Category Manager

Job Title: Category Manager – Off Trade

Location: Hybrid – Hemel (weekly travel to our head office and customer visits expected)

Job Length: Permanent

Competitive Salary with extensive benefits:

• Car Allowance
• Monthly product allowance – alcoholic & non-alcoholic options available
• Private Medical options
• Life Assurance
• Company bonus scheme
• Access to 24/7 GP services
• Enhanced pension contribution
• Generous holiday (inc bank holidays)
• Access to a range of high street discounts

Carlsberg Britvic is the largest multi-beverage supplier in the UK and is home to some of the most iconic and popular beers & soft drinks, including Carlsberg Danish Pilsner, 1664, Poretti and Brooklyn to ale favourites such as Hobgoblin and Wainwright. For soft drinks, Carlsberg Britvic’s brands include J2O, Robinsons, Tango and London Essence along with the licence rights to the Pepsi portfolio in the UK including Pepsi MAX, 7UP, poppi, Lipton Iced Tea and Rockstar Energy.

With a strong national footprint, the Carlsberg Britvic business includes 5 production facilities and 16 logistics depot’s servicing customers up and down the UK.  As these two historical businesses have come together, the one common goal remains, and that is ensuring our people succeed. 

About the role:

As Category Manager, this role will help increase category growth across our Beer and Soft Drinks portfolio by turning shopper and market insight into effective customer strategies. Working closely with retailers and cross-functional teams, identifying opportunities across range, space, distribution and execution, delivering category plans that create value for customers, shoppers and Carlsberg Britvic.

Role Responsibilities:

• Build trusted partnerships with key customers and establish Carlsberg Britvic as a credible voice in category.
• Use shopper, consumer and market insight to identify opportunities and increase category growth.
• Manage category plans across range, space, distribution and merchandising, both in-store and online.
• Develop impactful selling stories, category tools and customer engagement initiatives.
• Execute strategic category agendas and provide informed recommendations on key market trends.
• Work closely with Sales, Insights and Brand teams to turn category thinking into commercial results.
• Measure performance, evaluate outcomes and use learnings to shape future plans.
• Lead category projects, trials and business cases that deliver tangible business value.
• Support and develop team capability while promoting a culture of collaboration and quality.
• Represent category leadership across the business, promoting the value and impact of category thinking.

Experience and Key Attributes:

• Well-versed in category management frameworks with solid command of space and range principles.
• Able to identify insights from syndicated and shopper data (e.g. Nielsen, IRI, loyalty platforms) to create compelling action plans.
• Understands key financial levers and how to optimise them through customer planning and negotiation.
• Skilled at presenting ideas clearly to both internal and external stakeholders; credible in front of customers.
• Comfortable leading projects and coaching junior team members; effective at bringing cross-functional teams together.
• Motivated by Carlsberg Britvic’s portfolio and how brands contribute to solving category and shopper needs.
• Resilient in changing work environments and willing to adjust to new business priorities and market channels.
• Extensive experience in category, customer marketing, or commercial roles within FMCG or similar sectors.
• Track record of working directly with customers, with exposure to retail or grocery channels.
• Familiarity with space planning tools (e.g., JDA) and customer insight platforms.

This is an exciting time to join our newly formed business – with their incredible individual history’s, innovation of products and some of the UK’s most iconic brands, Carlsberg Britvic strives to deliver the best service to our customers and consumers. We aim to make a difference, bringing together two diverse companies, our global reach enables opportunity, growth and a chance to work with some fantastic people.

Interested in finding out more? Apply today and a member of the recruitment team will be in touch!

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.

This is an exciting time to join our newly formed business – with their incredible individual history’s, innovation of products and some of the UK’s most iconic brands, Carlsberg Britvic strives to deliver the best service to our customers and consumers. We aim to make a difference, bringing together two diverse companies, our global reach enables opportunity, growth and a chance to work with some fantastic people.