Senior Category Manager

Factorial HR; Leicester; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company pension scheme

Health & wellbeing discounts

Employee discount scheme

Annual pay reviews

Profit related pay

Extended leave

Free on-site parking

Training and growth opportunities

Job summary

Samworth Brothers is seeking a Senior Category Manager to lead category strategy and customer growth plans for major UK retailers. You will work with Commercial, NPD, Insight and Leadership teams, shaping insights-led recommendations and driving growth across key customers.

You will mentor Category Managers and Executives, delivering strategic category leadership through data analysis and retailer understanding, while collaborating with senior stakeholders to build capability and drive results.

Qualifications

• Significant category management experience in FMCG at manager level.
• Strong use of market and consumer insight data (EPOS, Kantar, Dunnhumby).
• Experience with major UK retailers and building influential relationships.
• Proven people leadership to coach, develop and inspire others.
• Excellent presentation, communication and commercial influencing skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of category plans and customer growth strategies using market insight.
• Deliver impactful category reviews and recommendations to major UK retailers.
• Drive category input into NPD and Stage Gate processes for growth opportunities.
• Coach and develop Category Managers and Executives to build team capability.
• Provide strategic leadership through data analysis and retailer understanding.

Skills

Category management

FMCG experience

Consumer insight data

UK retailer relationships

Leadership & coaching

Presentation & influencing

Job description

About The Role

Walkers Deli & Sausage Co (WDSCo), part of the Samworth Brothers Group, is a highly successful and growing food manufacturing business with a heritage dating back to the 1820s. Supplying many of the UK’s leading retailers across categories including premium sausages, cooked meats, BBQ, pâté, protein snacking and ready meals, we continue to invest in our future growth and innovation. This Senior Category Manager position is a key leadership role within our Commercial function, helping shape category strategy and drive growth across major retail customers. Reporting to the Head of Category & Marketing, you will lead the development and delivery of category strategies, customer category plans and insight-led recommendations. You’ll work closely with senior stakeholders across Commercial, NPD, Insight and Business Leadership teams while coaching and developing category talent within the business. This is an opportunity to become a recognised category expert both internally and externally, influencing strategic decisions that deliver growth for customers and the business.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development of category plans and customer growth strategies using robust market, shopper and consumer insight.
• Deliver impactful category reviews and recommendations to major UK retail customers.
• Drive category input into the NPD and Stage Gate processes, identifying opportunities for innovation and growth.
• Coach, mentor and develop Category Managers and Category Executives to build capability within the team.
• Provide strategic category leadership through data analysis, shopper insight and retailer understanding.

About You

We believe success comes from collaboration and diverse perspectives. At Samworth Brothers, we value team players who are driven to achieve great results together. You’ll bring the following skills and experience:

• Significant Category Management experience within an FMCG environment at Manager level.
• Strong experience using market and consumer insight data including EPOS, Kantar, Dunnhumby and similar sources.
• Experience working with major UK retailers and building influential customer relationships.
• Proven people leadership experience with the ability to coach, develop and inspire others.
• Exceptional presentation, communication and commercial influencing skills.

What We Offer

We’re building a workplace where different ways of thinking are not just welcomed but supported, with clear communication, flexible processes, and a commitment to continuous improvement so everyone can thrive.

• Company pension scheme
• Access to health and well-being support, such as healthcare, optical and dental discounts
• Employee discount scheme
• Experience annual pay reviews
• Profit related pay
• Opportunity for extended leave
• Free on-site parking
• Unlock your potential through training and growth opportunities

About Us

Samworth Brothers is a fourth-generation family business, trusted by many of the UK’s best-known retailers to produce high-quality own-label products. Alongside these, we’re proud to craft and deliver our own iconic brands, including Ginsters, Soreen, Higgidy, Dickinson & Morris, Urban Eat, West Cornwall Pasty Company, and Walker & Son.

With over 10,000 talented colleagues working across our modern, well-invested food manufacturing sites nationwide, we’re committed to excellence in everything we do—from the food we make to the careers we build.

At Samworth Brothers, you’re more than just an employee, you are part of our strong family culture. Our collaborative approach and strong team spirit help us support one another and achieve great things together. As part of a well-established group, we offer stability, opportunity, and a place where you can truly thrive.

Ready to make a difference? Join us and be part of something special!

We’re proud to be an Equal Opportunities employer making diversity and inclusion a core part of everything we do. We also actively welcome applications from neurodivergent individuals and are committed to a recruitment process that’s fair, respectful, and free from bias. If you need any adaptations to the application or interview process, please do let us know.

Samworth Brothers do not engage with unlicensed gangmasters or third parties. Samworth Brothers will NEVER ask you for money in order to provide you with employment. If you are in any doubt, please contact an official Samworth Brothers representative.