Trainer presenteert een Category Management-slide tijdens een training.

Retail Category Manager

One employer, endless categories

At The Category & Trade Company (CTC), you don’t work for just one retailer, but for multiple leading players in the retail sector. From food to drugstores, from home improvement stores to home furnishings and garden centers. That variety makes your role dynamic, educational, and impactful. You’ll serve as a full-fledged Category Manager at our clients’ sites and be directly involved in the business. No advice from the sidelines—instead, you’ll take responsibility, make decisions, and deliver results. What makes this role unique is the combination of thinking and doing. You’ll work strategically on category development, but you’ll also have your feet on the ground—close to the store floor, close to the shopper. Plus, you’ll benefit from a flying start thanks to our coaching and expertise.

The context in which
you work

You operate in an environment with a wide variety of industries and challenges. Within food, you work not only on shelf-stable A-brands but increasingly on fresh product groups, where category development is more complex and dynamic.

Projects go beyond simply managing a category. Think of building new private label propositions or restructuring entire product ranges. You’re closely involved in the day-to-day operations and make a real impact on the store floor.

What you’ll be doing

You’ll work on a variety of assignments with different retailers and suppliers, so no two days or assignments are the same.

  • You’ll be responsible for the entire category management process: from market analysis to product launch.
  • You’ll conduct assortment reviews and optimize category performance based on data and shopper insights
  • You will develop and implement new (private label) concepts, particularly within the food and fresh categories
  • You’ll liaise with suppliers, manage promotions, and oversee shelf space
  • You translate insights into concrete improvements that are immediately visible in the store

You will work closely with teams at the client’s location, while remaining part of the CTC team.

Who you are

  • You have at least 3 years of experience in Category Management within retail or FMCG and hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree
  • You have strong analytical skills and know how to translate data into concrete actions
  • You are hands-on, entrepreneurial, and quickly feel at home in a new environment
  • You are available 32–40 hours per week
  • Preference for living in the central part of the country and owning a car. Additionally, you must be willing to travel by car to various clients
  • You are passionate about the field and get energized by meeting targets
  • You thrive on variety and working with different organizations

What we have to offer

At The Category & Trade Company, everything revolves around development, team spirit, and entrepreneurship—even for experienced professionals.

  • Maximum variety: You’ll have the opportunity to gain insight into various top companies and take on challenging roles.
  • Opportunities to deepen or broaden your expertise through training or by exploring new sectors.
  • You’ll help clients with your assignments, but you’ll also learn something new with every assignment.
  • Personal growth: Coaching from senior experts and participation in our Expert Days in Amersfoort to continuously expand your professional knowledge.
  • Want more time off during school breaks? You can easily purchase extra vacation days from us to supplement your leave.

About us

The Category & Trade Company is the leading consulting firm for retail and suppliers in the fields of (omnichannel) Category Management, Trade Marketing, Space Management, Formula Management, and Floor Planning.

We are the authors of various handbooks, including the Category Management Handbook and the Formula Management Handbook.

We work with top professionals who have proven themselves in the field at leading companies. This enables us to help suppliers and retailers grow by connecting strategy, data, and practical experience.
Our mission? There are always opportunities for healthy growth.
Our vision? We believe that true growth comes from developing people.

Groep professionals van The Category & Trade Company staat op de trappen voor een gebouw voor een teamfoto.

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Direct contact

Jeroen van de Poll

Partner

+31646038176