What’s it all about then?

As a Category Manager you’ll focus on the management of one or more categories of food products.

This will involve ensuring that enough resources are in place to make your products, keeping the correct inventory levels, and working with sales and marketing to promote the products set prices.

What might I be doing?

You’ll be co-ordinating all of the people who are responsible for your product, from start to finish and making sure they meet the key performance indicators you’ve implemented.

If there are areas where technical training is required then you will need to liaise with training staff to make sure this takes place.

This will ensure the success of your product and enhance company profits.

You’ll also deal with all of the major customers who buy your product and this means the major supermarkets as well as smaller, mainly local, food retailers.

This means that you’ll need to have excellent people skills and presentational ability because you’ll be representing your company in front of customers; this is also important as you will be providing the communication link between the customer and the relevant staff

Your analysis of trends, competing products, and levels of purchase of your product will be vital as your recommendations will influence improvements to the product and also the pricing policy adopted for it; you’ll be expected to keep your customers and all relevant staff abreast of legislative changes and developments as well.

What will be expected of me?

You will be a confident and persuasive person who is able to develop and grow relationships with your colleagues and your customers. You will be the company expert in your category and should keep abreast of any new developments that might affect your role.

Working in the food sector you should be prepared to take decisions quickly and accurately, and without any loss of detail or clarity.

What can I expect?

You can expect to develop a wide knowledge of the company and the ways in which it deals with its customers.

This should set you up for further promotions.

What about the pay?

The level of pay will vary from company to company and from sector to sector but an experienced category manager will earn well in excess of £30,000 per annum

What qualifications do I need to get in?

You will typically need a degree in a marketing related subject.

Anything else I might need to know?

Yes, the purpose of your job will be to optimise the relationship between your employer and the customer to ensure that everyone benefits over a long period of time.