Category Manager - Beverages

Fairdeal.Market; Gurugram District; On-site; INR 1,500,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Job summary

Fairdeal.market is seeking an experienced Beverages Category Manager to drive growth and profitability across beverages. You will manage category expansion, onboarding brands, and optimizing assortment for B2B quick commerce. Lead long-term GMV targets and ensure healthy supplier relationships.

Responsibilities include vendor negotiations, demand planning, and cross-functional collaboration to improve product availability and customer experience in a dynamic ecommerce/FMCG environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, FMCG or related field.
• 5+ years’ experience in beverages category management/procurement/buying.
• Proven supplier negotiation and business-building experience.
• Strong analytical and data-driven decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management.

Responsibilities

• Develop and scale the Beverages category portfolio for B2B Quick Commerce.
• Onboard new SKUs with brands and expand distribution into new pockets.
• Lead 3–5 year GMV and profit targets for the beverages vertical.
• Manage monthly P&L and optimize assortment and buying terms.
• Maintain inventory levels and high fill rates for KVIs.

Skills

Category management

Beverages expertise

Supplier negotiation

Data-driven decisions

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business/Marketing/FMCG

Tools

Inventory planning tools

Demand planning software

Buying platforms

Job description

Fairdeal.market is a rapidly growing B2B quick commerce platform transforming how retailers procure everyday essentials. With delivery times as fast as 60 minutes and a commitment to efficiency and sustainability, we are building the future of supply chain for the world’s shopping baskets.

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Beverages Category Manager to drive growth and profitability across the beverages portfolio. The ideal candidate will bring strong category management expertise in beverages (Tea/Coffee, Juices, Soft Drinks, Water, Energy Drinks, Dairy Beverages, etc.), deep supplier network, sharp commercial acumen, and proven success within ecommerce/FMCG environments.

Key Responsibilities

A. Category Expansion & Brand Partnerships

Develop and scale the Beverages category portfolio for B2B Quick Commerce.

Build a channel-agnostic assortment strategy tailored to kiranas, HoReCa, and commercial buyers.

Drive AOV > INR 10,000 and increase lines per order through optimized assortment and pack size strategy.

Partner with beverage brands to onboard new SKUs, activate demand drivers, and expand distribution into new pockets.

Focus on introducing non-KVI SKUs and new-age beverage segments (functional drinks, premium hydration, health beverages).

B. Drive Long-Term GMV & Profitability

Own and deliver 3–5 year GMV and profit targets for the beverages vertical.

Lead annual and monthly S&OP planning for category & brand performance.

Manage monthly brand-wise P&L, targeting CM1 > 3% through strategic assortment, commercial optimization, and better buying.

Improve product mix, procurement terms, and minimize losses from expiry/slow-moving SKUs.

C. Supplier & Inventory Leadership

Build long-term commercial partnerships with national, regional, and D2C beverage brands.

Maintain negative working capital through optimized credit terms and inventory planning.

Operate with 3-day inventory levels at each micro-fulfillment center.

Maintain fill rates > 100% for KVI SKUs and >90% for non-KVI items.

D. Customer Experience & Retention

Craft and execute customer acquisition and retention strategy for beverages buyers.

Achieve weekly customer retention > 90% and drive >3 repeat orders/customer/day.

Ensure assortment meets evolving demand trends — from mainstream beverages to premium & functional categories.

Incorporate customer feedback & insights into product planning and pricing.

E. Cross-Functional Collaboration

Build quarterly category activation calendar with brand-co funded marketing plans.

Collaborate with Sales & Marketing to drive category visibility, sampling, and pricing plays.

Ensure best-in-class product availability, discoverability, and display strategy.

What We're Looking For:

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, FMCG, or related field

5+ years’ experience in beverages category management/ procurement/ buying (B2B, FMCG, or ecommerce)

Proven experience in supplier negotiation & business building

Strong analytical & data-driven decision-making skills

Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills

Ability to thrive in a high-speed startup environment and manage multiple priorities

Proficiency in inventory, demand planning, & buying tools/platforms