The Category Manager – Grocery Customers is responsible for managing and growing the product category within the grocery retail channel. This role involves developing and executing category strategies that maximize sales, market share, and profitability for both the company and its grocery customers. The Category Manager will collaborate closely with key grocery retailers, sales teams, and internal marketing teams to drive effective category management and provide data-driven insights to optimize the assortment, pricing, and promotion strategies.
Key Responsibilities:
Category Strategy Development: Develop and implement category management strategies to drive growth, improve market share, and deliver profitability across grocery customers.
Customer Relationship Management: Serve as the primary point of contact for grocery retailers in your category. Build strong relationships with category buyers to influence decisions on product assortment, pricing, and promotional activity.
Data Driven Insights: Analyse sales data, market trends, and shopper insights to provide actionable recommendations for product placement, shelf space allocation, and promotional effectiveness.
Range & Assortment Optimization: Work with grocery retailers to ensure the optimal product assortment, ensuring that the right products are available in the right stores based on consumer preferences and market trends.
Pricing Strategy: Develop pricing recommendations based on competitive analysis, consumer demand, and margin goals. Collaborate with retailers to ensure the pricing strategy aligns with both company and customer objectives.
Promotion Planning & Execution: Lead the development and execution of promotional plans that drive category performance, working with grocery retailers to design in-store and digital promotional programs.
Cross Functional Collaboration: Collaborate with internal teams, including sales, marketing, supply chain, and product development, to ensure category strategies align with overall business objectives and product availability.
Customer-Specific Plans: Customize category management strategies based on the specific needs, goals, and data insights from individual grocery customers.
Market Research & Insights: Conduct regular analysis of market conditions, consumer behaviour, and competitive landscape to identify opportunities for growth within the grocery channel.
Performance Monitoring: Track the category’s performance across key grocery accounts by reviewing KPIs, sales reports, and retailer feedback. Adjust strategies as needed to achieve targets.
Planogram & Merchandising Recommendations: Provide recommendations for product placement and planogram layouts, using data insights to drive shelf space efficiency and sales growth.
P&L Accountability: Manage the category's P&L, ensuring profitability targets are met while driving volume and share growth in grocery customers.
Qualifications:
Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Sales, or a related field. MBA preferred.
Experience: 5-7 years of experience in category management, trade marketing, or sales, with a strong background in working with grocery retailers or in the CPG industry.
Skills:
Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate data into actionable insights.
Expertise in category management tools and techniques, such as Nielsen/IRI data analysis.
Excellent relationship-building and negotiation skills with key grocery customers.
Understanding of retail environments, product assortments, pricing strategies, and shopper behaviours.
Ability to work cross-functionally and manage complex projects.
Proficient in MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint) and category management software.
Key Competencies:
Customer Focus: Deep understanding of grocery retail dynamics and the ability to align strategies with customer goals.
Analytical Thinking: Strong ability to analyse data, identify trends, and make strategic recommendations based on insights.
Influence & Negotiation: Ability to build strong relationships with grocery retailers and influence decisions on assortment, pricing, and promotions.
Strategic Planning: Ability to think strategically and develop long-term plans that drive category performance.
Results-Oriented: Focus on achieving sales and profitability goals, with a strong track record of delivering results.
Team Collaboration:
Partner with sales and marketing teams to ensure alignment of category management strategies with overall business objectives.
Work closely with supply chain and operations teams to manage inventory levels and product availability in grocery stores.
Provide coaching and guidance to Category Analysts or junior team members (if applicable).
We value your application and the time you have taken to apply. Unfortunately, due to the large number of applicants, we will only be able to respond to those selected for an interview. If you do not hear from us within 7 days, please assume that your application has not been successful. Unless stated otherwise, this is a permanent role.