Category Manager (Convenience) - FMCG Food
Location
Berkshire
Specialism
Category Management
Contract
Permanent
Start Date
ASAP
Salary
£50000 - £55000 per annum + Car Allowance + Bonus
Ref
1710_1784103637
This is an opportunity to join one of the UK's most recognisable food businesses. This is a genuinely influential role within a commercially ambitious, award-winning culture - sitting at the intersection of category strategy and customer partnership across some of the most dynamic channels in the UK convenience and travel landscape.
The business forms part of a major European food group, with significant scale, a strong branded portfolio and a clear commitment to both commercial performance and sustainability. The culture is collaborative, high-energy and genuinely supportive - with real investment in people and progression.
The Role
As Category Manager - Travel, Forecourts & Convenience, this role takes ownership of category relationships across a defined set of impulse, travel and forecourt customers. It is a dual-facing position - equally important internally and externally - with responsibility for translating data and insight into compelling category strategies that drive growth for both the customer and the business.
This is a role for someone who thrives on complexity, enjoys building relationships, and can turn data into a clear commercial story. The Category Manager will be expected to lead with insight, influence without authority, and deliver recommendations that genuinely shape how products are ranged, merchandised and activated in-store.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the category relationship across a portfolio of travel, forecourt and convenience customers - acting as a trusted category advisor and building partnerships across multiple levels of the customer organisation
- Develop and deliver category growth plans, covering range, space, merchandising and promotional recommendations, underpinned by rigorous data analysis from Nielsen, Circana and other relevant sources
- Own the strategic category agenda for travel and forecourt channels, setting priorities and ensuring internal teams are aligned on the commercial opportunity
- Manage and maintain the accuracy of market data platforms, translating outputs into regular reporting and actionable insight for sales and marketing stakeholders
- Create and update convenience channel guides and customer-facing category presentations, ensuring content is insight-led and commercially relevant
- Support cross-functional projects, acting as the voice of the impulse channel and contributing to the development of customer sell-in materials
- Monitor market trends and competitor activity, attending relevant industry events and ensuring the wider business remains well-informed on channel dynamics
The Ideal Candidate
The successful Category Manager will bring proven experience in a category management function, ideally within FMCG and with exposure to impulse, convenience or travel retail environments. Strong analytical capability is essential - this company needs someone who is genuinely comfortable working across multiple data sources and distilling complex information into clear, persuasive recommendations.
Specific requirements include:
- Demonstrable category management experience within an FMCG or consumer goods environment
- Hands-on experience with Nielsen and/or Circana data platforms
- Strong commercial acumen with the ability to link category insight to business outcomes
- Excellent Excel skills and the ability to manage large, complex data sets with accuracy
- Confident communicator with strong presentation skills and the ability to influence internally and externally
- A proactive, self-starting approach and the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously
Familiarity with Lumina CTP data or independent retail channels would be advantageous, though not essential.
Location
Slough, Berkshire - hybrid working arrangements in place.
Package
£55,000 + £5K Car Allowance + Bonus
