Category Development Manager

Life at JDE Peet's

We believe amazing things happen over a cup of coffee - and at JDE Peet's, you'll help create those moments.

Our culture is built on four values:

• Dare to Amaze - challenge the status quo
• Own It - take responsibility and make it happen
• Make It Simple - cut through complexity
• Win Together - collaborate to succeed

Job Description

As a Category Development Manager, you'll play a critical role in shaping the future of the UK coffee category.

Working within our Category Development & Shopper Marketing team, you'll partner closely with Sales, Marketing, and key retail customers to deliver category growth. Reporting to the Demand Accelerator Controller, you'll lead the development of customer specific category strategies grounded in deep shopper insight and data.

This is a highly visible, externally focused role where you'll combine analytical expertise with storytelling, influencing, and commercial acumen to position JDE Peet's as the supplier of choice.

What you'll be doing

• Develop strong, trusted relationships with key retail customers
• Bring our category vision to life, aligning it with customer strategies and growth ambitions
• Lead range reviews, assortment planning, and space optimisation across all channels (store & online)
• Deliver compelling insights and storytelling to drive decision making
• Analyse shopper behaviour, market trends, and performance data
• Identify opportunities to grow sales, optimise promotions, and improve profitability
• Deliver regular performance reviews and actionable recommendations

Drive commercial impact

• Lead promotional effectiveness analysis - defining what to stop, start, and continue
• Support distribution and assortment strategies
• Own Product Quadrant Analysis (PQA) and proactively manage underperforming SKUs
• Deliver quarterly market insight decks and category updates

Collaborate internally to win

• Partner with Sales, Marketing, Category Strategy, and Shopper teams
• Support new product launches and relaunches to maximise impact
• Contribute to customer business planning and commercial reviews
• Ensure alignment on range review cycles and execution plans

Qualifications

• Proven experience in Category Development or Category Strategy (FMCG), ideally 4+ years
• Strong understanding of UK retail, shoppers, and customers
• Advanced analytical skills - able to turn complex data into clear, compelling insights
• Experience using data tools such as Nielsen, IRI, Kantar, or Dunnhumby
• Excellent Excel and PowerPoint skills
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skillsConfidence presenting to both customers and senior stakeholders
• A proactive, self-driven mindset with a focus on results
• Degree (or equivalent experience)
• Willingness to travel for customer engagement

Additional Information

At JDE Peet's, you'll have the opportunity to shape category strategy for some of the world's most recognised coffee brands, working directly with major retail partners.

You'll be part of a business where your ideas matter, your growth is supported, and your impact is visible.