Category Manager

Alexander Steele Recruitment; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Alexander Steele is partnering with a leading UK food manufacturer to recruit a Category Manager for the Category & Insights team. You will own assigned retailers and categories, partnering with major UK grocers to translate shopper and market data into commercial recommendations.

The role focuses on developing category strategy across retailers, including exposure to Waitrose and Sainsbury’s, with emphasis on cake and bakery categories.

Qualifications

• Experience in Category Management or closely related FMCG roles.
• Ability to analyse EPOS, panel, shopper or consumer data and turn it into actionable recommendations.
• Strong communication skills and stakeholder management.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver insight-led category strategies for key grocery customers.
• Own retailer relationships and act as a trusted category partner.
• Analyse data to identify category growth opportunities and present clear commercial stories to customers.
• Collaborate with data sources such as NielsenIQ, Circana and retailer platforms.
• Support assortment, merchandising, pricing and promotional strategies.
• Identify shopper trends to drive category growth and work with Commercial, Marketing, Brand and NPD teams.

Skills

Category Management

Data analysis

Stakeholder management

Insight storytelling

Tools

NielsenIQ

Circana

Job description

Alexander Steele is working in partnership with a leading UK food manufacturer to recruit a Category Manager to join its growing Category & Insights team.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone looking to take ownership of their own customers and categories, working closely with major UK grocery retailers to turn shopper, consumer and market data into clear commercial recommendations.

The successful candidate will take responsibility for developing category strategy across their allocated retailers, with particular exposure to Waitrose and Sainsbury’s and a focus across the cake and bakery categories.

The role will include:

• Developing and delivering insight-led category strategies for key grocery customers
• Taking ownership of specific retailer relationships and becoming a trusted category partner
• Analysing EPOS, panel, shopper and consumer data to identify category growth opportunities
• Working with data sources such as NielsenIQ, Circana and retailer-specific insight platforms
• Turning complex data into clear, compelling commercial stories and customer presentations
• Providing recommendations across range, merchandising, pricing and promotional strategy
• Identifying shopper trends, behaviours and opportunities to drive category growth
• Working closely with Commercial, Marketing, Brand and NPD teams
• Supporting innovation and new product development through category and shopper insight

The ideal candidate will have:

• Experience within Category Management, Category Executive, Customer Marketing, Shopper Insights or a similar FMCG role
• Experience analysing EPOS, panel, shopper or consumer data
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to turn data into meaningful commercial recommendations
• Confidence presenting insights and telling a compelling story with dataAn understanding of the UK grocery retail environment
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
• Good commercial awareness and P&L understanding
• Previous bakery experience would be advantageous but is not essential.

Package & Location

• Ideally Hamilton, although candidates based around Manchester or Sheffield will also be considered
• Guidance of approximately three days per week on site, with flexibility depending on business and customer requirements

For more information or a confidential discussion, please get in touch.