Careers: Just the job - Brand development manager, sweet category, Costa

Marketing 01-Jul-08

Kate Thompson is constantly surrounded by delicious cakes.

As brand development manager of Costa's sweet products, she is responsible for fresh ideas, concepts and flavours as well as strategic development of the sweet category, working on product churn, consumer research and trialling.

Thompson's role is extremely varied; one day she might be developing flavours and concepts with a supplier, the next testing the products with customers. She also oversees the photography of cakes for marketing campaigns.

In addition, she participates in high-profile events such as the Costa Book Awards, where she gets to rub shoulders with celebrities as well as up-and-coming authors.