Category Development Manager (m/f/x)

We are the company that brings a smile to children's faces. Our mission is to put a smile on 8 billion faces and we are led by our purpose to provide carefree moments to children all around the world. With our iconic Capri-Sun brand, we aim to be the best tasting, sustainable, no.1 kids' drink.

We are the ideal employer for thirsty people, who think in solutions, enjoy shaping a love brand and want to grow with us.

Scope - what does a Category Development Manager do at Capri Sun?

As our Category Development Manager, you will be the key interface between Capri-Sun Marketing, Sales, Activation and our Customers. You will lead the category vision and range review process while facilitating communication, reporting and insights to identify and deliver category deliverables, and shopper agenda at the point of purchase within our retail customers.

You will be expected to provide category insight into the brand and customer plans during brand planning processes, develop category plans with sales and marketing as well as engage retailers.

You will be responsible for supporting functions in promotional strategies, as well as the creation, activation and post-launch assessment of NPD.

You will provide actionable insights and use it to support decision making and ultimately plan and define the retailer execution of said plans.

You’ll be based partially on-site (Great Portland Street, London, UK) with the Capri-Sun marketing team so need to be comfortable to work directly with client, and partially at home.

Responsibilities

• Development of Category Vision for the Kids Juice Category

• Support the creation of 3-year category strategies identifying Category Value Drivers

• Monitor category & customer performance and revise plans as required, track long term category and business performance vs long term growth plans

• Be the Kids Juice Drinks Category expert, provide insights, growth opportunities, and performance insights at a channel level highlighting strategic growth & develop optimal measurement programme for all in store drivers

• Range Review Process: Lead range reviews for the full portfolio

• Identify range gaps, either distribution opportunities or pack size gaps that we need by channel

• Identify range risks to Capri-Sun where SKUs are underperforming by channel/category

• Develop detailed plans for range reviews and layouts, with timely communication and involvement of all stakeholders, define optimum range, space, layout & navigation solutions by customer

• Working with category data to better equip our commercial team to retain and grow incumbent business

• Planograms & Assortments: Responsible for optimising planograms and assortment across the portfolio and within customers

• Lead key business projects, e.g., channel research, shopper segmentation, fixture of the future, category input to business planning cycle, total drinks shopper principles

• Business Planning Cycle (Category Strategy)

• Provide robust post launch analysis for innovations

• Monthly performance tracking and reporting to the Executive Committee and GB Leadership team.

• Coordination of the monthly Sales & Marketing meeting.

Your Profile

• 4+ year’s category development and/or NAM experience in a brand led FMCG business. Experience in drinks or kids categories highly preferred

• University degree in a relevant field

• A Storyteller – Can create the context of ‘Why’ and ‘How’ succinctly from multiple complex data sources

• A problem solver – Able to find solutions to complex category problems whether being equipped with little or lots of data

• A Performance Mindset and results driven

• Shopper and Category Obsessed – Genuine passion for understanding the shopper and using this understanding to drive a competitive advantage

• Fully conversant with Kantar/Nielsen/IRI/retailer data systems. Strong data analysis skills

• Promotion and range modelling

• Strong Team player with a positive mind-set and can and will do attitude

• Good interpersonal skills and ability to work on own initiative in a fast-paced environment

What you can expect

• Competitive base salary

• Benefits package including pension scheme, life insurance, health insurance, 25 days of annual leave

• A hybrid working model offering flexibility of on-site and remote work (3 days in the London office/Customer meetings and 2 days from home)

• A commitment to our sustainability: our ambition is to be the most sustainable kids drink in the world

• Working for the biggest kids drink brand worldwide, being available in 120 markets

• A fast-paced company, with an excellent leadership team and high growth ambitions

• Flat hierarchies and lots of opportunity to take leadership