Category Manager

HARIBO UK; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading confectionery company is seeking a Category Manager for a hybrid role based in Castleford. The successful candidate will support key retailers, analyze category dynamics, and develop relationships to enhance performance. Strong analytical skills, experience in FMCG, and excellent communication are essential. This role offers competitive salary with benefits including a bonus and 36 days of holiday.

Benefits

36 days holiday including bank holidays

Up to 6% pension matched

Group income protection

Life assurance

20% discount in stores

Free onsite parking

Qualifications

• Proven category experience within FMCG.
• Ability to develop compelling category-based rationale.
• Experience with impulse category is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Conduct business analysis to understand category dynamics.
• Support key retailers and build trusted relationships.
• Identify growth opportunities for HARIBO and the category.

Skills

Strong analytical ability

Exceptional communication skills

Confidence and self-starter attitude

Commercial awareness

Team player

Job description

Overview

Role: Category Manager

Location: HARIBO Castleford (Hybrid working; 1-2 days in the office each week)

Working hours: 38 (Flexibility to meet the demands of the role)

Position type: 12 -14 month fixed term contract

Salary: Competitive (including up to a 20% bonus)

We are on the hunt for a ‘Category Manager’ to come and join the happy world of HARIBO and join our Category Team.

Within this role you will report directly into our Head of Category and act as a key advocate of Category management both internally as well as externally with our customers. This could be your opportunity to build sweet relationships with key Grocery customers whilst also acting as a trusted advisor to grow the sweets category and HARIBO’s performance within it.

To add to our HARIBO Starmix, it is essential you’re able to develop compelling category-based rationale for NPD which both excites and delights shoppers and our customers as well as make recommendations to develop Category led customer facing relationships.

How you’ll contribute to the mix:

• Business Analysis
• Understanding key drivers of Category and Retailer performance throughout the year and at key seasons
• Understanding Category dynamics and sharing learning both internally and externally with Retailers
• Analysing multiple sources of data to craft compelling customer facing stories
• Supporting with internal distribution and ROS targets for NPD
• Sharing performance updates at monthly Commercial meetings

• Competitor analysis
• Tracking competitor activity to understand performance impact within the Category
• Reviewing HARIBO NPD, ROS and distribution build vs launch targets
• Acting as the ‘eyes and ears’ for HARIBO on the external sweet market and understanding the best practice execution by channel

• Retailer support
• Working closely with key retailers to create trust and objectivity whilst been seen as the expert in sweets and the Retailers’ trusted advisor
• Working in close partnership with the Sales team as well as managing other key stakeholder relationships across the business
• Understanding HARIBO product range across Core and Seasonal to optimise share of shelf and position at range reviews
• Understanding the point of purchase drivers and continually focusing on optimising these with key customers

• Category team support
• Supporting the Head of Category in developing and deploying the Category Vision and Strategy and acting as a key ambassador in leading the business to a Category based selling approach
• Continuously identifying growth opportunities for HARIBO and the Category as well as proactively building external relationships

• Marketing and Shopper Marketing
• Working with Marketing and Shopper Marketing to support the voice of shoppers at all stages of NPD development and core to increase focus on in store execution
• Building planograms to support NPD execution and to drive improved level of execution with HARIBO ranges

Can you supply our essential ingredients?

We are on the hunt for a confident self-starter with proven Category experience within FMCG! If you have previously worked within the impulse category even better (but not essential) we would 100% love to hear from you!

One of our required ingredients is the ability to demonstrate a strong analytical ability... do you have what it takes? We are also looking for someone who is super organised with exceptional communication skills, not forgetting it is critical you’re a natural team player who can smoothly slot into this fantastic Category seat. Do you also possess great commercial awareness as well as a commitment to demonstrating both a professional and confident persona to stakeholders throughout all levels?

Are you also a sweet lover with a passion for the HARIBO brand? This could be your opportunity to join the sweet category leader, HARIBO.

The extra sweet stuff:

• 36 days holiday (including bank holidays)
• Up to a 6% pension matched by HARIBO
• Group income protection
• Market leading life assurance
• 20% discount in all our stores
• Free onsite parking

If our sweet insights of this role have got you craving developing your career with HARIBO, why not apply today to join the mix!