At Fazer, our driving force is the shared commitment to bringing joy and well-being to people through high-quality, innovative, and sustainable offerings. As we set our sights on the future, we're gearing up to be a consumer-centric, truly international FMCG company, focused on significant growth and improved profitability. We invite you to join us on this exciting journey as we elevate our brands and create meaningful experiences for our consumers and customers.

Be part of our growth journey and join us as   

Category Lead

We’re looking for a Category Lead to join our international Consumer Unit (CU International), Fazer’s Sales division focusing on driving our international business growth beyond Finland and Sweden.

As a Category Lead, you will be responsible for setting, executing and delivering business objectives for Fazer’s Confectionery (FC) and Lifestyle Food (FLF) Business (eg. Chocolate, Candy, Biscuits, Smoothies and plant-based) in CU International. You will secure strategic and customized category sales plans and growth initiatives based on customer and shopper insights, ensuring category growth for our customers and sustainable development for FC and FLF brands.

Key Responsibilities Include

• Collecting and analyzing market data to identify key trends and consumer preferences, and working closely with local grocery retailers and duty-free airport retailers to understand their needs and preferences.
• Guiding the process of setting listing and distribution targets, providing supporting arguments, and conducting follow-up activities.
• Facilitating collaboration between Business Units (BU) and Customer Units (CU) to develop innovative concepts and business cases, address gaps in the portfolio, and support Key Account Managers (KAM) and demand planners in defining accurate mid-term forecasts.
• Ensuring smooth and focused dialogues between Functional Corporate Business Units and CU International.
• Creating targeted sales plans and growth initiatives based on customer and shopper insights. Customizing the product portfolio to meet market and customer needs, ensuring compliance with local regulations.
• Managing the gate process (i.e. innovation pipeline) internally to secure an optimal portfolio, obtaining necessary approvals, and ensuring compliance checks are completed.
• Creating compelling trade stories and presentations to effectively communicate our value proposition.
• Utilizing revenue growth management tools to justify the ideal customer portfolio.
  
  

You will directly report into the VP, Head of CU International, and work directly with the Market Directors of Poland, Germany, and Travel Retail. Furthermore, you will have a dotted line to the VP of Commercial Excellence, with whom you will work closely exchanging functional expertise and best practices from our other consumer units Finland and Sweden. This is permanent position, located in our office in Copenhagen, Stockholm, Vantaa, Warsaw, or remote.

Why choose Fazer?

It starts with the people. You'll be working in a supportive and welcoming environment, surrounded by colleagues who will inspire you to be your best. You have a unique opportunity to help build our iconic brands and customer engagement and further develop our new growth strategy. We offer you a best-in-class opportunity to make an impact to Finnish and international FMCG scene and develop your capabilities in leading international company. Fazer community will give you full support on your way to achieve the set targets. With us you and your work matter. We’re passionate about what we do and passionate about finding the right fit to join us!

We at Fazer want to provide a culture of diversity and inclusiveness where all employees can experience an equal working community with a motivating, respectful and safe work environment.

What do we hope you bring to the team?

We seek someone who can provide data-driven insights to implement sales strategies globally. Your collaboration with teams and clear communication will turn strategies into actions. You have strong business acumen, proven success in delivering results, and proficiency in sales strategy development. Strong analytical, financial skills, and a data-driven mindset are essential. Outstanding influencing and collaboration skills are required.

We Expect You To Have

• Minimum 8 years of experience from category or product management and KAM / Sales management roles.
• Master’s degree in economics or equivalent
• Proven track record on successfully managing a complex matrix organization role.
• Experience from European, preferably German and/or Polish FMCG in Finland – Travel Retail experience as well as experience and understanding of Food & Beverage categories is preferable.
• Experience from international brands and companies.
• Knowledge to Customer POS data tools and shopper-insight understanding are advantages.
• Fluent English language, a preference for German and Polish.
  
  

Apply now and join a team that creates meaningful moments.

Apply for the position no later than Sunday May 4th 2025. For more information, please contact Roeland Heitz, VP, Head of CU International at roeland.heitz@fazer.com.

Fazer, The Food Experience Company, enables people to enjoy the best moments of their day. Our mission, Food with a purpose, builds on our strong more than 130-year heritage, consumer first approach and innovations to create the sustainable food solutions of the future. With our dedicated team of approximately 5,000 professionals, we focus on fast-moving consumer goods and our direct-to-consumer business in Northern Europe, and beyond with exports to more than 40 countries. Fazer’s operations comply with its Code of Conduct that is based on the Group’s values and the UN Global Compact. In 2024, Fazer Group had net sales of 1,200 million euros.

Northern Magic. Made Real.