Category Shopper Manager at McCain Foods

PURPOSE OF THE JOB:

Responsible for developing Category strategies that will deliver the category vision by channel through changing customer & shopper behavior and driving purchase and consumption of the category and ultimately the brands. This will be achieved through a complete understanding of who our customers and shoppers are, what their needs are and how they behave in satisfying these needs. Commercial propositions for the business and our customers need to be formulated to ensure support for these category growth strategies.

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS:

Market, Category & Business Awareness;

• Demonstrate understanding of category consumption trends, consumer & shopper behavior as well as operator / retailer needs.
• Demonstrate understanding of the company and customer strategies and the levers that influence profitability.

Category Growth and Management Strategies/Plans;

• Lead the development of a category and strategy which seeks to exploit incremental sales growth opportunities in existing and new environments.
• Actions recommended in growth strategy to be based on solid consumer and shopper and operator insights that impact category performance.
• Lead the analysis of market data (MWOW – McCain Ways of Winning) and base recommendations on solid interpretation of results and the implications for category and customer growth (size of prize).

Customer Engagement on Category Leadership;

• Conduct regular (quarterly) category reviews with priority customers, sharing insights and results that reach beyond the transactional sales engagements.
• Develop / support all trade initiatives with solid trade / sales stories based on solid category consumption insights, leveraging the POP drivers of Price, Product, Promotion and Availability.

Project Management;

• Manage agencies and suppliers against agreed deliverables / timelines.
• Manage the development and implementation of POS (Point of Sale) in outlets.
• Manage Cycle planning meetings with distributors .

Leadership;

• Demonstrate ownership and responsibility (internally and externally for the implementation of Category growth plans.
• Lead and motivate team to deliver category growth plans aligned to business strategy / objectives.
• Team engagement, management and development.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

• Matric or equivalent.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Business / Marketing.
• Minimum 5yrs experience in category management;
• Experience in retail (FMCG)as well as food service industries preferred;
• Expert knowledge of Category management;
• Expert knowledge of Shopper marketing;
• Consumer Marketing experience beneficial;
• Sales experience beneficial;
• Project management skills required;
• Computer Literacy including all Microsoft software (Excel a fundamental);
• Ability to use data portals – 5One, dunnhumby, IRi etc.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills.
• Valid car license.

PERSON SPECIFICATIONS:

• Commercial acumen.
• Analytical skills.
• Working knowledge and understanding of Category management.
• Working knowledge and understanding of shopper behavior and shopper marketing.
• Knowledge of the SA retail landscape.
• Knowledge of the SA food service landscape.