Category Manager Designate - Catering (Up to 10-month FTC)

Job Description

Reporting to: Category Manager Based: Wellingborough / Watford

Job Summary

Play a key role in shaping our product categories, delighting customers, and driving cash profit - all while building standout skills in a major UK business.We’re excited to offer a 10‑month fixed‑term opportunity to join our Catering team as a Category Manager - Designate. This role is perfect for someone who wants to accelerate their career, gain hands‑on experience in a large, well‑established organisation, and develop the kind of commercial skills that open doors.As a Category Manager - Designate, you’ll be stepping into a role designed around your growth. You’ll work closely with an experienced mentor, be supported by a structured development programme, and get real exposure to how a major product function operates. You’ll build confidence, learn how to manage a product portfolio, and contribute to decisions that genuinely impact the business.Whether you’re looking to step up, switch direction, or gain experience in a competitive field, this role gives you the platform to do it - with the backing of a respected brand and a team invested in your development.This is a hybrid role, giving you the flexibility to balance focused home working with valuable in‑person collaboration.

• The development and implementation of category plans ensuring delivery of sales, margin and profit are met whilst maintaining continuity of product availability.
• Source and manage products to grow both brand and own brand sales and profitability.
• Work with suppliers to deliver best availability, profitability and customer satisfaction.
• Seek and react to customer feedback to help shape the category plan.
• Develop and communicate a category plan for the relevant product category.
• Ensure product range reflects customer needs, e.g. follows the principles of good, better and best.
• Communicate and develop relationships across other parts of the business, e.g. supply chain, sales teams and operations.
• Following our Business Code of Conduct and always acting with integrity and due diligence championing diversity and inclusion.

Operational skills relevant for this job

• Exceptional communication & stakeholder management
• Be able to work independently to problem solve and make commercial decisions
• Solid understanding of commercial requirements, profit calculation, sales analysis,
• Attention to detail, writing of reports, interpreting data and keeping of accurate records.
• Maintain knowledge of relevant markets and market developments
• Ability to flex work approach

Experience relevant for this job:

• Understanding of Buying

Booker is the UK's leading food & drink wholesaler. We are privileged to serve independent retailers, caterers and small businesses, from locations across the country. We operate over 190 cash and carry branches, eight distribution centres, five Best Food Logistics sites, as well as six support centre locations across the UK.

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) at Booker means that whoever you are and whatever your background, we always want you to feel represented and that you can be yourself at work. In short, we’re a place where Everyone’s Welcome.

We know life looks a little different for each of us. That’s why at Booker and Best, we always welcome conversations about flexible working. Some people are at the start of their careers, some want the freedom to do the things they love. Others are going through life-changing moments like becoming a carer, nearing retirement, adapting to parenthood, or something else. So, talk to us throughout your application about how we may be able to support you.

We’re proud that Booker is a Disability Confident Committed employer and we’re committed to providing a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process. For further information on the accessibility support you can expect, please contact recruitment@bookergroup.com

Please note

We can only accept candidates over the age of 18 if the role requires working before 6:15 am or after 9:45 pm or involves working in areas such as the warehouse, beers, wines & spirits, and driving roles.

On the occasions where we have high volumes of applicants, some roles may close earlier than the advertised end date in order for us to manage all of the applicants appropriately. We will only be able to offer individual feedback to those candidates who attend an interview.

*Booker Group is part of Tesco plc, however, is operated separately from the core Tesco business and as such the benefits offered will be different from those offered at Tesco*

For more information about us please visit www.bookergroupjobs.co.uk