Category Manager

Stonegate Farmers; Lacock; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Stonegate Farmers is seeking a Category Manager for our Head Office in Lacock, Wiltshire. You will connect internal teams with retail partners, driving growth in sales, profit and market share through strategic initiatives, category analysis and consumer insights.

You will oversee own-brand and retailer initiatives, champion shopper needs, and leverage financial data to propose range reviews and promotions.

Qualifications

• Strong communication and interpersonal abilities to build partnerships with retailers.
• Commercial acumen with understanding of shopper behaviour and market trends.
• Experience turning data into actionable category recommendations and growth initiatives.
• Proficient in Excel and PowerPoint for analysis and presentations.

Responsibilities

• Act as lead category partner for key strategic customers, delivering tailored strategies and insights.
• Oversee own-brand innovation ranges and identify customer-specific opportunities.
• Champion shopper needs and ensure insights drive category development.
• Use financial and consumer data to inform range reviews, promotions, and innovations.
• Collaborate with sales, marketing and supply chain for seamless execution of category plans.
• Build and strengthen relationships with strategic customers and position Stonegate Farmers as a trusted advisor.
• Monitor category performance and provide data-driven updates to internal teams and partners.
• Aim for ROI improvements and KPIs for site-based business teams.
• Promote best-in-class commercial practices within the team.

Skills

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Stakeholder management

Commercial acumen

Analytical thinking

Education

Degree in business or marketing

Tools

Microsoft Office (PowerPoint & Excel)

Job description

We are seeking a Category Manager to join our Head Office team based in Lacock, Wiltshire. As our Category Manager, you will play a pivotal a key role in connecting internal teams with retail partners across both brand and own-label products. The main goal is to drive growth in sales, profit, and market share for both Stonegate Farmers and its customers by implementing strategic initiatives backed by financial data, category analysis, and consumer insights. This role ensures category performance aligns with business objectives, leverages market opportunities, and strengthens retail partnerships to achieve shared success.

About Stonegate Farmers Ltd

Stonegate Farmers Ltd is an integrated free range and organic egg business organised across three divisions comprising farming and agriculture, egg packing and cooked egg processing. Established in 1926 and under new ownership since 2016, we have grown into one the largest free-range and organic egg producers within the UK.

Role & Responsibilities:

• Act as the lead category partner for key strategic customers, developing tailored strategies and delivering actionable insights to strengthen collaboration.
• Oversee own-brand innovation ranges, identifying and capitalising on customer-specific opportunities.
• Champion consumer needs, ensuring shopper behaviours and preferences drive category development and decision-making.
• Leverage financial, category, and consumer data to provide insight-driven recommendations for range reviews, promotions, and innovation.
• Work cross-functionally with sales, marketing, and supply chain teams to ensure seamless execution of category strategies.
• Build and enhance relationships with strategic customers, positioning Stonegate Farmers as a trusted advisor and industry leader.
• Monitor category performance, providing regular updates and data-driven insights to both internal teams and external partners.
• Optimise ROI and achieve key performance indicators for site-based business teams.
• Promote best-in-class commercial practices, driving excellence within the team.

Person Specification:

• Able to display our company values: Respect, Aspire, Courage, One Team, Diversity
• Proactive in approach
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with a proven track record of building strong partnerships with retail customers.
• Commercial acumen and a deep understanding of shopper behaviour and market trends
• Strong grasp of financial metrics and market dynamics, ensuring profitability and alignment with customer goals.
• Excellent organisation, presentation and project management skills.
• Strong stakeholder management skills

Qualifications / Experience:

• Degree or equivalent, within business or marketing
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience within Category Management
• Experience in analysing and leveraging data deliver true insight that drives effective recommendations and action
• Proven success in implementing category initiatives with retailers
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office (particularly PowerPoint & Excel
• Experience using Kantar MyWorld Panel, Dunnhumby, Nectar 360 (Sainsbury’s Insight Platform) , Assosia and Vypr (preferred)
• Experience working on “Own Label” products (preferred)