Allexo Search
Category Manager (Convenience) - FMCG Food
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
This is an opportunity to join one of the UK's most recognisable food businesses. This is a genuinely influential role within a commercially ambitious, award-winning culture - sitting at the intersection of category strategy and customer partnership across some of the most dynamic channels in the UK convenience and travel landscape.
The business forms part of a major European food group, with significant scale, a strong branded portfolio and a clear commitment to both commercial performance and sustainability. The culture is collaborative, high-energy and genuinely supportive - with real investment in people and progression.
The Role
As Category Manager - Travel, Forecourts & Convenience, this role takes ownership of category relationships across a defined set of impulse, travel and forecourt customers. It is a dual-facing position - equally important internally and externally - with responsibility for translating data and insight into compelling category strategies that drive growth for both the customer and the business.
This is a role for someone who thrives on complexity, enjoys building relationships, and can turn data into a clear commercial story. The Category Manager will be expected to lead with insight, influence without authority, and deliver recommendations that genuinely shape how products are ranged, merchandised and activated in-store.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the category relationship across a portfolio of travel, forecourt and convenience customers - acting as a trusted category advisor and building partnerships across multiple levels of the customer organisation
- Develop and deliver category growth plans, covering range, space, merchandising and promotional recommendations, underpinned by rigorous data analysis from Nielsen, Circana and other relevant sources
- Own the strategic category agenda for travel and forecourt channels, setting priorities and ensuring internal teams are aligned on the commercial opportunity
- Manage and maintain the accuracy of market data platforms, translating outputs into regular reporting and actionable insight for sales and marketing stakeholders
- Create and update convenience channel guides and customer-facing category presentations, ensuring content is insight-led and commercially relevant
- Support cross-functional projects, acting as the voice of the impulse channel and contributing to the development of customer sell-in materials
- Monitor market trends and competitor activity, attending relevant industry events and ensuring the wider business remains well-informed on channel dynamics
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
The Ideal Candidate
The successful Category Manager will bring proven experience in a category management function, ideally within FMCG and with exposure to impulse, convenience or travel retail environments. Strong analytical capability is essential - this company needs someone who is genuinely comfortable working across multiple data sources and distilling complex information into clear, persuasive recommendations.
Specific requirements include:
- Demonstrable category management experience within an FMCG or consumer goods environment
- Hands-on experience with Nielsen and/or Circana data platforms
- Strong commercial acumen with the ability to link category insight to business outcomes
- Excellent Excel skills and the ability to manage large, complex data sets with accuracy
- Confident communicator with strong presentation skills and the ability to influence internally and externally
- A proactive, self-starting approach and the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously
Familiarity with Lumina CTP data or independent retail channels would be advantageous, though not essential.
Location
Slough, Berkshire - hybrid working arrangements in place.
Package
£55,000 + £5K Car Allowance + Bonus
Desired Skills and Experience
Category, Insights
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills