Category Marketing Manager

pladis Foods Limited; London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Godiva is seeking a Category Marketing Manager, Gifting to shape the global gifting category growth agenda. You will translate strategy into portfolio plans, innovation programmes and seasonal initiatives, partnering with regional teams to bring propositions to market.

With consumer insight, commercial analysis and project leadership, you will develop gifting propositions across boutiques, cafés, premium retail and Global Travel Retail, strengthening Godiva's premium chocolate gifting position.

Qualifications

• Essential relevant experience in FMCG marketing premium segment, category management, innovation or portfolio management, particularly within chocolate or confectionery.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to translate consumer, market and performance data into actionable recommendations.
• Understanding of gifting behaviour, occasion-based marketing and seasonal planning.
• Experience developing innovation pipelines and taking products from concept to launch.
• Commercial acumen, including an understanding of sales, profitability and the factors that drive category growth.
• A collaborative approach and the ability to work effectively across functions, markets and cultures.
• Strong organisational skills, attention to detail and a focus on execution.

Responsibilities

• Analyse consumer behaviour, shopper needs, competitor activity and category trends, translating findings into clear portfolio and innovation recommendations.
• Lead selected projects from concept through to launch, coordinating cross-functional teams across Design, Insights, R&D, Commercialisation and Supply Chain to deliver against scope, timelines and commercial objectives.
• Develop gifting collections and seasonal programmes, including boutique-exclusive and café propositions, and assortments tailored to Global Travel Retail.
• Develop business cases and assess sales potential, profitability and portfolio implications to inform investment and prioritisation decisions.
• Partner with regional marketing and commercial teams to adapt global propositions to local needs and support launch readiness and execution.
• Track portfolio, innovation and seasonal performance against KPIs, blending results with market feedback to drive improvements.
• Prepare category reviews, project updates and decision materials for stakeholder alignment.

Skills

FMCG marketing

Category management

Innovation

Portfolio management

Chocolate gifting

Analytical skills

Gifting behaviour

Occasion-based marketing

Seasonal planning

Cross-functional collaboration

Job description

Want to deliver the Ultimate Chocolate Experience?

The Category Marketing Manager, Gifting will help shape and deliver Godiva's global gifting category growth agenda.

Reporting to the Director, Gifting, Boutique and Premium Experiences, the role translates category strategy into actionable portfolio plans, innovation programmes and seasonal initiatives, partnering with regional teams to bring them to market.

Combining consumer understanding, commercial analysis and project leadership, the role will develop compelling gifting propositions across boutiques, cafés, premium retail and Global Travel Retail.

It will contribute to category growth and premiumisation, strengthening Godiva's position in premium chocolate gifting.

What will be your key deliverables?

Consumer and market insight

Partner with Insights team to analyse consumer behaviour, shopper needs, competitor activity and category trends, translating findings into clear portfolio and innovation recommendations.

Innovation and renovation

Lead selected projects from concept through to launch, coordinating cross-functional teams across Design, Insights, R&D, Commercialisation and Supply Chain to deliver against agreed scope, timelines and commercial objectives.

Seasonal and channel propositions

Develop gifting collections and seasonal programmes, including boutique-exclusive and café propositions, and assortments tailored to Global Travel Retail.

Commercial evaluation

Develop business cases and assess sales potential, profitability and portfolio implications to inform investment and prioritisation decisions.

Market deployment

Partner with regional marketing and commercial teams to adapt global propositions to local needs and support launch readiness and execution.

Performance and optimisation

Track portfolio, innovation and seasonal performance against agreed KPIs, combining results with market feedback to recommend improvements to assortment, execution and portfolio productivity.

Governance and stakeholder alignment

Prepare category reviews, project updates and decision materials, ensuring stakeholders have clear visibility of progress, risks and required actions.

Essential Relevant experience in FMCG marketing premium segment, category management, innovation or portfolio management, particularly within chocolate or confectionery.

Strong analytical skills, with the ability to translate consumer, market and performance data into actionable recommendations.

Understanding of gifting behaviour, occasion-based marketing and seasonal planning.

Experience developing innovation pipelines and taking products from concept to launch.

Commercial acumen, including an understanding of sales, profitability and the factors that drive category growth.

A collaborative approach and the ability to work effectively across functions, markets and cultures.

Strong organisational skills, attention to detail and a focus on execution.

Desirable Experience leading cross-functional projects and managing multiple priorities through to delivery

Knowledge of portfolio architecture, assortment planning and pricing.

Exposure to boutique, café, premium retail or Global Travel Retail channels.

Experience in a global or regional marketing role within a matrix organisation.

An interest in premium brands, consumer trends and creating distinctive gifting experiences.

Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to build clear recommendations and influence stakeholders without direct authority.

Godiva and affiliates, is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to hiring a diverse workforce.

All openings will be filled based on qualifications without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, veteran status, disability, age, religion or any other classification protected by law.

Search Firm Representatives please read carefully: Godiva is not seeking assistance or accepting unsolicited resumes from search firms for this employment opportunity. Regardless of past practice, all resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at Godiva via-email, the Internet or directly to hiring managers at Godiva in any form without a valid written search agreement in place for that position will be deemed the sole property of Godiva, and no fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Godiva as a result of the referral or through other means.

Godiva is broadly recognized as the worldwide leader in super premium chocolates, through over 600 retail stores, 40,000 points of sale and over 800 Travel retail points of sale in more than 80 countries.

Godiva's commitment to excellence is also apparent in its Gold Ballotin Collection and seasonal packaging which have earned Godiva a global reputation for design excellence.

Godiva manufactures and markets a broad portfolio of indulgent products, including boxed premium chocolates, small chocolate treats, dipped fruit, biscuits/cookies, coffee/cocoa, blended chilled beverages and other premium chocolate products all bearing the Godiva name.

Godiva has recently taken meaningful and successful steps to broaden its portfolio beyond chocolate gifting into the high growth, self-consumption and home entertainment/sharing segments of the marketplace across the Globe.

Godiva products are manufactured in Brussels, Belgium and Reading, PA and select co-manufacturing locations globally.

The company has approximately 5,000 employees around the world.

Why us?

If you love our brand, are a chocolate lover and are passionate about making a difference for a global company please consider a career with us.

We are looking for people who love taking initiative and becoming part of a fast moving company.