Category Manager - Convenience Channel

Job Title: Category Manager
Location: The primary location for this role is Hemel Hempstead; however, due to the nature of the position, we are open to applications from across the UK. Occasional travel to the head office will be required for team meetings.
Job Length: Permanent
Working Hours: 37.5Competitive Salary with extensive benefits:

Monthly product allowance - alcoholic & non-alcoholic options available
Private Medical options
Life Assurance
Company bonus scheme
Access to 24/7 GP services
Enhanced pension contribution
Generous holiday (inc bank holidays)
Access to a range of high street discounts

Carlsberg Britvic is the largest multi-beverage supplier in the UK and is home to some of the most iconic and popular beers & soft drinks, including Carlsberg Danish Pilsner, 1664, Poretti and Brooklyn to ale favourites such as Hobgoblin and Wainwright. For soft drinks, Carlsberg Britvic's brands include J2O, Robinsons, Tango and London Essence along with the licence rights to the Pepsi portfolio in the UK including Pepsi MAX, 7UP, Lipton Iced Tea and Rockstar Energy.
With a strong national footprint, the Carlsberg Britvic business includes 5 production facilities and 16 logistics depot's servicing customers up and down the UK. As these two historical businesses have come together, the one common goal remains, and that is ensuring our people succeed.

Following the acquisition of Britvic by Carlsberg in January 2025, Carlsberg Britvic has emerged as one of the world's largest drinks companies, boasting an impressive portfolio of brands enjoyed by millions across the UK throughout their day.

As Category Manager, you'll be an integral part of our commercial growth engine, translating strategy into execution and serving as the commercial lynchpin between customer-specific insight, brand opportunities, and in-outlet activation. You'll use shopper and market insight to influence retailer category strategies, delivering recommendations that drive category growth, identify growth levers, and shape customer agendas that elevate our brands while enhancing our position as a trusted partner.

Working primarily with small store and convenience customers, you'll focus on 'maximizing today and unlocking tomorrow'.

• Establish strategic relationships with key customer stakeholders, positioning Carlsberg Britvic as a trusted category authority and co-creating impactful solutions that enhance category performance
• Translate consumer, shopper, and market trends into channel and customer strategies that drive category growth and competitive advantage
• Lead the execution of category roadmaps through range reviews and initiatives that maximize point-of-purchase outcomes across distribution, range, space, and rate of sale
• Develop compelling category selling stories and customer immersion experiences designed to influence implementation of category solutions and strategies
• Lead strategic agendas on critical topics including health and wellness, sustainability, deposit return schemes (DRS), and high fat salt sugar (HFSS) legislation
• Partner with Insights, Category Strategy, Sales, and Brand/Channel operations teams to embed category thinking in brand planning and commercial execution
• Set, track, and evaluate performance against space, range, and distribution targets aligned to our range and merchandising blueprints
• Mentor and develop team members while championing category capabilities across functions
• Manage allocated category development budgets effectively against agreed customer data contracts and research projects

• 3-5 years' experience in Category Management or Category Insights within FMCG, ideally working with major retailers, with a proven track record of working directly with customers
• Strong category management expertise with excellent command of space and range principles and analytical skills to synthesize insights from syndicated and shopper data
• Outstanding communication and influencing abilities, with credibility in front of customers and the capacity to build and maintain strategic relationships
• Commercial acumen with understanding of key financial levers and how to optimize them through customer planning and negotiation
• Degree (or equivalent) in Business, Marketing, Economics, or related field
• Strong analytical capability with experience interpreting data from NielsenIQ, Kantar, Circana, or retailer insight platforms such as dunnhumby
• Experience with space planning tools (e.g., JDA) and data visualisation tools such as PowerBI is desirable
• Adaptability and composure in a fast-paced environment, with openness to evolving business priorities and routes to market

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences - including those of different races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, ages, abilities, religions, and socioeconomic statuses. We actively seek to create a safe and inclusive environment for all of our colleagues, where diverse perspectives are welcomed, and inclusive practices are embedded in everything we do.

We are happy to support accessibility needs, to ensure a fair and equitable experience for all candidates, so please do let us know if you require any adjustments during the recruitment process.

Application Process:
We read applications continuously, and vacancies may be filled anytime, so please apply as early as possible.

We look forward to receiving your application.