Category Manager - General Merchandise

Keka Inc.; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 1,200,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Job summary

SuperK in India invites a hands-on Category Manager- General Merchandise to curate and buy Home, Kitchen and Stationery assortments. You will build strong supplier relationships, negotiate margins, and drive value-driven ranges for Tier 3–5 towns.

The role requires 4–5 years of FMCG/category experience, comfort with Excel and sales data, and willingness to travel to meet suppliers and market visits. You will plan buys, manage inventory, and ensure compelling regional assortments.

Qualifications

• 4–5 years of experience in Buying, Sourcing, or Category Management in FMCG/General Merchandise or modern retail.
• Proven negotiation skills and experience handling commercial discussions.
• Strong understanding of pricing, purchase planning, and cost-efficiency levers.
• Analytical mindset with comfort using Excel and sales data for decision-making.
• Hands-on execution attitude with the ability to work closely with suppliers and store teams.
• Strong ownership, agility, and willingness to travel for supplier and market visits

Responsibilities

• Drive end-to-end buying for GM categories—identify, evaluate, and onboard new suppliers/manufacturers.
• Build strong vendor partnerships and negotiate margins, prices, TOTs, and payment terms to unlock the best deals.
• Expand and refine supplier base to improve cost competitiveness, quality, and assortment depth.
• Conduct regular vendor reviews on performance, supply reliability, and commercial outcomes.
• Curate region-specific assortments aligned to consumer needs, seasonality, and value perception.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Analytical mindset

Excel proficiency

Tools

Excel

Job description

SuperK is revolutionizing grocery and daily-needs shopping in India’s small-town markets with a tech-driven, membership-based retail model. With 100+ stores across 80+ towns in Andhra Pradesh, SuperK brings the convenience of a “small-format Costco” to Tier 3–5 towns—transforming unorganized retail into a modern, efficient, and trustworthy shopping experience.

Backed by leading investors like Blume Ventures and XEED Ventures, SuperK is reshaping the future of value retail and making high-quality products and meaningful savings accessible to Bharat like never before.

About the Role

As a Category Manager- General Merchandise you will play a critical role in curating and buying the right assortment GM categories (Home, Kitchen and Stationery)and has experience in handling unbranded goods and manufacturers directly. This role is perfect for someone who is hands-on, commercially sharp, and passionate about building strong supplier relationships to deliver value-driven assortments for small-town consumers, Also who has an expertise in zero base costing

Key Responsibilities

A. Buying, Sourcing & Supplier Management

• Drive end-to-end buying for GM categories—identify, evaluate, and onboard new suppliers/manufacturers.
• Build strong vendor partnerships and negotiate margins, prices, TOTs, and payment terms to unlock the best deals.
• Expand and refine supplier base to improve cost competitiveness, quality, and assortment depth.
• Conduct regular vendor reviews on performance, supply reliability, and commercial outcomes.
• Curate region-specific assortments aligned to consumer needs, seasonality, and value perception.
• Benchmark market prices (offline/online) and maintain competitive pricing ladders across sub-categories.
• Identify assortment gaps, new trends, and product opportunities based on store feedback and competition analysis.

C, Purchase Planning & Inventory Management

• Align with supply chain on replenishment plans to maintain stock health and minimize out-of-stock instances.
• Plan buys based on demand forecasts, historical sales, and store patterns.
• Manage ageing inventory, drive SKU rationalization, and create exit plans for slow movers.
• Partner with store teams to ensure right planograms, visibility standards, and product placement.
• Support promotional planning through vendor-funded schemes and category offers.
• Coordinate with catalogue teams to ensure accuracy of product details, pricing, and image hygiene.
• Conduct regular market visits to identify new suppliers, understand local consumer preferences, and benchmark competition.
• Track trends in home & kitchen, plastics, utilities, and household categories to drive innovation.
• Share insights proactively to improve assortment relevance and commercial outcomes.

What we are looking for

• 4–5 years of experience in Buying, Sourcing, or Category Management in FMCG/General Merchandise or modern retail.
• Proven negotiation skills and experience handling commercial discussions.
• Strong understanding of pricing, purchase planning, and cost-efficiency levers.
• Analytical mindset with comfort using Excel and sales data for decision-making.
• Hands-on execution attitude with the ability to work closely with suppliers and store teams.
• Strong ownership, agility, and willingness to travel for supplier and market visits