Category Manager Branded Bakery

Role : Category Manager Branded Bakery

Location RCP, Mumbai

• Purpose of the Role
• Deliver P&L of category across all Reliance Retail formats and states, both offline and online.
• Drive the sales and profitability of Branded Bakery as per category strategy and business plan.
• Achieve industry leading relationship and terms of trade with all vendors.
• Research consumer insights and market conditions to build new categories and products.
• Drive category initiatives across formats and ensure profitable sales.
• Loss prevention and control.
• Key Activities that are a part of the Role
  
  

Strategic Product Sourcing and Management: Regularly analyze customer preferences and market trends to curate assortment that aligns with customer preferences and demand. Ensure customization and relevance of the assortment for each state, store format and catchment profile of store. Work on cost-based model for key skus basis the size scale aligned with formats. Co-create exclusive value packs for RR customers to create competitive advantage.

Vendor collaboration and logistics: Collaborate with vendors to negotiate superior Terms of Trade, joint business plans, promotions, and other income. Manage vendor relationships to ensure timely deliveries with 95% plus fill rate. Align with vendors for higher investments to grow category & higher profitability.

Promotional and Pricing Strategies: Design and execute promotional activities keeping in mind the customer buying nuances in each Reliance Retail format, state, and catchment profile of stores. Adjust pricing strategies based on market conditions, competitor pricing and overall pricing strategy to drive competitiveness. Create category events by formats for online & physical stores.

Inventory Optimization: Regularly assess the category performance, consumer behavior and market trends. Use this information to optimize inventory levels to prevent overstock, stockouts and minimize holding costs for efficient inventory management. Branded bakery has Short shelf life thus vigilante monitoring and drive is required to achieve : Always fresh inventory.

Training and development: Facilitate SRM portal training exercise for direct-store-delivery vendors for end-to-end understanding of the transaction and visibility of business. Facilitate the system and process integration between suppliers and RRL.

• Listing of Activities performed by the job holder to deliver the outcomes
  
  

Develop and manage the product assortment with each retail format team, considering customer preferences and market trends in each state and store catchment.

Collaborate with suppliers to negotiate trading terms, promotions, visibility investments, manage relationships and ensure timely product deliveries.

Develop and implement monthly promotional plans, category events, big day events, etc. to boost sales.

Make quick price adjustments based on competitor pricing and overall pricing strategy.

Monitor and optimize inventory levels to prevent overstocking of stockouts and minimize inventory holding costs.

Utilize data analytics to assess category performance, consumer behavior and market trends to make informed decisions.

Design detailed planograms with the format teams, for each state-module to optimize the physical shelf space allocated to the category for maximum visibility and sales.

Take timely action on competitor price & assortment benchmarking to drive competitiveness for the category.

Assess new product introductions into the category to meet evolving consumer demands and preferences.

Gather and analyze customer feedback, surveys, and market research to understand and anticipate consumer needs.

Ensure compliance with relevant industry regulations, labeling requirements, and safety standards.

Utilize historical data and market trends to forecast monthly demand, requirements for special activations, big events, etc. enabling better inventory planning.

Drive share gain and participate in the development of own brands in the category.

Getting the product development as per format needs and business requirements.

Facilitate Online business growth through product enrichment and building capabilities for last mile delivery.

Work with direct store suppliers for maximizing coverage of suppliers in Non-CPC markets.

Work with vendors for timely supplies and improve fill rates.

Understand the seasonality of raw materials, get the products sourced from the lowest price and best quality manufacturing units, work on finished products cost.

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