Assistant Category Manager at RCL Foods

• RCL FOODS is a deeply rooted South African food manufacturer that produces some of the country’s most-loved brands. At the heart of our culture and strategy is our Purpose – WE GROW WHAT MATTERS – which encapsulates our belief in collectively doing that little more to create a positive impact that matters. Visit our website at: www.rclfoods.com 
• We have an opportunity for an Assistant Category Manager within our Customer Marketing Team, supporting the Pies category. The role will be based in Westville and report to the Category Manager.

RCL Foods entrusts the Assistant Category Manager to:

• Support the Category Manager to drive category growth
• Administer and manage projects, analytics, and Go-To-Market initiatives to achieve category volume and profit objectives, as assigned
• Assist in gathering, compiling, and analysing customer, category, shopper, and channel performance, trends, and competitive intelligence.
• Engage with key internal stakeholders to ensure execution excellence through all key Demand Functions. 

Minimum Requirements    

• A Degree or Diploma in Marketing or Business Management (3 years).
• 2 to 3 years relevant experience in a similar environment.
• Valid Code EB drivers’ license.

Duties & Responsibilities    
Category Planning:

• Support the Category Manager in annual business planning process through data analysis, insights and identification of growth opportunities.
• Support the development of proposals and recommendations for customers in executing category management projects, including, NRM (Net Revenue Management) initiatives
• Liaise with the operations team to ensure smooth implementation of initiatives.

Category Management:

• Support the category measure and review category performance, margins and customer profitability.
• Analyse shelf health, pricing data, product availability and visibility, work Category Manager to consolidate feedback into actionable plans for the customer team to implement.
• Execute brand standards (brand DNA) and support development.
• Conduct periodic reviews of planograms and ranging to ensure maximised shelf efficiency.
• Continuous monitoring of competitor landscape.
• Support in preparation and analysis of category reviews for Customers including assortment analysis, category performance and ranging

Innovation & Shopper Support:

• Assist the Category Manager in development of new product launch plans
• Support the preparation of Category stories and Trade presentations 
• Execute new product launch plans including tracking 
• Ensure all marketing material is within brand CI across the brands
• Build and deliver always on digital shopper comms to support shopper conversion 
• Ensure that critical customer information is available to the customer team

Information Analysis, Management and Reporting:

• Analyse and interpret key data to provide feedback on category performance and drive actions 
• Assist in the compilation of business reports, presentations and category performance analysis (incl. causes of deviation) with an eye on NRM practices.

Financial Management:

• Support in management of the customer marketing spend budgets within agreed limits and ensure that all initiatives are shown to be commercially sound
• Execute specific elements of the NRM Program, e.g. promo analysis as per agreed targets
• Understand key drivers of profitability and revenue growth to assist in achievement of targets

KPI’s:

• Business growth targets – volume, revenue and profit
• Execution of customer plans and specific projects KPIs
• Digital and social metrics and measurements
• Shelf space and product availability
• Accuracy of reporting

Deadline:11th January,2026