Category Manager (MRO, Indirects and Packaging)

Come and join the leading #avoexperts 🥑

Westfalia Fruit is a leading multinational supplier of fresh fruit and related value-added products to global markets. Through our vertically-integrated supply chain we grow, source, ripen, pack, process and market quality avocadoes & fresh produce – 365 days a year & across the globe.

With the largest avocado-growing footprint in the world, we are recognised as the leading #avoexperts and considered as the supplier of choice to both retail & wholesale customers whom we serve from sales offices in the UK, Europe, North America, Latin America & Southern Africa.

We’re looking for a European Category Manager to join our team in Europe on a permanent basis. We are open to the location of the successful person, but you must be within commutable distance to one of the three following offices in the UK (Kings Hill, or Spalding) or Munich, Germany. Please note we cannot hire this position outside of these areas due to work load.

As European Category Manager, you'll play a pivotal role in driving category growth and enhancing performance across all non-fruit categories. You'll work closely with key customers, developing and implementing innovative strategies. By acting as a trusted advisor, you'll build strong relationships and identify growth opportunities. Your expertise will be essential in supporting Westfalia Fruit's commercial growth objectives. Domestic and international travel will be required to support customer and business operations across Europe.

Responsibilities include:

• Develop and lead the category vision for the avocado and value-added product lines across key European growth markets.
• Lead the development of the short and long-term category agenda in alignment with Westfalia’s growth plans, ensuring its execution with customers.
• Translate category insights into actionable recommendations for customers, helping drive category growth through assortment optimisation, shelving strategies, and promotional effectiveness.
• Present category strategies and business reviews to customers, demonstrating growth possibilities for both the category and Westfalia products.
• Work closely with internal teams to ensure the alignment of category initiatives with overall business objectives.
• Lead the category development agenda for innovation projects, working with cross-functional teams to introduce new products and improve category offerings.
• Set the agenda for category growth, ensuring the flawless execution of category projects in collaboration with sales and commercial teams.
• Develop customer-specific planograms and assortment strategies, working closely with space management teams.

Requirements

• A strong background in category management or a related function.
• Prior experience of working within the fresh produce industry, responsible for fruit or vegetables, or dry grocery items.
• Proficiency in English and with additional European languages being highly advantageous.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with an in-depth understanding of shopper insights, customer knowledge, and category drivers.
• Proven leadership abilities, with experience managing multi-functional projects and influencing stakeholders at various levels of the organization.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with strong customer-facing experience.
• Expertise in using MS Office, Nielsen, and customer portals for data analysis and insight generation.

Desirable:

• Bachelor’s degree in applied economics, Marketing, or related fields; advanced degree preferred.
• Experience working across multiple European markets, understanding regional market dynamics.
• Prior industry experience within the fresh fruit and vegetable sector.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with experience engaging with senior management in both internal and customer-facing capacities.
• Ability to manage large-scale, multi-disciplinary projects, demonstrating creativity and flexibility in problem-solving.

Benefits

• 25 days holiday, plus public holidays
• Pension contribution
• Life Assurance
• Medicash healthcare plan

Please note that this position does not have a specific closing date. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible as we will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis and the advert may be removed at any time.

We’re an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to age, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, family or parental status, national origin, or veteran, neurodiversity or disability status.