Category Manager

Sofina Foods Europe; Leeds; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company Bonus Scheme

Company Pension Scheme

Enhanced Sick Pay

Job summary

Sofina Foods in Leeds is seeking a Category Manager to support nominated customers using market, shopper, and consumer insights. You will lead category reviews, identify opportunities, and develop practical recommendations to drive growth, working with Commercial, Marketing, NPD, and Planning teams.

The role focuses on turning data into actionable strategies, building relationships with key retail customers, and contributing to innovation, ranging, and planning activities.

Qualifications

• Strong commercial awareness with previous experience in a commercial or category environment.
• Highly analytical, with the ability to turn large amounts of data into clear insights and actionable recommendations.
• Strong communication, influencing, and relationship-building skills.
• Confident working with customer, market, shopper, and consumer data.
• Experience using data platforms such as Kantar, IRI, or Nielsen would be advantageous.
• Strong organisation, prioritisation, and time management skills.
• Commercially minded with a proactive and solutions-focused approach.
• Collaborative team player who enjoys sharing knowledge and best practice.

Responsibilities

• Build strong relationships with key customer buying, category, and range contacts
• Lead category reviews, using market, shopper, consumer, and retailer data to identify growth opportunities
• Develop clear and commercially focused recommendations aligned with customer and Sofina strategies
• Monitor category performance and provide analysis and recommendations where improvements are required
• Support customer planning cycles, including range reviews, NPD performance, innovation, and promotional activity
• Work closely with Marketing and NPD teams to develop compelling category and innovation stories
• Provide category insights to Commercial and Planning teams to support forecasts, promotional uplifts, and future growth plans
• Support shopper marketing, promotional plans, NPD launches, and seasonal ranging
• Deliver accurate and timely customer reporting and analysis
• Contribute to wider category projects and help share best practice across the Category team

Skills

Commercial awareness

Analytical thinking

Communication

Data analysis

Relationship building

Data platforms (Kantar/IRI/Nielsen)

Job description

Summary

Support the category management of nominated customers, using market, shopper, and consumer insights to identify opportunities and deliver sustainable category growth for Sofina and its customers.

Additional Benefits

Company Bonus Scheme, Company Pension Scheme, Enhanced Sick Pay

Summary

Support the category management of nominated customers, using market, shopper, and consumer insights to identify opportunities and deliver sustainable category growth for Sofina and its customers.

Additional Benefits

Company Bonus Scheme, Company Pension Scheme, Enhanced Sick Pay

The Role

The Category Manager will work closely with key retail customers, building strong relationships with buying, category, and range teams and positioning Sofina as a trusted partner within the category. Using market data, shopper insights, consumer trends, and retailer information, you will lead category reviews, identify opportunities, and develop practical recommendations to drive growth. You will also work closely with Commercial, Marketing, NPD, and Planning teams to support innovation, ranging, promotional activity, and customer planning. This is a commercially focused role for someone who enjoys turning data and insights into clear recommendations that make a real difference.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Build strong relationships with key customer buying, category, and range contacts
• Lead category reviews, using market, shopper, consumer, and retailer data to identify growth opportunities
• Develop clear and commercially focused recommendations aligned with customer and Sofina strategies
• Monitor category performance and provide analysis and recommendations where improvements are required
• Support customer planning cycles, including range reviews, NPD performance, innovation, and promotional activity
• Work closely with Marketing and NPD teams to develop compelling category and innovation stories
• Provide category insights to Commercial and Planning teams to support forecasts, promotional uplifts, and future growth plans
• Support shopper marketing, promotional plans, NPD launches, and seasonal ranging
• Deliver accurate and timely customer reporting and analysis
• Contribute to wider category projects and help share best practice across the Category team

The Ideal Candidate

• Strong commercial awareness with previous experience in a commercial or category environment
• Highly analytical, with the ability to turn large amounts of data into clear insights and actionable recommendations
• Strong communication, influencing, and relationship-building skills
• Confident working with customer, market, shopper, and consumer data
• Experience using data platforms such as Kantar, IRI, or Nielsen would be advantageous
• Strong organisation, prioritisation, and time management skills
• Commercially minded with a proactive and solutions-focused approach
• Collaborative team player who enjoys sharing knowledge and best practice
• Flexible and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment

Why Sofina Foods?

• Competitive Salary
• Company Pension Scheme
• Life Assurance
• Online Benefits Hub
• Career Development Opportunities
• Supportive and Collaborative Working Culture
• Opportunity to work closely with leading retail customers and contribute directly to category growth, innovation, and commercial strategy.

Company Information

Sofina Foods isn't just a food company - It’s a place to build your future.

With a team of over 13,000 people across 40 sites in Canada and Europe, we're passionate about delivering quality meats and seafood products to consumers around the world.

Join a company where innovation, sustainability, and customer satisfaction drive everything we do. At Sofina, you’ll grow your skills, make a real impact, and work with responsibly sourced products from more than 50 protein sources across five continents.

Our vision is bold: to be the most successful food company in the world. If you’re looking for a rewarding career in the food industry, there’s a place for you at Sofina Foods.

Equal Opportunities

Sofina Foods is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences – regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

Schedule

Monday to Friday

Location

Leeds, West Yorkshire

Hours of Work

Full-time

Company

Sofina Foods

Country Code

GB