Category Manager - Beer & Cider - 12 Month FTC

Booker  •  Equity House, Irthlingborough Road, Wellingborough,  •  Working hours 38  •  Apply by 19-Mar-2026 About the role

Reporting to: Lead Category Manager                            Based: Wellingborough

We are looking to recruit a Category Manager role, on a fixed term basis, in the Beer & Cider team, which can be based from either of our Eccles, Wellingborough or Watford offices. We also offer a hybrid working model, allowing you to combine the benefits of office collaboration with the convenience of remote working.

This role supports maximising the profitability of specified product categories, improving customer satisfaction, and cash profit.

What is in it for you

At Booker, along with being a great place to work and giving you an opportunity to get on in your career, we also offer the following fantastic package of benefits:

• A Booker colleague card with 10% off purchases at Booker and double discount events up to three times a year.
• After 3 months service, a Tesco colleague discount card with 10% increasing to 15% off most purchases at Tesco for a 4 day period after every four-weekly pay day, ie. thirteen times a year. In addition to 10% off at Tesco Cafe and 20% off all F&F purchases.
• 10% off pay monthly & SIM only deals with Tesco Mobile for yourself, along with further great deals through-out the year.
• Up to 30% off car, pet and home insurance at Tesco bank. Terms and conditions apply.
• Free eye test when you spend £50 or more. You can also save 30% when you spend £50 or more on glasses, prescription sunglasses and contact lenses.
• 50% off health checks at Tesco Pharmacy.
• Exclusive access to discounted RAC breakdown cover rates
• An exclusive deals and discounts website saving you money on everyday purchases including a cycle to work scheme.
• After 3 months service, you can join our annual Save As You Earn share scheme which allows you to buy Tesco shares in the future at a discount.
• Retirement savings plan (pension) - save up to 5% and Booker will match your contribution.
• Life Assurance - You are covered for death in service life cover of up to three times annual pay
• Health and Wellbeing support and resources including our 24/7, confidential Employee Assistance Programme and Virtual GP for you and your family.
• A great holiday package

You will be responsible for

• The development and implementation of category plans ensuring delivery of sales, margin and profit are met whilst maintaining continuity of product availability.
• Growth of own brand business, sourcing as appropriate to grow sales and margins.
• Annual negotiation with suppliers to ensure competitive terms year on year.
• Seek and react to customer feedback at every opportunity, shaping the category plan, whilst linking to the sell plan and customer satisfaction.
• Responds to customer queries and complaints professionally, at speed.
• Be able to communicate category plans and objectives for relevant product categories, ensuring understanding and buy-in is achieved.
• Ensure product area in the business centres reflect the principles of good, better and best.
• Working as part of the team to identify opportunities and develop or improve ways of working.
• Following our Business Code of Conduct and always acting with integrity and due diligence championing diversity and inclusion.

You will need

Operational skills relevant for this job

• Exceptional communication & stakeholder management.
• Be able to work independently, to problem solve and make commercial decisions.
• 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:

• Previous experience buying desired
• Extensive experience in working in FMG and experience working in a buying team.
• Have a proven record of working autonomously.
• Have experience of development and management of marketing campaigns.

About us

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