Category Manager - Catering

Bestway Wholesale; Ipswich; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Pension

22 days annual leave plus the option:

Life Assurance

Private Medical

Onsite parking

Job summary

Bestway Wholesale Limited is seeking a Category Manager in Ipswich to drive category plans, ranging, pricing, and supplier management for Bestway Foodservice and Caterers. The role includes mentoring Category Assistants and delivering strategic category initiatives.

The candidate will oversee category strategies, negotiate promotional income, and ensure accurate administration while aligning with budgeted sales and profits. A strong negotiator with analytical skills is essential.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in FMCG Wholesale or Foodservice sector (Buying Sales or Category Management)
• The ability to confidently demonstrate tenacity, determination, and assertiveness in pursuit of a commercially successful outcome, managing conflict where necessary
• The ability to build relationships internally and externally using effective influencing skills
• A strong and effective negotiator
• Experience of creating and delivering Category Strategy and promotional plans
• Numerate, with experience of analysing performance and market data
• Problem solving skills and a commitment to continuous improvement

Responsibilities

• Ensure all activities and decisions support achievement and delivery of the budget for sales, wholesale margin and cash profit
• Use sound commercial reasoning and influence to ensure that availability is maximised across product categories
• Working closely with suppliers to generate Joint Business Plans
• Effective focus and management of internal and external stakeholder relationships
• Creation and implementation of Category strategy, to include the delivery of Category plans to ensure that financial targets are met
• Negotiating income from suppliers for media promotional support and specific initiatives
• Ranging and pricing of all products in line with current pricing policy and business strategy
• Planning and communicating requirements for seasonal promotional events and corporate initiatives across the supply base and via internal departments
• Range management and development - gap analysis, reviewing the current range status, liaising with key suppliers, and managing the price proposition
• Define and manage the strategy for Own Brand to ensure the Category has the correct balance of branded and own brand products to deliver a commercially sound range/portfolio
• Ensuring that admin tasks for the specific Category are completed correctly and on time
• Accurately analysing promotional effectiveness and forecasts for specific product categories

Skills

FMCG wholesale or foodservice exper

Negotiation skills

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Relationship building

Problem solving

Job description

We are looking for a Category Manager to be responsible for the delivery of Category Plans that maximise sales and profit for both Bestway Foodservice and our Caterers.

About the role

The role encompasses all aspects of Category Management including ranging, pricing, strategy development, supplier management, promotional planning and securing income for marketing and media support. The Category Manager will also mentor and develop the Category Assistants and oversee the Category specific activities of Category Assistants.

About Bestway

Bestway Group is a diversified multinational family owned business with annualised turnover in excess of £4.5 billion. Starting off as a chain of retail convenience stores, the Group has grown to become a diversified multinational business with interests across the wholesale, pharmacy, real estate, cement and banking sectors. The Group is also the largest overseas investor in Pakistan. Owned by the Pervez, Choudrey and Sheikh families, Bestway Group was founded in 1976 by Sir Anwar Pervez OBE H Pk, who remains Chairman. Serving over 12 million customers and employing over 28,000 individuals, the Group supports and serves communities through its operations across the UK, Pakistan and the Middle East.

Your main responsibilities

• Ensure all activities and decisions support achievement and delivery of the budget for sales, wholesale margin and cash profit
• Use sound commercial reasoning and influence to ensure that availability is maximised across product categories
• Working closely with suppliers to generate Joint Business Plans
• Effective focus and management of internal and external stakeholder relationships
• Creation and implementation of Category strategy, to include the delivery of Category plans to ensure that financial targets are met
• Negotiating income from suppliers for media promotional support and specific initiatives
• Ranging and pricing of all products in line with current pricing policy and business strategy
• Planning and communicating requirements for seasonal promotional events and corporate initiatives across the supply base and via internal departments
• Range management and development - gap analysis, reviewing the current range status, liaising with key suppliers, and managing the price proposition
• Define and manage the strategy for Own Brand to ensure the Category has the correct balance of branded and own brand products to deliver a commercially sound range/portfolio
• Ensuring that admin tasks for the specific Category are completed correctly and on time
• Accurately analysing promotional effectiveness and forecasts for specific product categories

Requirements

• Significant experience in FMCG Wholesale or Foodservice sector (Buying Sales or Category Management)
• The ability to confidently demonstrate tenacity, determination, and assertiveness in pursuit of a commercially successful outcome, managing conflict where necessary
• The ability to build relationships internally and externally using effective influencing skills
• A strong and effective negotiator
• Experience of creating and delivering Category Strategy and promotional plans
• Numerate, with experience of analysing performance and market data
• Problem solving skills and a commitment to continuous improvement

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Pension
• 22 days annual leave plus the option to buy additional days
• Life Assurance
• Private Medical
• Onsite parking

Bestway Group is an equal opportunity employer and we value diversity and inclusion. We welcome people of different nationalities, backgrounds, experiences, abilities, and perspectives. We want strong, and diverse teams built from talented individuals with different backgrounds identities and experiences.