Category Manager - Premium Drinks Grocery

Category Manager – Grocery. Market leading premium branded drinks business. Full responsibility for portfolio with multiple grocery customers. £45-50k + car package. Office based in Surrey,

THE COMPANY 

Market leading, Premium FMCG drinks business, with a portfolio of well known global brands.

The business has enjoyed fantastic growth in the last 5 years, winning the respect and trust of both the Off and On trade sectors. Due to further growth plans, and the need to meet the category needs of their customers, the business is investing in additional head count – hence the creation of this role.

They are renown for their employee retention, based on excellent development programs and access to the senior management team. Opportunities to develop exist in both the UK and Global business.

THE ROLE 

As the Category Manager you will be fully responsible managing the portfolio of brands with key grocery customers.

Your core responsibilities will be:

• Take the lead in the category relationship with specific customers including Head Office visits and buyer meetings to gain additional ranging and more preferential space.
• Build strong relationships and influence customers to move their strategies in directions that support the portfolio of brands.
• Lead the develop of customer specific category strategy sell-in meetings and outputs
• Represent Category function and requirements in sales team meetings as appropriate
• Development of category arguments and activities to drive business and turn the data and insight into compelling selling stories
• Lead identification of gaps in our Category approach & Category/Shopper Insight and develop plans to fill them

Spot capability development needs in the business in your areas of expertise (Category, shopper, analytics) and develop solutions to drive capability across the company

THE PERSON 

• Proven Category Management experience within FMCG food or drink.  Minimum 3 years
• Excellent Excel and PowerPoint with the ability to utilise the packages to their full potential
• Strong communication skills – presentation, email writing etc.
• Ability to influence at all levels
• Experience of the use of Nielsen Answers or IRI CPGN, Kantar Worldpanel, Retailer Proprietary Databases
• Strong analytical skills
• Strong understanding of merchandising principles and shopper behaviours
• Experience of Space Planning software preferable - ProSpace/SpaceMan etc.
• Experience within drinks preferable
• Problem solving, imagination and creativity

The Daniel Williams Consultancy, a Hamilton Bradshaw Company chaired by James Caan, has been operating exclusively within the FMCG, Retail, Business to Business and Automotive sectors since 1991. In 2011 Hamilton Bradshaw was named by ‘Recruitment International’ as the fastest growing recruitment group in the world, having grown a portfolio with a turnover approaching £500m in less than five years of trading.

DWC have built an unrivalled reputation for service excellence with both clients and candidates and whether you’re a talented professional looking for a new career move or a business looking to recruit key personnel you can be assured our knowledgeable, industry specific consultants will successfully partner you through the process.