New Category Development Manager
| Posting date: | 21 July 2025 |
|---|---|
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 20 August 2025 |
| Location: | BB9 6SH |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | William Jackson Food Group |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | WJFRP82327-15332 |
Summary
New Category Development Manager - Nelson, Lancashire - Competitive Annual Salary
About the role
You will deliver strategic growth through translating market insights into actionable plans that drive new category opportunities.
As a part of this, you will utilise strong analytical and project management skills to ensure the delivery of profitable and strong performing new categories delivered against time defined plans.
What you will do:
Category Strategy Development:
• Develop and implement comprehensive new category growth strategies, aligned with the company’s overall goals and objectives.
• Drive product innovation and differentiation within assigned categories to meet customer needs and preferences.
• Work closely with the sales team to define and execute strategies to develop new category opportunities.
Sales and Marketing Alignment:
• Partner with the marketing team to develop compelling product messaging and promotional campaigns.
• Provide sales teams with training and support to enhance product knowledge and sales effectiveness.
Cross-functional Collaboration:
• Develop and execute the critical path, ensuring that all key stakeholders are aligned to deliver against time defined activities.
• Work with finance to demonstrate range profitability, ensuring there is an optimal value chain for all parties.
• Work closely with internal teams including operations, supply chain and finance to ensure category objectives are achieved.
• Coordinate with procurement teams to ensure product sourcing, availability and cost efficiency.
What you will need:
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Food Science or a related field (MBA preferred).
• Experience in category management, product management or business development within the food service industry.
• Proven track record of driving category growth, managing product portfolios and collaborating across departments.
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to translate data into actionable insights and category strategies.
• Strong project management abilities, with experience working to deadlines and driving results across cross-functional teams.
Let us tell you some more benefits you would receive:
• Generous discounts on our products
• Cycle to Work Scheme that offers discounted bikes and cycling equipment.
• Donate through your pay to a charity of your choice. The money is simply deducted through your pay before tax, so for every pound you donate, the 20p that usually goes to tax will go to the charity instead!
• We also have a range of employee assistance services which can be tailored to give you support on various matters such as financial, health and wellbeing advice.
• We treat our teams to a free meal every few months, from our visiting fish & chip van, to freshly made bacon baps from our in-house chefs
About us
Wellocks, is one of the leading UK food distributors in the hospitality industry. We provide fruit, vegetables, dairy, eggs, poultry, meat, store cupboard essentials and everything else chefs will need in their restaurant kitchen. Thanks to our highly skilled team, we also offer pre-prepared veg and freshly-made pasta which is a key part of our service.
From our humble beginnings in 1961 supplying potatoes to local pubs and restaurants, 60 years later we now supply over 1,200 restaurant kitchens across the country with amazing ingredients.
We’re proud to be part of the William Jackson Food Group, a dedicated family-owned food business which started in 1851. Our sister businesses are Abel & Cole, Jacksons Bakery and Belazu. Family values and the commitment which comes with such a long-standing business are rooted in our culture here at Wellocks.
Thanks for reading our job advert. We do our very best to bring to life what it's like working as part of our team. Diverse teams really are the best teams. We want everyone to feel they can be themselves at work and develop their talents to the full. All colleagues are expected to take personal responsibility for keeping our workplace free from discrimination, harassment, and bullying - a place where everyone is treated fairly and respectfully.
We also know that sometimes some candidates may be put off applying for a job unless they think they can tick every box. If you are really excited about working with us and think you can do much of what we are looking for but aren't sure if you are 100% there yet... go on... why not give it a whirl? Good luck!