Category Marketing Graduate

Location: Predominantly based in the Bagshot office, with at least one day per week in Milton Keynes and other meetings in Bedford or off site as required.

Start Date: January 2027

Lantmännen Unibake are looking for a Category Marketing graduate role to support the ongoing development of the LUUK strategy by helping to build and maintain a clear, rolling strategic process, supported by the right tools, insight and ways of working. The role will help identify how LUUK can add long-term value to the market and to our customers’ businesses, supporting decisions that help maximise LUUK’s return on operating capital (ROOC).

Role Responsibilities:

• Gather, maintain and interpret retailer, category, shopper and market data, producing regular reporting packs and dashboards that highlight trends, risks and opportunities across key categories.
• Recommend actions that support category growth, including identifying white space opportunities, distribution gaps and areas for innovation.
• Support the creation of category stories and customer-facing recommendations through joint business plans and category reviews, while developing an understanding of retailer and operator strategies.
• Monitor competitor activity and wider market trends to track changes in shopper behaviour and bring fresh thinking and external perspectives into the business.
• Review SKU performance to identify over- and under-performing lines, balancing volume, profitability and complexity.
• Build credibility through accurate, reliable work; communicate insights clearly; and develop trusted relationships with account teams and key stakeholders.

Measure of Success in the role
:

• Accurate, relevant and timely category reporting.
• Ability to explain the “so what?” and “what next?” behind the data.
• Delivery of projects and assigned actions against agreed deadlines.
• Valuable contribution to customer and category plans.
• Work is clearly documented and easy to refer back to for future use.
• Demonstrable progress against the graduate development plan.

Ideal Candidate:

• An undergraduate in any degree discipline.
• Able to think strategically while staying motivated to deliver and execute effectively.
• A strong team player who can influence others while working collaboratively with key colleagues.
• Enjoys problem solving, can manage complexity and works well to tight deadlines with a positive, can-do approach.
• Objective thinker who is open to alternative options, listens to ideas and can bring information together clearly
• Self-motivated, with a desire to take responsibility and keep developing.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong internal and external relationships.
• Acts in line with Lantmännen’s company values, code of conduct and guiding stars of leadership.
• Ideally has a passion for bakery and an interest in the food industry.

Role Requirements:

• The Full unrestricted permanent Right to Work in the UK at the point of application.
• Standard working hours
  :
  Monday to Friday, 37.5 hours per week, between 08:30 and 17:30.
• Predominantly based in the Bagshot office, with at least one day per week in Milton Keynes and other meetings in Bedford or off site as required.
• Occasional travel to Copenhagen or other LU sites may be required.
• Some previous work experience would be beneficial, helping the successful candidate settle into the role and contribute quickly.
• Excellent numerical, analytical and commercial skills, with the ability to work confidently with complex information.
• Strong IT skills, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
• Analytical curiosity, with the confidence to look beyond the numbers to understand causes, connections and implications.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to build understanding and influence effectively.
• Ability to support a collaborative One Team approach.
• Ability to analyse market data, understand customer and consumer needs, and turn insight into practical recommendations.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities, working effectively to competing deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multifunctional team, with appropriate support and guidance.
• Learning agility, including seeking feedback, learning quickly and applying new knowledge.