Category Planning Manager

Greggs plc; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Colleague discount

Pension scheme with matching up to 7%

Management Bonus up to 17.5%

Private Medical Insurance

Job summary

Greggs plc is seeking a Category Planning Manager in Newcastle upon Tyne to shape category plans that drive sales and margin growth over a 1–3 year horizon. You will turn customer, market and commercial insight into clear menu, pricing and implementation priorities and lead cross-functional teams across Commercial, Marketing, Operations and Finance.

This full-time role offers a comprehensive benefits package and the opportunity to contribute to Greggs’ continued growth while developing BI

Qualifications

• Strong commercial acumen with a track record of building and delivering category plans.
• Excellent analytical skills to translate insight into opportunities and priorities.
• Strong stakeholder management across Commercial, Marketing, Operations, Finance, Insight and PLM.
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities, projects and people.
• Experience in food, QSR, food-to-go, retail or related commercial environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver category plans for lead areas to drive sales and margin growth over 1–3 years.
• Use insight, data and customer understanding to identify opportunities and risks.
• Deliver the Great Tasting Freshly Prepared menu plan across dayparts and workstreams.
• Develop pricing and promotion principles considering customer behaviour and margins.
• Own and manage category workstreams through PLM from concept to implementation.
• Influence cross-functional teams to deliver menu, pricing and category priorities.
• Support business change by identifying new ways of working and improving BI capability.
• Lead and develop a high-performing team with clear responsibilities.

Skills

Strong commercial acumen

Excellent analytical skills

Stakeholder management

Organised and delivery-focused

Experience in food/QSR/retail

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity for a Category Planning Manager here at Greggs.

This is a key commercial role, helping shape and deliver category plans that support business growth, drive sales and margin performance, and turn customer, market and commercial insight into clear menu, pricing and implementation priorities.

Working with teams across Commercial, Marketing, Operations, Finance, Insight and PLM, you’ll turn insight into clear priorities and help deliver activity at pace across Greggs.

Management Bonus Scheme which is worth up to 17.5% of your salary

Pension scheme with matching employer contributions up to 7%

Colleague discount, up to 50% off our own-produced products

Profit share - We want everyone to share in the success of the business, so we distribute 10% of our profits to all our colleagues who have at least 6-month service, or more, each year

25 days (5 weeks) annual leave, pro-rated, increasing with service (in addition to bank holidays), plus 1 additional floating day

The opportunity to purchase additional annual leave twice a year

Colleague share plans, giving you the opportunity to save and invest in Greggs, with the chance to buy Greggs shares at a discounted rate

Private Medical Insurance which is free for you and subsidised for your dependants

Income Protection should you become unable to work due to long-term sickness

Death in service benefit which provides a lump-sum payment equal to 4 times your year's salary

Virtual GP, Physiotherapy and Lifestyle Consultations - we provide access to a fantastic total wellbeing app for you and your family

Employee Assistance Programme - we provide all colleagues with access to an EAP helpline providing mental health support as well as financial and legal support

Savings and discounts, including digital gift card discounts, online cashback, in-store and online coupons and lifestyle offers

Career progression and learning and development opportunities

A company who cares about our communities; the environment and being a better business! Click here to read about The Greggs Pledge

Colleague Networks - internal groups where colleagues and their allies can share their own experiences, offer feedback on the way we do things at Greggs, and provide support to one another

About the role

• This is a full-time role, however flexibility in this will be considered
• We know that having a work-life balance is important, so we offer our colleagues as much flexibility as possible in line with the needs of their role
• The base location for this role is Greggs House, Quorum Business Park, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE12 8BU

What you'll do

• Develop and deliver category plans for lead areas that drive sales and margin growth over a 1-3-year horizon
• Use internal and external insight, commercial data and customer understanding to identify opportunities, risks and future category direction
• Deliver the Great Tasting Freshly Prepared menu plan across dayparts and workstreams, ensuring activity is aligned to customer needs, business priorities and the Greggs Pledge
• Develop pricing and promotion principles, considering customer behaviour, competitor pricing, sales, margin and promotional mechanics
• Own and project manage category workstreams through the PLM process, from concept briefs through to implementation and performance review
• Influence and collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver menu, pricing, promotion and category priorities successfully
• Support business change by identifying new ways of working, improving decision-making and helping build Business Intelligence capability
• Manage and develop a high-performing team, setting clear responsibilities, supporting development plans and encouraging strong stakeholder collaboration

About you

This is a great opportunity to shape commercially grounded category plans within a major UK food-to-go brand. We’re looking for a confident category leader who can translate customer, market and commercial insight into clear business action, influence cross-functional teams, and demonstrate:

• Strong commercial acumen, with experience building and delivering plans that drive sales and margin growth
• Excellent analytical skills, with the ability to use insight and data to identify opportunities, risks and priorities
• Strong stakeholder management, able to collaborate and influence across Commercial, Marketing, Operations, Finance, Insight and PLM
• A passion for food and drink, with curiosity for customer behaviour, market trends and innovation
• Highly organised and confident managing priorities, projects and people through to delivery
• Experience in food, QSR, food-to-go, retail or a related commercial environment

About Greggs

Here at Greggs, we love what we do, and we have fun! What makes us so special is out culture - how we behave and support each other. Everyone's welcome at Greggs. Whatever their background, preferences or beliefs we want all of our colleagues to feel welcome and able to be themselves at work. You can read more about us here: Greggs Careers | About Greggs.

• Salary Up to £60,000 per annum, depending on experience
• Frequency Annual
• Job Reference greggs/TP/85403/62565
• Contract Type Permanent
• Contract Details Monday to Friday, however some flexibility may be required depending on business needs
• Contract Hours Full time
• Closing Date 28 September, 2026
• Job Category Head Office
• Business Unit Commercial
• Location Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom