Category Manager

Kandhu Ltd; Greater London; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading supplier in the food industry seeks a passionate Category Manager to develop their category strategy. Responsibilities include supplier negotiations, quality control, and managing product range. The ideal candidate should have over five years of experience in food buying and a strong understanding of market trends. The role is based in Hayes and includes full-time hours with a competitive salary range of £45,000 - £55,000.

Qualifications

• Minimum of five years' experience in food buying, ideally within a fresh category.
• Strong negotiation and relationship management skills.
• A deep understanding of market trends and category management.
• A passion for food and delivering the highest quality products.

Responsibilities

• Developing and executing category strategies in line with market trends.
• Negotiating with suppliers to secure the best quality, pricing, and terms.
• Managing stock levels to maintain supply chain efficiency.
• Ensuring all products meet quality and sustainability standards.
• Collaborating with internal teams to drive category growth and sales.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Relationship management

Market trends understanding

Category management

Passion for food

Job description

Overview

Category Manager
Location: Hayes - Site-based (No hybrid/remote working)
Hours: 4 AM - 1 PM, Monday to Friday
Salary: £45,000 - £55,000 (DOE)

Are you a Category Manager with a passion for food and strong negotiation skills? Do you thrive in a fast-paced environment where sourcing high-quality products is key? If so, this is the perfect opportunity for you.

Our client, a well-established supplier in the food industry, is looking for a Category Manager to manage and develop their category strategy. This is a hands-on role that involves supplier negotiations, quality control, and ensuring the best possible product range for the business.

Key Responsibilities

• Developing and executing category strategies in line with market trends
• Negotiating with suppliers to secure the best quality, pricing, and terms
• Managing stock levels to maintain supply chain efficiency
• Ensuring all products meet quality and sustainability standards
• Collaborating with internal teams to drive category growth and sales

What We're Looking for

• Minimum of five years\' experience in food buying, ideally within a fresh category
• Strong negotiation and relationship management skills
• A deep understanding of market trends and category management
• A passion for food and delivering the highest quality products

Next Steps

If you\'re a strategic and results-driven Category Manager, apply today through Kandhu Recruitment.

Kandhu Recruitment GDPR & Privacy Policy Statement: Kandhu Recruitment will consider all applications based on each candidate\'s suitability for the role or similar positions within the Food Sector. If we feel you are a relevant candidate, we will process your application by adding you to our secure recruitment database and then contacting you to progress job opportunities further. We do not contact unsuitable applicants. Kandhu has fully implemented GDPR & Privacy Policies across its business. A copy of our Privacy Policy can be found by visiting our website. By applying for this role, Kandhu will add your details to our database—assuming you have the right level of experience for the roles you apply for, after which we will be in touch.

Job Details

• Job Title: Category Manager
• Company:
• Location: Hayes
• Posted: Sep 16th 2025
• Closes: Oct 17th 2025
• Sector: Retail & Purchasing
• Contract: Permanent
• Hours: Full Time