Category Manager

About us:
Veetee is a growing SME food manufacturing business, mainly producing rice and grain products. We have two factories and three warehouses in Rochester, Kent, one manufacturing site in India and a Sales & Distribution team in the USA. We provide products to the majority of the large Food Retailers.
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Job Purpose:
The Category Manager will work with the wider commercial team to provide insight and utilise category expertise to build on the Veetee brand offering and retail presence
Responsibilities:
Work alongside the commercial team to provide strategic commercial insight on how Veetee can partner best with retailers resulting in brand growth in range size & features.
Collaborate with key retail partners to analyse market trends, consumer behaviour, and competitor activities to identify growth opportunities.
Utilise data analytics to assess category performance, identify gaps, and recommend strategies to optimise assortment and shelf space.
Lead category management initiatives, including assortment planning, pricing strategies, and promotional activities.
Lead category management reviews with customers and provide expert insight to these conversations.
Actively engage in new product development discussions, providing insights on market needs and opportunities based on category analysis.
Work closely with the product development team to ensure alignment between consumer preferences and new product concepts.
Lead the planning and execution of category strategies for new product launches, including promotional plans and in-store merchandising.
Build strong relationships with retail partners through regular communication, data-driven insights, and collaborative business planning sessions.
Conduct in-depth market research and analysis to stay informed about industry trends, emerging products, and competitive landscape.
Develop and present comprehensive category reviews to retailers, highlighting insights and recommendations to drive business growth.
Work closely with internal cross-functional teams, including sales, marketing, and supply chain, to ensure effective execution of category and new product launch strategies.
Provide training and support to sales teams on category management principles and effective use of data.
Provide category & brand performance data for competitor reviews, including recommendations for actions.
Any other reasonable duties associated with the role or projects assigned to meet overall objectives.
Skills, Knowledge, and Experience:
Proven experience of at least 4 years within a similar role in an FMCG company.
Proven track record of successfully implementing category strategies that resulted in business growth.
Experience of assisting in presenting to external stakeholders.
Experience of influencing and negotiating with teams at all levels.
Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent, in business, Marketing, or a related field.
Strong analytical skills with proficiency in data analysis tools and market research.
Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to convey complex data-driven insights to both internal and external stakeholders.
Demonstrated ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with retail partners.
Strategic thinker with a results-oriented mindset.
Proficiency in category management software and tools.
Experience in new product development and launch would be beneficial.
Must be enthusiastic, resilient, tenacious, and persuasive with a strong customer focus.
Responds positively to changing business priorities and rises to the challenge.
Benefits:
Health care cash plan (Westfield Health).
Company Pension and Life Insurance.
Free onsite parking.
Referral Programme.
Store discount.