Category Manager - Liquor

SPAR Group; Durban; On-site; ZAR 500,000 - 800,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading retail group seeks a Category Manager Liquor in Durban to lead procurement strategies, optimize sales, and ensure compliance with industry standards. The role demands an experienced professional adept in negotiations, with a strong understanding of liquor market trends and customer preferences. The successful candidate will play a crucial part in driving profitability and customer satisfaction through strategic supplier partnerships and innovative category management.

Qualifications

• At least 5 years experience in the liquor industry.
• Knowledge of liquor trends and regulations.
• Proficient in MS Office applications.

Responsibilities

• Work with National Merchandising Manager and Regional Liquor buyers.
• Negotiate supplier costs and optimize retailer margins.
• Analyze sales trends and coordinate product listings.

Skills

Negotiation

Data Analysis

Collaboration

Communication

Leadership

Education

Relevant tertiary qualification in marketing or business management

Matric

Tools

MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint)

Data analysis & inventory management systems

Job description

SPAR KZN is looking to recruit a Category Manager Liquor to join their dynamic team.

Duties & Responsibilities

PURPOSE

The purpose of this role is to work with the National Merchandising Manager (Liquor) the Regional Liquor buyers and supplier partners in coordinating the sourcing procurement pricing and assortment for the liquor category in conjunction with the national advertising strategy & promotional framework ensuring that the commercial success of all TOPS advertising is planned executed & performance reviewed. This role will involve analysing sales trends negotiating with supplier partners and ensuring compliance with industry regulations whilst maximizing profitability & customer satisfaction.

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS

• Achieve budgeted sales & profit targets.
• Generate & analyse category reports to track DC & scanned; weekly monthly & quarterly performance including reports tracking post promotion performance.
• Meeting with suppliers to negotiate cost & sell prices on promotional products & National KVI products optimising retailer margins & DC profitability. Negotiate monthly rewards products & pricings including Spar2U deals aligned to the National SPAR2U Promotion Calendar.
• Keep the Advertising & Promotions controller & Junior Liquor Buyer updated on promotional grids including
• Promotion price checks with Silo before the marketing team send TOPS advertising to print.
• Coordinate the supplier claims process for Trading terms Adhoc Leaflet Promotions and Press between supplier & Finance keeping accurate record of transactions & timely settlement from suppliers.
• TOPS at SPAR wants to be the preferred retail partner for our suppliers Coordinate the new product listing process by liaising with CO listing team CATMAN & suppliers for the required documentation & samples.
• Oversee planograms & shelf placement to maximise visibility of National strategic supplier partners aligning to the retail media framework & calendar.
• Collaborate with CO & regional logistics teams to monitor KVI & Promotion inventory levels supply chain efficiencies inbound & outbound fill rates.
• Collaborate with the Encork private label lead to source opportunities for exclusive & private label expansion into Spirits & LADS.
• Collaborate with the Sustainability team to identify opportunities to develop small business supplier partners with future growth potential and consider innovative options to ensure we trading sustainably & responsibly.
• Consumer price perception Working with Silo to coordinate a monthly & quarterly competitor promotion tracking report.
• Coordinate alignment with the national advertising grid & the retail media digital store connect platform providing tangible leadership to grow Store Connect as targeted within the Kulcha framework.
• Coordinating a program that provides leadership to our retailers & suppliers for Cold room category implementation excellence leading the market in LADS & provides excellence in ambient space.
• Demand planning considering strategic supplier partner growth targets the most efficient supply chain to maximise cost efficiency for all stakeholders & excellent service for our retailers.

Desired Experience & Qualification

• Matric.
• Relevant tertiary qualification preferably in marketing and business managementsupply chain or related field.
• At least 5 years experience in the liquor industry with knowledge of liquor trendsregulations consumer behaviour.
• Sound knowledge of FMCG Marketing with an ability to lead & collaborate crossfunctionally.
• Proficient in all MS Office applications (Excel and PowerPoint essential). Proficient

data analysis & inventory management systems.

• SPAR Buying and Catman Systems knowledge is advantageous.

The ideal applicant will satisfy the following skills requirements :

• A high degree of confidentiality emotional maturity ethical values and integrity.
• Must have a high stress tolerance and the ability to work efficiently under pressure.
• A strategic thinker who has strong drive for innovative ways of resolving businesschallenges.
• Strong numeric skills and sound financial acumen.
• Ability to build strategic working relationships and be customer focused.
• Proven and acknowledged team player.
• Excellent communication presentation and interpersonal skills to interfaceeffectively with all levels of colleagues and with external customers in a teamorientated manner.
• Must be collaborative influential and rational.
• Precise planning and excellent organisational / administration skills.
• Exceptional accuracy and extreme attention to detail.
• Quality orientated and selfdriven to achieve results.
• Exceptional leadership qualities.

Prior experience may compensate for qualifications not met and all appointments are subject to our Affirmative action policy.

Kindly note : All applications are to be submitted through the Careers Site and Pnet. Please refrain from calling the Distribution Centre (DC) or emailing applications directly.

Your application and all personal information provided herein is protected under the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 hereinafter referred to as the Act.

• The SPAR Group LTD with its head offices at 22 Chancery Lane in Pinetown is collecting this information to enable us to facilitate your application and / or assess your suitability for the advertised position. This information will be used for this purpose only and disposed of thereafter unless you consent to the information being retained for marketing purposes.
• Where shortlisted your information will be retained for a period of 3 months and disposed of immediately thereafter if you are unsuccessful in your application. Where employment is offered it will be retained as part of your employee portfolio and secured accordingly.
• This information is given to us by you voluntarily and of your own free will.
• If you do not wish to provide us with this information are unable to do so or object to it being used it will result in the disqualification of your application.
• In the course of the recruitment process and for matters related to your application only we may share your information with third parties.
• You have the right to access this information while in our possession and make corrections if necessary.
• You have the right to lodge a complaint via email with the office of the Information Regulator at if you are unhappy with the manner in which we deal with your information.

By submitting your application you hereby declare your understanding of the aforementioned information and consent to the processing of your information in accordance with the Act as well as the processing of any further personal information requested by us in the future including but not limited to banking details criminal history and credit reports / financial history information.

Required Experience :

Manager

Key Skills

Abinitio,Aerospace Engineering,Corporate Relationship,Business Administration,Financial Reporting,Avionics

Employment Type : Full-Time

Experience : years

Vacancy : 1

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Category Manager • Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa