Group Head of Category Development

Company Description

Valeo Foods Group is one of Europe’s premier producers and distributors of ambient consumer foods, with an extensive European presence and a growing footprint in North America. Since our establishment in 2010, we have achieved significant growth through strategic acquisitions and organic expansion, including 4 acquisitions in the past year. 

Looking forward, Valeo is poised for an exciting phase of transformation aimed at capitalising on our scale, optimising integration to unlock synergies, and enhancing our capabilities to drive sustainable growth to achieve our objective to double in size over the next 5 years, backed by Bain Capital, our shareholder. As part of this journey, we are committed to broadening our commercial portfolio and continue making targeted acquisitions within our key growth sectors.

Job Description

We are seeking two exceptional candidates to join our growing international team. These positions play critical roles in shaping and driving category strategies that align with our broader group objectives.

As part of our newly established international sales model, these roles are pivotal in delivering Valeo’s ambition to internationalise brands, expand market reach, and unlock category synergies across multiple regions. Reporting to the Group Commercial Director, the Group Category Leaders will serve as the category subject matter experts across all markets, driving strategy development and implementation in a collaborative matrix environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and annually update the group-wide category strategy, identifying opportunities using data-driven insights.
• Collaborate with local marketing, sales, and category teams to align category strategies and facilitate implementation.
• Support the Group Commercial Director in identifying market opportunities and driving initiatives.
• Oversee category performance, track KPIs, and ensure alignment with business objectives.
• Provide agile support to local teams on key projects, including product launches and category development plans.
• Drive the internationalisation of local brands, ensuring competitive positioning and consumer relevance in new markets.
• Develop toolkits and best practices to build category capability across markets.
• Engage with NPD teams to enhance category pipelines and share visibility across markets.

What You’ll Deliver in the First 12 Months:

• Develop the Opportunity Matrix for your category, identifying opportunities by market and sub-category.
• Define a global consumer and market insight approach.
• Create category development plans for priority markets, including toolkits and guidelines.
• Establish category governance processes, aligning stakeholders and setting reporting structures.
• Elevate category capabilities across markets by sharing best practices and providing direct support.

Location: Central London or a key Valeo market (hybrid working model, with frequent travel).

Qualifications

• Extensive marketing or category development experience within the FMCG sector.
• Proven track record of strategic thinking and delivering category growth.
• Strong commercial acumen and analytical skills, with experience using market data.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Experience working within cross-functional teams in a matrix organisation.
• A “can-do” attitude, with the ability to work both strategically and hands-on.
• Prior experience in a PE-backed business is desirable.

Additional Information

When you become part of Valeo Foods, you’re joining a team that champions collaboration, innovation, and growth. We believe in empowering our people and supporting a culture where your contributions drive meaningful change. With your skills and experience, you can make a real difference. Embarking on this transformational journey together is a unique opportunity to experience personal growth and development. 

Take the next step in your career and become a key player in shaping the future at Valeo Foods Group.