Category Controller

My client is a leading global snacks manufacturer, who requires a Category Controller to lead & inspire the team towards development of strong trade relationships at all levels, providing category leadership and developing and implementing plans that deliver category growth. Successful execution of the category vision will result in being seen as the category advisor of choice. You will be overseeing the convenience Category.

As a Channel Controller, you will also need to influence internal partners with the needs of the category, customer and shopper to ensure that our business strategies & decisions are aligned with category needs
 

The Role:

You will be responsible for delivering a clear Category Vision and plan, with a 3 year vision in place. You will identify new ways to unlock new consumption and purchase and implement a plan with appropriate customers. 

Alongside this, you will be strategically increasing shopper engagement within the category, imprve ease of shop and drive greater impluse purchase opportunities. 

You will be working with key external customers through developing a detailed understanding of key contacts, their strategy, goals and calendar and using this understanding to proactively find opportunities of benefit to the Category

You will be working with internal PR and external PR trade agencies, agreeing an annual plan for trade focus.

The Category Fundamentals will be ensuring the team develop and implement differentiated strategies and tactics for focus customers and optimise range, distribution, merchandising, availability, promotions and space.

You will evaluate Category performance in the focus customers and identify risks and opportunities, suggesting course correction, alongside overseeing range reviews and ranging window opportunites. 

You will inspire team to effectively interpret all available industry, category, customer and shopper data turning it into useful insights that are communicated regularly to focus customer(s) and, where appropriate, any specific findings for the wider business.

Leadership, motivation and the need for continuous improvement are essentials for this role.

The quantitative measure will be convenience category growth, core range distribution and group ranking and score.

The qualitative measures will be customer/ partner feedback and evidence of improvements based upon quality of insight.

What do you need for this role?

• Commercial experience gained in a blue-chip manufacturing organisation, consultancy or agency
• Experience of people management including coaching/mentoring more junior members of the team
• Genuine desire to physically engage with customer contacts on a regular basis for this trade sector. Good relationship building skills with customers & partner

This role includes a 15% bonus and 7K car allowance as well as standard benefits.