site parking, canteen and cake shop.

Recruitment Agencies

We operate a recruitment PSC when required, and if you are a recruitment agency, please note that any CVs sent to our staff will be treated as a gift and no fee will be liable. Speculative contact is not encouraged.

About the Company

BBF Limited is one of the UK’s leading ambient cake and chilled dessert manufacturers, supplying major retailers and European markets. We produce a wide range of cakes, pies and desserts, and value placing customers at the heart of everything we do. With nearly 1,400 employees, we are excited to grow our team and look forward to exceptional talent across all levels.