Pocket guide

Category Leadership

Category one-pagers define what great execution looks like by category, channel and retailer — built on the four questions every shopper asks: can I get it, can I find it, why this one, is it worth it — and turn them into clear, accountable tasks for every function.

Life tastes better with ice cream
+70%
of growth comes directly from growing the category.
— McKinsey
01

Why it matters

The category one-pagers outline:

  • The key growth initiatives per pillar
  • The KPIs and success criteria per initiative
  • How these should show up in stores — physical and digital

The one-pagers provide coordination and accountability across the organization for the initiatives required to win at the cabinet and on the screen.

Each initiative is translated into clear and actionable tasks for each function in the market.

Available
Visible
Desirable
Worth It
02

Four pillars, four shopper questions

Every initiative on a one-pager answers one of four questions the shopper asks — in store and online. The pillars are cross-functional on the face of the page: four pillars, four natural owners of the standard.

Pillar 1
Available
Can the shopper get it?

Listing, distribution, stock and the right pack for the mission.

Physical
  • SKU presence
  • Out-of-stock rate
  • Cold availability
  • Minimum stock cover
Digital
  • PDP live
  • In-stock flag
  • Delivery slot coverage
  • No substitution
Owns the standardSupply chain + KAM (listings)
Pillar 2
Visible
Can the shopper locate it?

Everything that governs whether the product enters consideration.

Physical
  • Location in store
  • Shelf position
  • Share of space
  • Brand block
  • Secondary siting
Digital
  • Search rank on category and brand terms
  • Category tile placement
  • Filter and taxonomy tagging
  • Retail media placement
Owns the standardCategory management / shopper marketing
Pillar 3
Desirable
Is the shopper given a reason to choose it?

Every communication asset at the touchpoint.

Physical
  • Pack facing orientation
  • POSM
  • Shelf strips
  • Sampling
  • Staff recommendation
Digital
  • Title and image quality
  • A+ content
  • Key claims above the fold
  • Ratings and review volume
Owns the standardBrand + shopper marketing
Pillar 4
Worth It
Does the value equation close?

Price position, pack-price architecture, promo and price communication.

Measures
  • Price position versus the reference competitor
  • Price per unit
  • Pack-price architecture coverage
  • Promo mechanic and frequency
  • Multibuy visibility
  • Price communication accuracy
Owns the standardRGM + finance
03

What great execution looks like

2026 Impulse Singles One-Pager
Available · Can the shopper get it?
25 pts
P1Supply chain
Initiative

Zero out-of-stocks on the top-10 singles in weeks 24–36; weather-triggered replenishment with the DC.

Success measure
On shelf availability · 97%
P2Supply chain
Initiative

Every cabinet at −18 °C on visit; defective cabinets fixed within 48 hours.

Success measure
Cold availability · 100%
P3KAM
Initiative

Top-10 SKUs shown in stock on ah.nl, Collect&Go and Picnic all summer.

Success measure
In-stock flag · 95%
Visible · Can the shopper locate it?
25 pts
P1Category mgmt
Initiative

Summer cabinet planogram: Magnum, Cornetto and Twister front row, Magnum at eye level.

Success measure
Share of space · 45%
P2KAM
Initiative

Second, impulse cabinet at the checkout in the top-300 stores.

Success measure
Secondary siting · +250 stores
P3Shopper mktg
Initiative

Retail media on "ijs" and "ice cream"; hero SKUs in the category entry tile.

Success measure
Search rank · top 3
Desirable · Is the shopper given a reason to choose it?
25 pts
P1Shopper mktg
Initiative

Refresh cabinet wraps, headers and summer stickers before week 18.

Success measure
POSM compliance · 90%
P2Brand
Initiative

Hero pages on ah.nl, Colruyt and Delhaize.be with A+ module and claims above the fold.

Success measure
A+ content · 95%
P3Brand
Initiative

Weekend sampling of Magnum Bon Bon and Solero Bon Bon in the top-40 stores.

Success measure
Sampling · 40 days
Worth It · Does the value equation close?
25 pts
P1RGM
Initiative

Summer multibuy (3 for €5) with a promo header on every cabinet, four waves.

Success measure
Promo mechanic · 90%
P2RGM
Initiative

Hold Magnum within a 100–110 index of the reference premium competitor.

Success measure
Price position · index 105
P3Finance
Initiative

Shelf-edge and online prices match the price list; errors fixed within a week.

Success measure
Price communication · 98%
The Magnum Ice Cream Company · Category Leadership · Category One-Pager · illustrative example

One page per category, channel and retailer: two to three initiatives per pillar, each with an owner, a success measure and the visual standard.

Build one in the demo
04

The 5 imperatives to define a category one-pager

  1. 1+ prioritized initiative per pillar — 2 to 3 is the sweet spot.
  2. Appoint one accountable function per initiative.
  3. Set KPI and targets specific to that channel, category and retailer. Align with the key account teams and OKRs, and include them in customer agreements / JBP. Use the KPI definition cards.
  4. To translate KPIs into action, describe the expected cabinet condition as if you’re standing in front of it.
  5. Include a visual example of the target cabinet layout to standardize in-store execution.
05

5 steps to drive alignment and accountability

  1. 1
    Plan inputs

    Plan based on shopper, customer and category insights.

  2. 2
    National category one-pagers

    Category management defines the initiatives for the four pillars, with KPIs and execution standards. Signed off by the leadership team.

  3. 3
    Define and align with customers

    Translate the national initiatives to customer-specific activity plans and targets. Handshake the activities and ambitions with the key account teams.

  4. 4
    Lock one-pagers in the JBP

    Key account managers lock the customer-specific category priorities in the customer agreements, including trade terms.

  5. 5
    Operationalize

    Embed one-pagers in OKRs and business reviews / S&OP so delivery is tracked where decisions are made.

Use the category one-pager to define and align with customers.
06

Takeaways

Know…

Category Leadership sits at the heart of a perfect shopping experience — for the shopper, for the retailer and for TMICC.

Do…

Define what success looks like in the Category One-Pager App. Execute your pillar. Measure progress in the dashboard. Improve through iterative cycles.

Deliver…

Market-leading growth for our customers’ ice cream categories and TMICC’s brands through consistent, high-quality execution.

Key learning
Category Leadership needs the full business’s alignment & support.
Use the category one-pager to define and align with customers.
Track progress per pillar — learn, improve, repeat.
The Magnum Ice Cream Company
Life tastes better
with ice cream
Open the Category One-Pager App demo