📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Category Development & Trade Marketing Manager - Away from Home
🔹 Company: The Kraft Heinz Company
🔹 Location: London - The Shard, United Kingdom
🔹 Job Type: Full-Time, Hybrid
🔹 Category: Food & Beverage Services
🔹 Date Posted: April 9, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site with hybrid flexibility
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Driving category growth and trade marketing initiatives for the Away from Home business
- Building strong customer relationships with National Wholesalers and Cash & Carry
- Executing category development and trade marketing strategies to capture opportunities
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver brand activations and B2B initiatives
- Analyzing market data and translating insights into actionable recommendations
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong blend of commercial acumen, analytical skills, and stakeholder management abilities. Candidates should be comfortable working in a hybrid environment, spending significant time externally with customers and internally with stakeholders.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Serve as the 'trusted advisor' and lead category insights for wholesale customers, with primary focus on Bidfood, Booker, and Brakes
✅ Build materials and 360 selling tools for sales teams to execute in-trade
✅ Lead execution for JBP-invested (D&A) branded activations in RTM
✅ Own category data, insights, and RGM evaluations
✅ Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop and implement trade marketing plans
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a mix of strategic planning and hands-on execution. Successful candidates will be comfortable working in a dynamic environment, balancing customer-facing responsibilities with internal stakeholder management.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s degree preferred
Experience: 5+ years in Sales, Category Development, or Trade Marketing; 3+ years of leadership experience managing teams/agencies
Required Skills:
- Proficient in MS Office tools (Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
- Highly proficient in data analytics and familiar with category development data and reporting tools
- Deep knowledge of food & beverage dynamics in the AFH channel
- Strong analytical skills and commercial acumen
- Excellent leadership, stakeholder management, and execution excellence skills
- Customer-centric mindset with the ability to build strong relationships with wholesalers and operators
Preferred Skills:
- Experience working with national wholesalers and cash & carry
- Fluency in additional languages
ASSUMPTION: Given the role's focus on the AFH channel, candidates with experience in this sector will have a significant advantage. Familiarity with category development data tools and strong analytical skills are essential for success in this role.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: £60,000 - £80,000 per annum (AI estimate based on industry standards for the role, experience level, and location)
Benefits:
- Career development pathway
- Meritocratic salary and bonus structure
- Training and coaching opportunities
- Flexible and hybrid working approach
- Family-friendly work environment
- Private medical cover & Digital GP
- Market-leading parental leave benefits & sponsored nursery scheme
- Employee discount on Heinz products
- 3 volunteering days per year
- Option to purchase additional holidays
- Exclusive gym discounts & cycle to work scheme
- Premium membership to Calm App
Working Hours: Full-time, typically Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, with flexibility for hybrid working
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for similar roles in London. The actual salary may vary depending on the candidate's experience and qualifications.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Food and Beverage Services. Kraft Heinz is one of the largest food and beverage companies in the world, with a portfolio of iconic brands and global sales of approximately $25 billion.
Company Size: 10,001+ employees. As a large organization, Kraft Heinz offers extensive resources and opportunities for career growth.
Founded: 2015. Kraft Heinz was formed through the merger of Kraft Foods Group and H.J. Heinz Company.
Company Description:
- Kraft Heinz is a globally trusted producer of high-quality, great-tasting, and nutritious foods with a history spanning over 150 years.
- The company's portfolio includes eight $1 billion+ brands and numerous other grocery products, with products produced and marketed in over 40 countries.
- Kraft Heinz is committed to sustainable growth, delighting more consumers globally, and responsible, sustainable practices.
Company Specialties:
- Food and beverage production and marketing
- Global brand management
- Category development and trade marketing
- Sustainable business practices
Company Website: careers.kraftheinz.com
ASSUMPTION: Kraft Heinz is a well-established company with a strong global presence and a diverse portfolio of iconic brands. Candidates should be prepared to work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment with a focus on driving growth and innovation.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Mid-level to senior. This role offers opportunities for career growth within the company.
Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the Head of Category Development & Trade Marketing - Away from Home.
Work Arrangement: Hybrid. The role requires a blend of on-site and remote work, with a focus on external customer-facing responsibilities and internal stakeholder management.
Growth Opportunities:
- Progression to senior management or leadership roles within the category development and trade marketing functions
- Expansion into new markets or product categories
- Development of skills and expertise through training and coaching opportunities
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant opportunities for career growth and development within the company. Candidates should be proactive in seeking out opportunities to learn and advance their careers.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Hybrid. The role is based at the Kraft Heinz office in London - The Shard, with flexibility for remote work.
