Strategic Category Growth & Insights Manager

Sofina Foods Europe; Leeds; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company Bonus Scheme

Company Pension Scheme

Enhanced Sick Pay

Job summary

Sofina Foods in Leeds is seeking a Category Manager to support nominated customers using market, shopper, and consumer insights. You will lead category reviews, identify opportunities, and develop practical recommendations to drive growth, working with Commercial, Marketing, NPD, and Planning teams.

The role focuses on turning data into actionable strategies, building relationships with key retail customers, and contributing to innovation, ranging, and planning activities.

Qualifications

• Strong commercial awareness with previous experience in a commercial or category environment.
• Highly analytical, with the ability to turn large amounts of data into clear insights and actionable recommendations.
• Strong communication, influencing, and relationship-building skills.
• Confident working with customer, market, shopper, and consumer data.
• Experience using data platforms such as Kantar, IRI, or Nielsen would be advantageous.
• Strong organisation, prioritisation, and time management skills.
• Commercially minded with a proactive and solutions-focused approach.
• Collaborative team player who enjoys sharing knowledge and best practice.

Responsibilities

• Build strong relationships with key customer buying, category, and range contacts
• Lead category reviews, using market, shopper, consumer, and retailer data to identify growth opportunities
• Develop clear and commercially focused recommendations aligned with customer and Sofina strategies
• Monitor category performance and provide analysis and recommendations where improvements are required
• Support customer planning cycles, including range reviews, NPD performance, innovation, and promotional activity
• Work closely with Marketing and NPD teams to develop compelling category and innovation stories
• Provide category insights to Commercial and Planning teams to support forecasts, promotional uplifts, and future growth plans
• Support shopper marketing, promotional plans, NPD launches, and seasonal ranging
• Deliver accurate and timely customer reporting and analysis
• Contribute to wider category projects and help share best practice across the Category team

Skills

Commercial awareness

Analytical thinking

Communication

Data analysis

Relationship building

Data platforms (Kantar/IRI/Nielsen)

Job description

Sofina Foods in Leeds is seeking a Category Manager to support nominated customers using market, shopper, and consumer insights. You will lead category reviews, identify opportunities, and develop practical recommendations to drive growth, working with Commercial, Marketing, NPD, and Planning teams.

The role focuses on turning data into actionable strategies, building relationships with key retail customers, and contributing to innovation, ranging, and planning activities.