Love spotting growth opportunities others miss?

Obsessed with data, shoppers, and turning insight into proactive action?

Then this best in class category manager opportunity is not one to miss!

Signature Career Management is proud to be partnering with a fast-growing, values-led UK bakery business supplying some of the biggest retailers in the country. This is a rare opportunity to step into a highly visible role where category thinking genuinely influences strategy, innovation, and customer partnerships - not just reporting.

This is a well-established, privately owned FMCG manufacturer with a strong heritage and ambitious growth plans. Known for producing household-name bakery products across branded and own-label ranges, the business partners closely with major UK grocers and continues to invest in capability, insight, and people as it scales. This opportunity is likely to manage their biggest customer who makes up 60% of their total £220million turnover! This customer has been partnered with them for the best part of 80 years, so this takes a certain type of category manager to nurture this customer and bring ideas to the table based on category data, trends, and innovation. They want you to bring them ideas to continue driving forwards together, so someone who has an interest and love for food and development of new ideas is going to thrive here!

But if you are a category manager on the likes of Tesco and JS that are more commercial and competitive, then there is the option to take on this role, or take on a category role within this business focusing on Tesco and JS – they just want the best category manager for them and their business 😊

The role

As Category Manager, you’ll be the go-to expert for shopper, category, and market insight - shaping compelling stories that unlock growth for both customers and the business.

Key responsibilities include:

• Owning category and shopper insight across key retail customers

• Turning data ( Kantar, retailer data) into clear, commercial recommendations

• Building persuasive category growth stories and sell-in materials for grocery customers, or working with buyers at their number 1 customer to look at current and future growth opps.

• Partnering with Sales, Marketing, and NPD to influence ranging, space, and innovation

About you

You’ll thrive in this role if you:

• Have experience in Category Management, Category Insight, or you are agency side within FMCG

• Are confident working with grocery retailers

• Enjoy blending analysis with storytelling and stakeholder influence

• Want a role with real ownership, visibility, and room to grow

Backgrounds from branded or own-label FMCG, food manufacturing, or supplier-side category teams are all welcome.

Sound like your kind of challenge?

Let’s talk.

To apply directly please send a copy of your CV to mike@signature.com or alternatively please apply via the link below.

Whilst we will always endeavour to respond to you, due to the high levels of applications we receive this isn’t always possible. If you are not contacted within 3 working days, you have unfortunately not been shortlisted for this role.

Please note Signature Career Management is acting as an employment agency.