Senior Category Development Consultant (Freelance)
Contract: 3–6 months | Start: As soon as possible | Location: Brussels (Hybrid)
Sector: FMCG – Non-Alcoholic Beverages
About the Role
CCEP is looking for an experienced
Senior Category Development Consultant (Freelance / Interim)
to
plug into the Category Development team
on a
3–6-month contract
, starting
as soon as possible
.
This is a
support role
that can cover both
Home (Retail)
and
Away-from-Home
channels (e.g., Horeca, On-the-Go, Leisure, At-Work, Institutions). The consultant will partner with internal stakeholders and customers to develop and deliver category management projects and recommendations for the
Non-Alcoholic Ready-to-Drink (NARTD)
category.
The engagement will be on a freelance or interim contract basis, with scope and rate aligned to experience and delivery expectations. Some on-site presence in Brussels is expected to support collaboration with the Category Development and Commercial teams.
Key Responsibilities
Category Strategy & Recommendations
* Develop category strategies and recommendations tailored to Retail and/or Away-from-Home customers, aligned with customer objectives and category opportunities.
* Define a vision for NARTD development at customers and translate it into actionable plans.
Assortment, Range & Space Planning
* Lead and deliver category projects such as
range optimisations
,
assortment reviews
, and
planogram/space planning
initiatives.
* Build customer-relevant assortment strategies (brands, pack sizes, variants) based on shopper needs and commercial performance.
Advanced Analytics & Insights
* Conduct customer/category analyses using internal sales data and external sources (e.g.,
Nielsen, GfK
).
* Identify opportunities to improve performance through space efficiency, distribution, and merchandising recommendations.
Performance & Execution Support
* Define and track KPIs for delivered initiatives and support teams in closing performance gaps.
* Support cross-functional stakeholders (e.g., account management, shopper marketing, insights, field sales) with clear outputs and actionable guidance.
Innovation & Future Shelf Concepts
* Contribute to innovation, merchandising improvements, and "Shelf of the Future" projects by developing concepts based on evolving shopper expectations.
What We're Looking For
Industry & Role Experience
* Strong experience in
Category Management / Category Development / Commercial Insights
within
relevant FMCG environments
(where category development is a real value driver; not all FMCG backgrounds will fit).
* Experience working with Retail and/or Away-from-Home customers is an advantage.
Analytical & Technical Skills
* Strong analytical capability; comfortable working with large datasets and translating data into clear recommendations.
* Familiarity with
Nielsen, GfK
and/or space planning tools.
* Advanced skills in
Excel
and
PowerPoint
; BI tools are a plus.
Communication & Stakeholder Management
* Strong presentation and influencing skills, able to engage both customers and internal stakeholders.
* Able to operate effectively in a cross-functional, matrix environment.
Consultant Profile
* Able to
ramp up quickly
, work with autonomy, and deliver tangible outputs within a short contract window (3–6 months).
Interested?
If you are an experienced FMCG Category professional available in the short term and interested in a
3–6 month freelance or interim assignment
supporting category development across Retail and Away-from-Home channels, we would welcome your application.
Please submit your CV and a short overview of your relevant category experience. Suitable profiles will be contacted to discuss scope, availability, and contractual details.
Questions?
Do not hesitate to contact us at
.
Please note that we do not accept applications by email.
Make sure to apply directly through our official application platform.