Head of Category - Fresh Food

Job Description

1. Category Strategy and Planning

• Develop and implement category strategy aligned with overall business goals.
• Set long-term category objectives regarding sales growth, margin enhancement, and market share.
• Conduct market analysis and customer insights to understand trends, customer needs, and competitive positioning.
• Ensure alignment of category strategy with company objectives such as sustainability and local sourcing.

2. Supplier and Vendor Management

• Establish strong relationships with key suppliers, ensuring best terms and quality.
• Negotiate contracts, pricing, and promotions to maximize profitability and ensure a consistent supply of high-quality products.
• Monitor and assess supplier performance, ensuring compliance with standards for product quality, safety, and sustainability.
• Drive initiatives related to supplier diversity and ethical sourcing.

3. Product Range and Merchandising

• Curate and optimize the fresh food product assortment, balancing customer preferences with profitability.
• Oversee product development and private label strategies for fresh food.
• Ensure effective merchandising, product placement, and pricing to attract and retain customers.
• Collaborate with marketing teams for promotional activities and seasonal events.

4. Financial and Performance Management

• Manage the category P&L to deliver on sales, margin, and inventory targets.
• Regularly review category performance, using data and analytics to make informed decisions and course corrections.
• Implement pricing strategies and cost control measures to maintain competitive advantage.
• Develop promotional plans to increase category sales and optimize inventory turnover.

5. Team Leadership and Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of category managers and buyers.
• Provide clear direction, set performance expectations, and conduct regular performance reviews.
• Foster a collaborative and high-performance culture within the team.
• Identify and develop talent, ensuring succession planning and career development for team members.

6. Cross-functional Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with the supply chain, marketing, store operations, and finance teams to ensure smooth execution of category plans.
• Work with the operations team to ensure the freshness and quality of products in stores.
• Partner with marketing to drive promotions, seasonal campaigns, and category visibility.

Job Requirement

Qualifications & Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Supply Chain, or related field. A master’s degree is a plus.
• Experience: 8-10 years of experience in retail buying/category management, with at least 3-5 years specifically in fresh food or related categories.
• Strong understanding of market trends, customer preferences, and supplier networks in fresh food.
• Proven experience in managing P&L, leading teams, and developing category strategies.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and leadership skills.
• Ability to analyze data and make data-driven decisions.