Category Manager - Off Trade

Britvic plc; Hemel Hempstead; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car Allowance

Monthly product allowance

Private Medical options

Life Assurance

Company bonus scheme

Access to 24/7 GP services

Enhanced pension contribution

Generous holiday

Discounts on high street

Job summary

Carlsberg Britvic is seeking a Senior Category Manager to drive growth through category, shopper and consumer insights. You will build trusted relationships with retail customers and external stakeholders, influence category direction and unlock growth opportunities.

Hybrid role based in Hemel Hempstead with weekly travel to head office and customer visits. You will lead a category team, manage budgets and partner with Sales, Marketing, Insights and Operations to embed category thinking and

Qualifications

• Extensive off-trade beer and soft drinks experience.
• FMCG category leadership with direct customer accountability.
• Proven ability to deliver market-outperforming plans.
• Data-driven decision making using market insights.
• Familiarity with market data and space planning tools such as JDA.

Responsibilities

• Build trusted relationships with key customers and external stakeholders, positioning Carlsberg Britvic as a trusted category partner through insights and actionable recommendations.
• Deliver category growth initiatives, manage range reviews and merchandising across in-store and online channels.
• Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, Insights, Category Strategy and Commercial Operations to embed category thinking in planning and execution.
• Lead and develop the category team, optimize agency and data partnerships, and manage category development budgets.
• Drive KPI-focused execution and cross-functional collaboration for sustained growth.

Skills

Off-trade beer & soft drinks

FMCG category leadership

Data-driven decisions

Market insights & data interpretation

Space planning tools (JDA)

Tools

JDA

Job description

Playing a pivotal role within our commercial team, we are now recruiting for a Senior Category Manager. This role uses category, shopper and consumer insights to develop growth strategies that create value for both our customers and brands. Building trusted relationships with retail customers and external stakeholders, the role influences category direction, unlocks growth opportunities and reinforces Carlsberg Britvic's position as the category partner of choice. Working closely with Sales, Marketing, Insights, Category Strategy and Commercial Operations, this role delivers category excellence and sustainable commercial growth. Role Responsibilities:

• Build and maintain trusted relationships with key customer and external stakeholders, positioning Carlsberg Britvic as a trusted category partner through thought leadership, compelling category stories and commercially impactful recommendations.
• Manage the delivery of category growth initiatives, range reviews and merchandising strategies, enhancing distribution, availability, space and shopper engagement across both in-store and online channels.
• Partner closely with Sales, Marketing, Insights, Category Strategy and Commercial Operations teams to embed category thinking into business planning, NPD, customer strategy and commercial execution.
• Promote continuous improvement through robust performance evaluation, leveraging insights and learnings to refine future plans, improve customer outcomes and accelerate growth.
• Lead, coach and develop an effective category team, building capability, collaboration and best practice while optimising external agency and data partnerships.
• Manage category development budgets and investment to ensure resources, insight programmes and customer data partnerships deliver measurable commercial value.
• Extensive off-trade experience within beer and soft drinks
• Demonstrated background in FMCG category leadership with direct customer accountability
• Experience delivering market-outperforming customer and channel plans
• Skilled at simplifying complexity and translating strategy into clear, actionable plans
• Creates trusted partnerships through open communication and collaboration across all levels
• Works collaboratively to develop shared growth plans across cross-functional teams
• Commercially driven with a clear focus on KPIs, execution and delivery
• Skilled at operating in unclear environments while staying centered on solutions
• Experienced in leading teams and partnering with senior stakeholders (internally and externally)
• Data-led decision maker, experienced in using market insights and performance data
• Familiarity with market data, space planning tools (e.g., JDA) and customer insight platforms (loyalty data).
• Carlsberg Britvic is the largest multi-beverage supplier in the UK and is home to some of the most iconic and popular beers & soft drinks, including Carlsberg Danish Pilsner, 1664, Poretti and Brooklyn to ale favourites such as Hobgoblin and Wainwright. For soft drinks, Carlsberg Britvic's brands include J2O, Robinsons, Tango and London Essence along with the licence rights to the Pepsi portfolio in the UK including Pepsi MAX, 7UP, poppi, Lipton Iced Tea and Rockstar Energy.

Location: Hybrid - Hemel (weekly travel to our head office and customer visits is expected)

Job Length: Permanent - Full Time Competitive Salary with extensive benefits:

• Car Allowance
• Monthly product allowance - alcoholic & non-alcoholic options available
• Private Medical options
• Life Assurance
• Company bonus scheme
• Access to 24/7 GP services
• Enhanced pension contribution
• Generous holiday (inc bank holidays)
• Access to a range of high street discounts