Marketing - Category Manager

Finsbury Food Group Plc; Hamilton, Manchester; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading specialty bakery manufacturer as a Category Manager, driving category strategy and managing key retail relationships. We're looking for an experienced professional to shape our category growth through shopper insights and collaborative efforts. This role offers the chance to impact significant accounts while enjoying enhanced employee benefits and professional development opportunities.

Benefits

Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Leave

Enhanced Pension Scheme

Free Employee Assistance Programme

Retail discounts via Benefits Hub

Company shop with discounted products

Refer a Friend Scheme

Recognition Awards

Learning & Development opportunities

Qualifications

• 2+ years in FMCG Category Management or Customer Marketing role.
• Experience with category tools and P&L understanding.
• Familiarity with retailer loyalty card data.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and delivery of a Category Strategy.
• Manage relationships with grocery retail accounts.
• Deliver engaging category presentations using insights.

Skills

Commercial acumen

Analytical mindset

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Education

Degree qualification

Tools

EPOS

Nielsen/Kantar

Microsoft Office

Job description

Location: Close to either our site in Hamilton, Scotland or our site in Manchester

Shift: Monday to Friday

Salary: Competitive + Benefits & Car Allowance

We have an exciting opportunity for a Category Manager to work within our Group Commercial team at Finsbury Food Group.

Finsbury Food Group is a leading speciality bakery manufacturer. We constantly raise quality and efficiency standards, and build long-term relationships with major retailers and the foodservice channel. We produce a variety of baked goods, including bread, cakes, buns, muffins, and treats, serving the UK market. Our mission is to make every day special through baking brilliance.

Be the voice of the shopper. Shape the future of our categories. Drive growth through insight.

Are you a commercially savvy Category Manager ready to make a real impact? We are looking for an experienced and proactive individual to lead a key category strategy — from development to implementation — focusing on shopper and consumer trends, profitable growth, and collaboration with key customers.

What you’ll be doing:

• Lead the development, socialisation, and delivery of a dynamic, insight-driven Category Strategy.
• Manage relationships with key grocery retail accounts to support profitable growth.
• Partner with our Brand Team to incorporate category, market, and consumer insights to drive innovation and growth.
• Create compelling selling stories in collaboration with Sales, Marketing, and NPD teams.
• Represent the voice of the shopper and consumer, using data and insights for strategic decisions.
• Deliver engaging, insight-led category presentations to customers and internal stakeholders.

What you’ll bring:

• 2+ years in a customer-facing FMCG Category Management or Customer Marketing role, preferably with major UK retailers.
• Experience with category tools (EPOS, Nielsen/Kantar, shopper insight, merchandising, space planning).
• Commercial acumen with the ability to adapt plans to meet internal and customer targets.
• Confidence in delivering data-driven recommendations to cross-functional teams and customers.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Analytical mindset with strong attention to detail.
• P&L understanding and proficient in Microsoft Office (PowerPoint & Excel).
• Degree qualification and a full, clean driving license.
• Bakery category experience.
• Familiarity with retailer loyalty card data platforms.

Who you’ll work with:

You’ll collaborate closely with our Category Team, Brand Managers, Business Managers, Account Executives, and Development Account Managers to bring our product portfolio to life compellingly.

What's in it for you?

• Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Leave to spend quality time with your new arrival
• Enhanced Pension Scheme
• Free Employee Assistance Programme (for colleagues and families)
• Retail discounts via our Benefits Hub platform
• Company shop at sites (heavily discounted products)
• Refer a Friend Scheme (up to £300 per referral, T&Cs apply)
• Recognition Awards and extensive Learning & Development opportunities, including sponsored memberships and in-house courses
• The chance to be part of a growing organisation. Visit our LinkedIn page for more info.

Our vision is to be the leading specialty bakery group in the UK. We value our talented team, and employee development is a priority. Join us to help continue our success and achieve your personal and professional goals. Interested? Please get in touch to learn more!