Методом дидукции и магического ТИКА, сделал
/catalog/controller/module/featured.php
после
foreach ($products as $product_id) {
$product_info = $this->model_catalog_product->getProduct($product_id);
вставив
$categories = $this->model_catalog_product->getCategories($product_id);
if ($categories)
$categories_info = $this->model_catalog_category->getCategory($categories[0]['category_id']);
$data['category_title'] = $categories_info['name'];
$data['category_href'] = $this->url->link('product/category', 'path=' . $categories_info['category_id']);
и там где нужно в .tpl
<a href="<?php echo $category_href; ?>"><?php echo $category_title; ?></a>
