Category Manager – Bakery
Location: Bedfordshire
Working Pattern: Full-time | Hybrid (3 days per week in the office)
Department: Category & Insights
Salary & benefits: £50,000 to £55,000, 10 % Bonus, Pension & Benefits
About the Company
Our client is a leading bakery manufacturer with a strong heritage in producing high-quality baked goods. With decades of expertise, the business has grown significantly to become a major player within the European bakery market.
The company produces both private label products for leading retailers as well as a category-leading branded bakery range, giving them a strong presence across multiple channels.
Today the business operates a number of advanced manufacturing facilities across the UK and Europe and supplies a wide range of customers across Retail, Wholesale, Convenience, and Foodservice channels.
In recent years the business has experienced strong growth, supported by continued investment across its manufacturing sites in the UK and internationally.
The Role
As a Category Manager, you will play a pivotal role in driving growth within key categories while supporting customers through data-led insight and collaboration. You will work closely with major European grocery accounts, developing category strategies aligned to commercial priorities and delivering meaningful, actionable outcomes.
This is an excellent opportunity to join a growing business where category insight is highly valued and plays a key role in shaping commercial decision-making and customer partnerships.
Key Responsibilities
* Category management of key European grocery accounts
* Build strong partnerships with retailers, providing category insights and responding to ad hoc analysis requests
* Identify category trends and opportunities to drive growth
* Develop compelling category rationale to support product listings and distribution expansion
* Stay ahead of market and shopper trends through competitor analysis
Skills & Experience
Data to Insights: Proven experience turning complex data into clear, actionable insights, using shopper research and market trends to drive category growth
Building Partnerships: Ability to establish trusted relationships with key customers, acting as a category expert and objective advisor
Sales Support: Deliver insight-led recommendations to support distribution, listings, and promotional activity
Execution & Growth: Experience delivering range reviews, maximising shelf space, and executing category strategies to drive visibility and sales
Who We’re Looking For
* A strategic thinker with 2–3 years’ category management experience and a passion for driving growth
* Strong analytical capability with the confidence to interpret and communicate large datasets
* Excellent relationship-building, communication, and influencing skills, with the ability to present complex data to non-technical stakeholders
* Strong commercial acumen with a sound understanding of shopper behaviour and market trends
* Advanced Excel skills, with the ability to present data in a clear, engaging, and actionable way
For more information
Please apply via the advert or contact Aidan Goodall at FMCG Selection on 01943 667280 or email aidan@fmcgselection.co.uk