The Role
Hain Daniels are currently recruiting for a home based category manger with travel required to our sites in Histon, Fakenham and Grimsby as well as to our customers when needed.
Category Management is a critical commercial function within the Hain Celestial business. Acting as the ‘North Star’ for our chosen Categories, we endeavour to engage both customers and internal stakeholders to maximise growth opportunities and in turn benefit our Brands and products.
We are now looking for a driven and ambitious Category Manager to join our team. You will play a critical role in driving business growth and maximizing profitability by effectively managing specific product categories. You will be responsible for developing and implementing strategies, optimizing product assortments, managing supplier relationships, and ensuring exceptional customer experiences within your assigned categories.
The successful candidate must be able to build strong relationships and interface superbly across multiple Customers and seniority levels. Working closely with Customer, Brand and Channel Marketing Teams in particular, the individual is responsible for all aspects of the assigned Category customer relationship.
Key Responsibilities / Accountability of the Role:
Customer Category Planning-
1. Work in partnership with our key customers to create category strategies and plans which maximise shop-ability, overall category performance and mutual growth. This involves the development of Portfolio, Placement, Price and Promotion strategies with our customers, sales and marketing teams that maximise category growth.
2. Align Hain Celestial to our customers - deep understanding of the customer’s strategy is critical, as well as critical understanding of the category shopper behaviour and the levers to use to grow based on this.
3. Report on performance and the execution of the category vision at point of purchase to optimise shop-ability.
Range Optimisation-
4. Assortment Planning and Optimization: Determine the optimal product assortment for the category, considering factors such as customer preferences, market demand, competitive landscape, and profitability.
5. Gain/seek a category leadership position with key accounts, providing regular insight and recommendations that feed through to ranging and merchandising decisions driving sales growth.
6. Continuously monitor product performance and make data-driven recommendations for assortment adjustments.
7. Lead chosen range review process internally and externally, including directly advising our customers on range and merchandising.
Category Insight-
8. Interrogate market data, consumer & shopper research to develop actionable category insights for Sales, Marketing and NPD. This insight needs to be clear, understandable and sales driven at a Customer and Brand level. This will include influencing planning and strategy for Hain NPD pipeline development and in-store / online execution.
9. Competitive Intelligence: Stay abreast of industry trends, competitor activities, and market dynamics related to the category. Conduct regular competitive analysis and make strategic recommendations to maintain a competitive edge and capitalise on emerging opportunities.
What you will need for the Role:
10. 3+ years proven track record of success in a category position within the FMCG food industry.
11. Multichannel experience preferred with experience of major UK retailer accounts.
12. Degree Educated
13. Excellent communication and influencing skills
14. Highly numerate and an expert at using Excel
15. Excellent presentation and story telling skills
What can we offer you?
16. Competitive salary / rate of pay
17. 25 days annual leave, plus 8 Bank Holiday
18. Option to purchase additional annual leave
19. A day off work to support our charity partners
20. Flexible working options
21. Pension
22. Medical benefit
23. And access to a HUB that offers many discounts from a range of suppliers and retailers
About The Hain Celestial Group
Hain Celestial Group is a leading health and wellness company whose purpose is to inspire healthier living for people, communities and the planet through better-for-you brands. For more than 30 years, our portfolio of beloved brands has intentionally focused on delivering nutrition and well-being that positively impacts today and tomorrow. Headquartered in Hoboken, N.J., Hain Celestial’s products across snacks, baby/kids, beverages, meal preparation, and personal care, are marketed and sold in over 75 countries around the world. Our leading brands include Garden Veggie™ snacks, Terra® chips, Garden of Eatin’® snacks, Earth’s Best® and Ella’s Kitchen® baby and kids foods, Celestial Seasonings® teas, Joya® and Natumi® plant-based beverages, Greek Gods® yogurt, Cully & Sully®, Imagine® and New Covent Garden® soups, Yves® and Linda McCartney’s® (under license) meat-free, and Alba Botanica® natural sun care, among others.
Hain Daniels Group In the UK, Hain Daniels Group is one of the UK's leading food companies. We create food and drink products with natural goodness at their core. We're the business behind a host of household brands - Hartley's jams and jellies, Sun-Pat peanut butters, New Covent Garden Soup Co., Linda McCartney's meat free food, and Yorkshire Provender to name a few. Nearly half of our business is private label - we create quality freshly prepared fruit and juices, desserts, soups, sweet spreads and meat free products for our retail partners. Over our sites up and down the UK, we employ circa 1,200 people in roles within Production, Supply Chain, Product Development, Sales and Marketing, and through to our Finance, HR, IT and beyond. Each of our colleagues is vital to our continued success. That's why we target the best talent, and help to develop them through the ranks.
Our Values
Own It – I am empowered and accountable for improving Hain’s business results and impact
Win Together – I collaborate with others to grow, deliver and celebrate success.
Foster Inclusion – I create an environment where everyone feels welcome, respected and valued for their uniqueness.
Be Curious – I explore ideas & insights with a growth mindset.
Our Purpose
To inspire healthier living for people, communities & the planet through better-for-you brands
Our Mission
To build purpose-driven brands that make healthier living more attainable by empowering our people, engaging our partners, and living our lives.
If you need reasonable adjustments made to the recruitment process, please let us know so we can support you in the right way.
If Hain Daniels sounds like the company you'd like to contribute your energy and enthusiasm towards, and come on an exciting journey with us, then we can't wait to hear from you!
Qualifications Benefits Not Specified