Category Manager - FMCG Food & Beverage

Placements24; Stellenbosch; On-site; ZAR 700,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Bonus opportunities

Career progression

Employee discounts

Proximity to Stellenbosch

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a strategic Category Manager for its food and beverage portfolio in Stellenbosch. The role focuses on developing category strategies, optimizing assortment and pricing, and delivering profitable growth through data-driven insights.

You will partner with sales, marketing, and supply chain to execute plans, manage supplier relationships, and drive category performance in a hands-on, on-site capacity.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business Administration, Economics, or related field (MBA a plus).
• 7+ years in category management, FMCG with food & beverages.
• Strong analytical skills with market data analysis and financial modeling.

Responsibilities

• Develop category strategies aligned with business objectives and market opportunities.
• Analyze sales data, trends, insights, and competitors to identify growth drivers and risks.
• Optimize assortment, pricing, promotions, and placement to maximize sales and profitability.
• Manage supplier relationships, negotiate terms, and collaborate on product development.

Skills

Data analysis

Nielsen/IRI

Excel

PowerPoint

Negotiation

Education

Bachelor's in Marketing/Business/Economics

MBA (plus)

Tools

MS Excel

PowerPoint

Nielsen/IRI tools

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a highly reputable company in the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector, is seeking a strategic and analytical Category Manager to lead the development and growth of its food and beverage portfolio. This is an on-site role based in Stellenbosch, requiring a hands-on approach to understanding market dynamics and driving category performance. You will be responsible for optimizing product assortment, pricing strategies, promotional planning, and ensuring a competitive edge in the market. The ideal candidate possesses extensive experience in category management within the FMCG space, a deep understanding of consumer behaviour, and strong analytical skills to translate data into actionable business strategies. You will work closely with sales, marketing, and supply chain teams to ensure the successful execution of category plans and to maximize profitability and market share for the food and beverage segments.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement category strategies that align with overall business objectives and market opportunities.
• Analyze sales data, market trends, consumer insights, and competitor activities to identify growth drivers and potential risks.
• Optimize product assortment, pricing, promotion, and placement strategies to maximize category sales and profitability.
• Manage supplier relationships, negotiate terms, and collaborate on product innovation and development.
• Develop and execute effective promotional plans and trade marketing initiatives.
• Collaborate closely with the sales and marketing teams to ensure alignment and successful execution of category plans.
• Monitor category performance against key metrics and provide regular reports and recommendations to senior management.
• Ensure effective inventory management and supply chain coordination for the assigned categories.
• Stay abreast of industry best practices, emerging trends, and new technologies relevant to the FMCG food and beverage market.
• Identify opportunities to enhance the customer shopping experience within the category.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field; MBA is a plus.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in category management, brand management, or a related role within the FMCG industry, with specific expertise in food and beverages.
• Proven track record of driving category growth and profitability through strategic planning and execution.
• Strong analytical skills with expertise in market data analysis (e.g., Nielsen, IRI) and financial modeling.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and presentation skills.
• Deep understanding of consumer behaviour and retail dynamics.
• Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams.
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite, especially Excel and PowerPoint, and category management software.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Must be able to work full-time in the Stellenbosch office.

Benefits

• Competitive salary package commensurate with experience and qualifications.
• Opportunity to manage and grow key categories for a leading FMCG company.
• Access to extensive market data and analytical tools.
• Professional development and training programs.
• Comprehensive health insurance and retirement benefits.
• Performance-based bonus opportunities.
• A dynamic and collaborative work environment.
• Employee discounts on company products.
• Proximity to vibrant local businesses and lifestyle in Stellenbosch.
• Career progression opportunities within a growing organization.