Office Location(s): London - The Shard, United Kingdom
Geographic Context:
- The role requires frequent travel to meet with customers and attend industry events.
- London offers a vibrant and multicultural work environment, with easy access to amenities and transportation.
- The Shard is a iconic, state-of-the-art office building with excellent facilities and views.
Work Schedule: Full-time, typically Monday to Friday, with flexibility for hybrid working. The role may require occasional weekend or evening work to attend industry events or meet with customers.
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should be comfortable working in a hybrid environment and be prepared to travel frequently for customer meetings and industry events.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application and resume screening
- Phone or video screening
- In-person or video interview with the hiring manager
- Final round interview with senior leadership
Key Assessment Areas:
- Commercial acumen and analytical skills
- Customer-centric mindset and ability to build relationships
- Leadership and stakeholder management skills
- Execution excellence and attention to detail
Application Tips:
- Highlight relevant experience in category development, trade marketing, or sales within the food and beverage industry
- Demonstrate strong analytical skills and a data-driven approach to decision-making
- Showcase your ability to build and maintain strong customer relationships
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to emphasize your fit for the role and the company
ATS Keywords: Category Development, Trade Marketing, Sales, Analytical Skills, Stakeholder Management, Data Analytics, Commercial Acumen, Execution Excellence, Customer-Centric Mindset, Leadership, Food and Beverage Dynamics, National Wholesalers, Cash & Carry, Brand Activations, B2B Initiatives
ASSUMPTION: Kraft Heinz uses an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to screen resumes. Including relevant keywords from the job description in your resume can help your application stand out.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
- Category development data and reporting tools (e.g., Circana)
- CRM software (e.g., Salesforce)
- Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello)
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should be proficient in using Microsoft Office Suite and category development data tools. Familiarity with CRM and project management software is also beneficial.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Quality: We deliver high-quality products and services that meet or exceed our customers' expectations
- Integrity: We act with honesty and integrity in all our actions
- Respect: We value and respect the diversity of our employees, customers, and partners
- Excellence: We strive for excellence in everything we do
- Accountability: We take responsibility for our actions and their outcomes
Work Style:
- Collaborative: We work together to achieve our goals
- Adaptable: We embrace change and continuously improve
- Results-driven: We focus on delivering results that matter
- Customer-focused: We put our customers at the center of everything we do
Self-Assessment Questions:
- Do you have a proven track record of driving category growth and trade marketing initiatives in the food and beverage industry?
- Are you comfortable working in a hybrid environment and traveling frequently for customer meetings and industry events?
- Do you possess strong analytical skills and a data-driven approach to decision-making?
- Are you able to build and maintain strong customer relationships with wholesalers and operators?
ASSUMPTION: Kraft Heinz values candidates who align with their core values and work style. Applicants should assess their fit with the company's culture and be prepared to demonstrate their alignment with these principles during the interview process.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment
- Balancing customer-facing responsibilities with internal stakeholder management
- Adapting to a large, matrixed organization with diverse stakeholders
- Working with a wide range of customers, from national wholesalers to independent operators
ASSUMPTION: This role presents unique challenges that require strong organizational skills, adaptability, and the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Unlike traditional trade marketing roles, this position places a strong emphasis on category development and customer-centric insights
- This role requires a blend of strategic planning and hands-on execution, with a focus on driving growth and capturing opportunities in the AFH channel
- Career progression in this role may lead to senior management or leadership positions within the category development and trade marketing functions
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should be aware of the unique blend of responsibilities and requirements for this role, and how it differs from traditional trade marketing or category development positions.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing a comprehensive range, display, and RGM strategy for a major national wholesaler
- Creating and executing a branded activation campaign for independent operators in the quick-service restaurant sector
- Analyzing category dynamics and customer behavior to identify growth opportunities in the AFH channel
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the range of responsibilities and the blend of strategic planning and hands-on execution required for this role.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the typical day-to-day responsibilities for this role?
- How does this role collaborate with other functions within the organization, such as sales, marketing, and operations?
- What are the key priorities for this role in the first 30, 60, and 90 days?
- How does Kraft Heinz support the growth and development of its employees in this role?
- What are the most challenging aspects of this role, and how can I best prepare to succeed in them?
ASSUMPTION: These interview questions are designed to help candidates better understand the role's responsibilities, priorities, and challenges, as well as the company's support for employee growth and development.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
