Category Manager - Wholesale / Symbols & Independents

Category Manager

Location: Hemel Hempstead, open to UK applicants; occasional travel to head office.

Job Length: Permanent

Working Hours: 37.5 hours per week.

Competitive Salary with Extensive Benefits

Monthly product allowance (alcoholic & non-alcoholic)

Private Medical options

Life Assurance

Company bonus scheme

Access to 24/7 GP services

Enhanced pension contribution

Generous holiday (incl. bank holidays)

High street discounts

About the Role

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. With the Off Trade division set to deliver over £1.4 billion in net revenue in 2025, we're poised for even greater growth as a total drinks powerhouse.

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 develop collaborative relationships with retailers and internal partners to deliver robust category plans, identify growth levers, and shape customer agendas that elevate our brands while enhancing our position as a trusted partner.

Working primarily with convenience customers across wholesale symbols and independents markets, you'll focus on 'maximizing today and unlocking tomorrow' with key accounts such as Booker, Bestway, and Unitas while influencing our field execution plans.

Role Responsibilities

• 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

Experience and Key Attributes

• 3-5 years' experience in category, customer marketing, or commercial roles within FMCG or similar sectors, 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 optimise them through customer planning and negotiation
• Degree (or equivalent) in Business, Marketing, Economics, or related field
• Experience with space planning tools (e.g., JDA) and customer insight platforms such as dunnhumby and PowerBI is desirable
• Adaptability and composure in a fast paced environment, with openness to evolving business priorities and routes to market

Our commitment to diversity equity & inclusion

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 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.