Category Development Manager

About us

At Accolade Wines, our purpose is to enrich everyday moments through our amazing wine brands. It goes without saying that everything we do as an organisation and as individuals is in service of fulfilling this purpose.

As one of the worlds leading wine companies, our award-winning portfolio includes loved brands such as Hardys, Jam Shed, Mud House, Echo Falls, Wise Wolf, Barossa Ink, Cupiolo, Kumala, Dynamite Factory, Lambrini, Petaluma and many more.

The driving force behind our business is our people, their expertise, their passion and their professionalism. With over 1,400 dedicated employees in the UK, Australia, Europe, Asia, South Africa, New Zealand and North and South America, it is our teamwork that sets us apart.

About the role

From grape to glass, from insight to action, we put the consumer and shopper at the heart of everything we do. We drive long-term thinking to create a sustainable future for the wine category and our business.

Reporting to the Senior Category Manager, you will be an integral part of a close-knit Category Team and be close alongside the Consumer Insights Team. Professional development is very important in our talent academy. Here you will build your skills and experience in a culture of personal and professional growth.

You will be responsible for building category growth in partnership with your own focus customers (retailers), building on our already strong category leadership position. In addition, you will equip and influence your Sales and Trade & Brand Marketing colleagues with category led analysis, recommendations and planning.

You will be in a culture where category management is objective and independent. You will have best in class category resources at your disposal. And you will be supported by a high calibre team, who you in turn will help mutually grow.

Key responsibilities include:

• Holding direct responsibility for two significant customers Retail areas: On Trade (i.e. restaurants, bars, pubs) and Europe. Point of contact for all elements of our category relationship with these retailers.
• Utilising expertise in a wide set of data and research sources, including Nielsen (market data and Panel), CGA market data, and consumer & shopper insight featuring our unique wine category segmentation, and bespoke On Trade consumer research
• Identifying what the retailers needs for insight are and what are their burning questions and utilising this information to build a plan to deliver the insight that answers those questions.
• Conducting performance and range reviews for your customer, conduct regular reviews or ad hoc analysis and give clear so what recommendations.
• Advancing category vision by supporting the creation of Accolades category vision and growth drivers.
• Executing Accolade performance analysis. For the sales team, track, report review and explain the performance of the of Accolade to your customers.
• Identifying sales opportunities and risks for Accolade in your customers. Bringing the independent and objective voice of category to influence commercial sales teams.
• Brand planning and contributing to annual brand planning with the voice of the category.
• Developing new products by working with the Brand, Insight and Sales teams to convert insight into compelling category-led selling stories for New Products we are launching.
• Contributing to team project work - stand-alone one offs such as our annual Christmas Review or the show piece annual brand launch at House of Accolade.

What youllbring:

• 2 or more years of customer (i.e. retailer) facing experience in an FMCG or On Trade environment.
• Background in a more junior category role is preferred but a transferable background in Trade Marketing, Sales or Consumer & Shopper insights is also considered.
• Experience working with On Trade or European retailers is useful but not essential.
• Use of Nielsen, Circana (was IRI), CGA or Kantar data systems.
• Microsoft office. Good skills in PowerPoint and Excel.

Skills

• Time Management ability to work on a range of projects and manage your own diary. Is able to communicate time pressures and flags for support to deliver any commitments on time.
• Stakeholder Management ability to lead an interaction with a customer and maintain this relationship whilst flexing communication approach with varying individuals. Ability to challenge internal stakeholders, with support from your Manager and to meet with senior stakeholders within the business. Uses influence to contribute ideas with supporting evidence, contributing to meetings both prompted and unprompted.
• Analysis, insight and storytelling Proficiency in developing narratives in your own personal style from a variety of sources. Capability to learn the difference between an observation and an actionable insight, developing skills and knowledge depth in original forms of analysis or visualisation.

Behaviours

• Professional development - in conjunction with your manager, you will build and your follow your own bespoke Professional Development Plan (PDP).
• Continuous learning -using your PDP, regular 1:1s with your manager, quarterly goals, and Accolade training resources, you will be in a cycle of act-reflect-change so that you are continuously growing.
• Psychological safety - the category team has a culture for Growth Mindset and Beginners Mind. Whatever your experience and job, we share and receive all ideas and perspectives openly.
• Celebration and recognition -we have an everyday rewards scheme. Nominate your colleagues and be nominated yourself.

What you can expect:

Accolade Wines will provide the ideal climate and a hand-picked rewards package for you to make a difference in our successful and growing business.

You will also have access to:

• Wine allowance and access to unique wine specials
• Flexible working (Up to 2-3 days working from home)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Start your weekend early with our Fast Friday finishes!
• Loyalty Leave
• Accolade Wines Anniversary day off
• Go Beyond Day - making a different in your local community
• Access to an extensive online learning library
• Employee Assistance Program
• Various exclusive employee discounts

Sound like your kind of drop? Apply now.

At Accolade Wines we are dedicated to building a diverse, dynamic and inclusive culture.

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