Senior Category Manager - Meat & Poultry

TN United Kingdom; Ashford; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Senior Category Manager to lead category strategy for Meat & Poultry. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape product offerings while driving margin targets and implementing innovative promotions. With a hybrid working model, you will engage with teams across the UK, ensuring your insights and strategies enhance our market presence. Join a forward-thinking company that values diversity and offers robust career development opportunities within a supportive environment. If you have a passion for food and a strategic mindset, this role is perfect for you.

Benefits

Competitive salary & annual bonus

Company car or £7,000 cash allowance

Sysco Pension Scheme enrollment

Life Assurance and private healthcare

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Staff discounts on food and products

Recognition awards and incentives

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• Proven track record in financial and commercial skills.
• Strong experience in sourcing and category management.

Responsibilities

• Analyze customer, market, and supplier insights for strategy alignment.
• Manage all in-year deliverables, including range planning and NPD.
• Build strategic supplier relationships to foster growth.

Skills

Financial Skills

Commercial Skills

Data Analytics

Consumer Insights

Pricing Strategies

Promotional Planning

Education

Professional Qualification in Marketing

Category Management

Merchandising

CIPS

Job description

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Senior Category Manager - Meat & Poultry, Ashford

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Client:

Brakes

Location:

Ashford, United Kingdom

Job Category:

Other

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EU work permit required:

Yes

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Job Reference:

8d9868ad3374

Job Views:

2

Posted:

08.05.2025

Expiry Date:

22.06.2025

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Job Description:

Job Description

Brakes is recruiting for a Senior Category Manager - Meat & Poultry to join the Merchandising team on a 9-12 month fixed-term contract, reporting to the Category Merchandising Director.

The Senior Category Manager – Meat & Poultry will develop and deliver a category plan supporting range development and in-year margin targets, including NPD, promotions, cross-selling, customer marketing, and pricing. The role involves delivering category insights, managing presence in communications, and requires a candidate with broad commercial experience in retail, foodservice, or a food manufacturing environment.

It offers a hybrid working model with 1-2 days in Ashford, Kent, and requires flexibility for meetings across the UK, with a full, clean driving license essential.

Key Accountabilities & Responsibilities:

• Analyze customer, market, and supplier insights for performance and strategy alignment.
• Review and adapt category strategies monthly, presenting findings to the team.
• Manage all in-year deliverables, including range planning, NPD, and growth initiatives.
• Project manage the Sysco 6 Stage Category Management programme.
• Run promotions, implement pricing strategies, and support strategic priorities like Brakes Essentials and Sysco partnerships.
• Build strategic supplier relationships to foster growth and margin investment.
• Manage the annual marketing plan, including supplier activation.
• Support sustainability initiatives, including recognition with accreditation bodies and higher-welfare products.
• Train sales teams on category insights and strategies.
• Ensure accuracy of category data and content across platforms.

About you:

The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in applying financial and commercial skills to achieve business objectives, with strong experience in sourcing and category management, ideally in retail or food sectors. Proficiency in data analytics, consumer insights, pricing, and promotional planning is essential. A professional qualification in Marketing, Category Management, Merchandising, or CIPS is desirable.

What you will receive:

• Competitive salary & annual bonus
• Company car or £7,000 cash allowance
• Sysco Pension Scheme enrollment
• Life Assurance and private healthcare
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays, with options to buy more
• Staff discounts on food and products, cinema tickets, shopping, and cashback benefits
• Recognition awards and incentives
• Career development opportunities within Sysco, a global foodservice leader

Additional Information

Brakes values diversity and inclusion, welcoming applications from all backgrounds. We focus on potential and fit, ensuring a supportive environment. Contact our resourcing team for any adjustments needed during the recruitment process.

About Brakes:

As the UK’s largest foodservice supplier, Brakes delivers high-quality fresh and frozen food nationwide to various clients, including pubs, restaurants, and healthcare facilities. With a dedicated workforce of 8,000, we are committed to growth and excellence.