Senior Category Manager

The Role

Our new Senior Category Manager will play a key role in shaping category strategy for major retail customers, using data, shopper insight and strong commercial thinking to unlock sustainable growth. Working across a fast‑paced, collaborative commercial environment, you’ll turn insight into action; influencing decisions, supporting customer planning cycles and ensuring Sofina is seen as a trusted, insight‑led partner.

Based onsite in Grimsby, you will be working with our teams and customers across our UK locations so will need flexibility to travel, this role blends customer engagement, cross‑functional collaboration, and hands‑on ownership of category performance.

You will be:

• An engaging communicator who builds trust quickly internally and externally.
• Commercially aware with experience in category, commercial or insight‑focused roles.
• Comfortable working with shopper and market data tools (Kantar, IRI, Nielsen or similar).
• Highly analytical, able to distil complex data into clear insights and actions.
• Organised, able to prioritise multiple deadlines and shifting customer needs.
• A collaborative team player with a proactive, solutions‑focused mindset.
• Adaptable, curious and motivated to create best practice across the category team.

This is an opportunity to make a real impact; shaping category thinking for major UK retailers, driving innovation, and influencing strategic decisions ’ll join a motivated, supportive team where insight matters, ideas are valued, and you can grow your expertise across some of the most dynamic categories in UK food.
At Sofina, you’ll have the autonomy to lead, the support to develop, and the platform to build a career with purpose and momentum.

Sofina Foods is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences - regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

The Senior Category Manager will be responsible for using insights, analysis and customer partnerships to drive category performance, including:

• Building trusted relationships with buying, category and range teams.
• Turning shopper, retailer and market data into clear narratives and opportunities.
• Leading category reviews, identifying issues and shaping practical recommendations for growth.
• Supporting annual category, innovation and brand cycles aligned to customer planning horizons.
• Tracking performance, monitoring outcomes and advising on corrective actions where needed.
• Delivering reporting schedules, range review outputs and NPD performance updates on time.
• Working with Marketing, NPD, and Commercial teams to create compelling category stories and aligned messaging.
• Contributing to Sofina‑wide projects across pricing, packaging, promotional analysis and more.

Drive category growth with data‑led insight and trusted customer partnerships.