So, what will I be doing?
As Category Manager you will be responsible for building, developing, and managing relationships with key customers, supporting them on key pieces of analysis e.g. range reviews, pricing and promotional strategies etc. You will also implement the Category Vision that supports the delivery of the Yeo Valley strategic plan within key categories and customers’ accounts. This role directly supports our Category Expansions team where you will play an integral role in developing and supporting the expansion of our brands across new categories and channels.
Your responsibilities:
* Using category data and category/shopper insights to create deliverable plans and strategies that drive category growth that’s mutually beneficial to our customers and the business. Where needed, you will leverage your category knowledge and extrapolate available data to build recommendations.
* Leading the category development agenda for our Expansions business by analysing and interpreting trends from Category and shopper data.
* Developing, managing and maintaining category partnerships across key retailers including Tesco, Waitrose, Marks & Spencer’s, Sainsburys, Asda as well as with new customers.
* Leading on analysis and insights on key strategic projects with customers to influence range reviews, pricing and promotional strategies. Supporting the Category Expansion team in landing new propositions in market, maintaining their presence and driving sustainable growth.
* Supporting the Category Team with building the Category Vision to demonstrate areas of category opportunity and growth internally.
* Supporting wider business projects and Yeo Valley strategic priorities.
* Effective development and delivery of the Category Story to both internal and external partners, and partnership with customers and account teams on the implementation of category driving initiatives. Thought leadership on category insights to feed internal account, brand and channel plans.
* Seeking opportunities to enhance and enrich the company’s performance and lead with key recommendations with key customers demonstrating a proactive approach and turning insights into actions.
* Influencing and driving strategic growth in the own label and brand NPD process with relevant category insights in order to identify growth opportunities and land effectively with customers.
* Providing critical market information reports including new product development (NPD) analysis and market data reports.
* Identifying and communicating competitor launches with key recommendations and action plans to follow internally and externally.
* Regular store visits and category benchmarking.
* Producing and managing regular monthly reports on market data to highlight category dynamics and relevant insights.
This role sits within the Category and Insights team and reports directly into the Head of Category and Insights. This role is a full-time position, based in our YVHQ offices in Blagdon, Somerset. Whilst we operate with flexible working principles, we expect our co-owners to be present in the office 2-3 days a week.
Sounds interesting, what do I need?
Essential:
* Previous experience in a Category, Commercial or Marketing Manager role in the FMCG industry with significant experience in support and building relationships with retail partners. Food experience a plus.
* Highly skilled in relationship management.
* Confident communicator.
* Great influencing skills.
* Strong presentation skills.
* Analytical skills.
* Experience and skilled at working in multi-functional teams.
* Proficiency and experience with market data, e.g. Circana /Nielsen / Kantar / Dunnhumby / SIP.
* Comfortable with using data sets that are incomplete, and/or using a variety of sources of data together to build a story.
* Resourceful and can work independently, but knows when to ask for help.
* Comfortable with ambiguity, variety and capable of demonstrating a “start-up” mindset.
Desirable:
* Previous experience of landing a new range of products in a retailer.
* Previous experience of landing a Category Vision with a retailer.
* Previous experience of being Category Captains/Partners.
* Creative problem solving.
Why should I join the family?
We’re independent, British and proud to be making the highest quality yogurts, desserts and ice cream under the Yeo Valley brand and for many of the UK’s major retailers. Operating from four dairies and two logistics centres in Somerset and Devon, we employ over 1700 staff and produce more than 25% of the UK’s packaged yogurt.
We’re sure you don’t need convincing, but there’s a whole host of benefits that we offer including:
* 25 days holiday allowance.
* Non-contributory pension scheme.
* Life cover.
* Healthcare cash back plan.
* Cycle to work scheme.
* Subsidised Yeo Valley products and services.
* Preferential rates with our partners.
* Annual bonus (as part of the Employee Benefit Trust, based on company performance for the year).
* Learning and development opportunities; we’re committed to ensuring all of our employees have the chance to grow.
Our closing dates are a guide for when the application window should close, although we may close the advert sooner if we can. So, we recommend you get your application in straight away – and don’t miss the opportunity to join us!
Unfortunately, we’re not able to provide employment sponsorship to candidates at this moment in time.
Please note that Yeo Valley do not accept speculative agency applications; we will only accept applications from preferred suppliers that have been submitted to us via our recruitment portal at the point of instruction.
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