Perishables Category Lead - Cape Town, Growth & Impact

Placements24; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Staff discounts

Leadership training

Retirement planning

Job summary

Placements24 is recruiting a Lead Category Manager for a top supermarket chain in Cape Town. You will drive perishables category strategy, manage supplier relationships, and optimize pricing, assortment and promotions to boost sales and margins.

The role requires strong leadership and cross-functional collaboration to deliver exceptional value to consumers. The position emphasizes market insight, brand integrity, and regulatory compliance, with a focus on freshness, availability, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Supply Chain or related field; Master’s degree an advantage.
• 7+ years in category management, retail merchandising, or similar role with perishables focus.
• Proven ability to drive sales growth, margins, and manage supplier negotiations.
• Strong knowledge of perishables market, sourcing, supply chain dynamics, and consumer behavior.
• Analytical mindset with ability to read sales data and financial reports.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement category strategies for perishable goods (produce, dairy, bakery, deli).
• Manage end-to-end supplier relationships including sourcing, negotiating, contracts, performance reviews.
• Conduct market analysis to identify trends and opportunities for innovation.
• Optimize product assortment, placement, and promotions for sales and profitability.
• Ensure compliance with food safety regulations and quality standards.
• Collaborate with marketing, operations, and merchandising to enhance customer experience.
• Analyze sales, feedback, and inventory to drive data-informed decisions.
• Develop and manage budget including forecasts and expenses.
• Lead and mentor a team of category specialists and buyers.

Skills

Category management

Retail merchandising

Supplier negotiations

Team leadership

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business/Marketing/Supply Chain

Master's degree (advantage)

Tools

MS Office

Retail analytics tools

Job description

Placements24 is recruiting a Lead Category Manager for a top supermarket chain in Cape Town. You will drive perishables category strategy, manage supplier relationships, and optimize pricing, assortment and promotions to boost sales and margins.

The role requires strong leadership and cross-functional collaboration to deliver exceptional value to consumers. The position emphasizes market insight, brand integrity, and regulatory compliance, with a focus on freshness, availability, and