Category Manager – Fruits and vegetables

Position Title: Category Manager – Fruits and vegetables

Reports to: Director – Fresh Food

Department: Commercial

JOB PURPOSE / ROLE:

To manage the development of a consignment category for Company, ensuring a range of suppliers and services that delight the customer whilst maximizing sales and profit for the Company. Includes the management of the 3rd party vendors operating in the Company stores.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop the categories range through consistent dialogue with the consignment suppliers, understanding the trends in both season and customer expectation
• Identify potential suppliers and keep a healthy dialogue open with those able to deliver the quantity, quality and professionalism desired
• Analyze the monthly result of the categories sales and realized margin and react to trends on performance
• Track availability on key lines and strive for 100% availability of those most frequently purchased by customers
• Make sales projections, making sure that the contract covers all necessary conditions for successful merchandising.
• Contribute to the development of space and appropriate range in new store design, work with the operations merchandising team to define what good looks like
• Negotiate and review supplier contracts on a yearly basis
• Set the right price points for various goods after the analysis of various goods and the margins needed
• Set and maintain disciplines on fresh product standards relating to quality, hygiene and temperature
• Work with the operations team to improve store execution of the fresh vision and through store visits with Area Management and the Fresh Food Specialists
• Initiate defined merchandising standards on fresh foods that reflect a market leading approach, work with operations to make this consistent
• Develop the skills and understanding of the Fresh Food Specialists, at stores level
• Perform all other duties as delegated by the Fresh Food Director, or as per business requirement.

Qualification

• Bachelor’s degree in any field desirable, although not mandatory given relevant previous retail experience

Experience

• Minimum 08 years’ experience in a quality retail organization
• Team management experience in a high performing team