Category Manager

Job Purpose: As a senior buyer, your main responsibility will be to set the strategy for the department, land targeted innovation based on gap analysis and global market trends, build a strong annual promo plan to ensure that anniversaries on promo and innovation are factored into the innovation and promo's planned for the year. Key KPI's are Sales, Margin and Stock as well as constantly improving our sustainability footprint.

Responsibilities

Strategy

• Understand our competitors and opportunities in the market locally and globally
• Develop a category strategy to ensure we are at the forefront of innovation, constantly improving and innovating the category, how we inform our customers and help them shop our spaces
• Always keep our customer informed and aware of our differentiation
• Determine the ideal catalogue that reflects the Category and Company strategy

Innovation and sales growth

• Achieving sales growth and profitability targets
• Develop and grow OB and Private Label product development, ensuring a regular pipeline of new products and positioning them at the forefront of industry trends
• Ensure that all products listed comply with our sustainability goals as well as our ingredient policy and strategic point of difference
• Ensure our online store reflects the strategy within the category

Inventory optimisation

• Ensure slow moving lines are constantly moving out to bring innovation in
• Ensure that new line negotiations are in place to ensure stock protection where possible

Data and analysis

• Use analysis and data to drive decision making to make informed decisions and ultimately achieve higher sales

Supplier relations and trade terms

• Build sustainable supplier relationships
• Achieve the best possible trade terms to ensure competitiveness

Promotions

• Monthly selection of promotions to drive sales, innovation and customer acquisition

In-store

• Manage store ranging, planograms and communication in store

Job Specifications

• Candidates must be brand ambassadors
• 5+ years in FMCG retail or other related working environments as a Buyer/ Senior Buyer (preferably foods)
• Tertiary Retail/Commercial (E.g. Bcom) and/or professional qualification