Category Manager (12 month FTC)

So, what will I be doing?

At Yeo Valley, we're about more than just making great food - we're here to Nurture & Nourish People & Planet by Making Great Food the Right Way. Forever. As a co owned business, we invest in our people, encourage growth, and believe in doing things properly.

We aim to be a successful, visionary and purposeful food and farming business powered by people who feel inspired by our purpose and valued as co owners.

As a Category Manager, you will build, develop, and manage relationships with key customers, supporting them on key analytics such as range reviews, pricing and promotional strategies. You will also implement the Category Vision that supports the delivery of Yeo Valley's strategic plan within key categories and customers' accounts.

Responsibilities

• Using category data and category/shopper insights, turn insights into deliverable plans and strategies that drive category growth mutually beneficial to customers and the business.
• Advocate for the Yeo Valley strategic plan, contributing to its creation and delivery across the business.
• Lead the category development agenda by analysing and interpreting trends from category and shopper data.
• Manage, maintain, and develop category partnerships across key retailers.
• Lead on analysis and insights on key strategic projects with customers to influence range reviews, pricing and promotional strategies.
• Support the building of the Category Vision, demonstrating areas of opportunity and growth internally; roll out its implementation with some customers and support externally with others.
• Lead wider business projects and manage projects within the Project Boards as dictated by Yeo Valley strategic priorities.
• Communicate effectively and land implementation of category initiatives with customers and colleagues; provide insights for account plans, brand plans and channel plans.
• Seek opportunities to enhance and enrich the company's performance; lead with key recommendations to customers and drive actions.
• Provide critical market information reports, including new product development (NPD) analysis and market data reports.
• Position Yeo Valley as a category expert with key strategic customers in yogurt.
• Conduct regular store visits and category benchmarking.
• Influence and drive strategic growth in the own label and brand NPD process with relevant category insights to identify growth opportunities and land effectively with customers.
• Identify and communicate competitor launches with key recommendations and action plans for internal and external follow up.
• Produce and manage regular monthly reports on market data to highlight category dynamics and relevant insights.

This role sits within the Category and Insights team and reports to the Senior Category Manager. It is a 12 month Fixed Term Contract, working 40 hours per week Monday Friday, based in our YVHQ offices in Blagdon, Somerset. While we operate with flexible working principles, we expect co owners to be present in the office 2 3 days a week.

Essential Qualifications

• Previous experience as a Category, Commercial or Marketing Manager in the FMCG industry with significant experience in supporting and building relationships with retail partners.
• High skill in relationship management.
• Confidence in communication.
• Excellent influencing skills.
• Strong presentation skills.
• Analytical skills.
• Proficiency and experience with market data platforms such as IRI / Nielsen / Kantar / Dunnhumby / Self Serve.

Desirable Qualifications

• Experience in landing a Category Vision with a retailer.
• Experience as a Category Captain/Partner.
• Creative problem solving.

Benefits

• Competitive 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 partners.
• Learning and development opportunities; we are committed to ensuring all employees can grow.

We store free parking, have top of the range personal protection equipment (PPE) and your own locker. All staff enjoy these additional conveniences.