Job Description

Location: Bedford / Milton Keynes
Function: Marketing
Reports to: Head of Category & Insight

About the role

We’re looking for a commercially minded and insight-driven Category Manager to lead our Speciality Bread category. This is a high-impact, cross-functional role where you’ll shape strategy, influence stakeholders, and drive growth across our retail channel and beyond.

Acting as the voice of your category, you’ll turn data into actionable insights, align teams across Sales, Operations, and Marketing, and build compelling strategies that deliver both consumer value and commercial success.

What you’ll be doing

Category Strategy & Leadership

• Own and deliver the end-to-end category strategy for Speciality Bread
• Translate global direction into a strong UK growth plan
• Create clear, actionable roadmaps with defined priorities and outcomes
• Act as the go-to expert for your category internally and externally

Collaboration & Influence

• Partner closely with Sales, Operations, and Marketing teams to align plans
• Build trusted, objective relationships with customers alongside Sales
• Coordinate projects and tenders across functions
• Represent your category within the wider business and global network

Insight & Innovation

• Use market, shopper, and consumer data to inform category decisions
• Shape innovation pipelines and ensure NPD is insight-led
• Build compelling, customer-focused sell-in stories
• Translate trends into clear, actionable recommendations

Performance & Portfolio Management

• Manage the product portfolio to drive volume, margin, and profitability
• Identify opportunities to simplify ranges and improve performance
• Monitor category performance and adjust strategy accordingly
• Support operational efficiency and capability development

Market Intelligence

• Analyse competitors and market dynamics
• Provide insights to support decision-making and category growth

What we’re looking for

Experience

• Proven experience within FMCG, ideally in a commercial or category role
• Demonstrated success driving commercial performance and P&L growth
• Experience working cross-functionally and managing multiple stakeholders
• Background in retail; food, bakery, or foodservice experience is a plus

Skills & capabilities

• Strong analytical and financial skills with the ability to translate data into action
• Excellent communication and influencing skills
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on delivery
• Confident managing complexity and competing priorities
• Highly collaborative with a relationship-driven approach

What will set you apart

• Passion for food – especially bakery!
• Curiosity for market trends and consumer behaviour
• A proactive mindset with a drive to deliver results

What to expect

• Working between Bedford and Milton Keynes
• Opportunity to work cross-functionally and internationally (including travel within Europe when required)
• A role with real ownership, visibility, and impact on business performance

Why join us?

You’ll be part of a collaborative and ambitious business where category thinking is central to growth. You’ll have the opportunity to influence strategy, work with talented teams, and take ownership of a key category in a fast-moving FMCG environment.