Food Category Manager

Portfolio Procurement has been engaged by a leading London-based client to recruit an experienced Food Category Manager.

This is an excellent opportunity for a commercially-minded food procurement professional to take ownership of a defined portfolio of categories, managing supplier relationships and driving improvements across cost, product performance and availability .

The role

As Food Category Manager, you will manage and develop your assigned categories, using market insight, supplier relationships and performance data to strengthen the product offering and deliver commercial value.

Key responsibilities

• Manage and develop a portfolio of food categories, with responsibility for performance, pricing and availability
• Support category and product planning, identifying opportunities to improve the overall product offering
• Lead pricing negotiations and support the planning and delivery of promotional activity
• Conduct supplier and category reviews, providing insight into market trends, seasonal demand and product performance
• Build strong, collaborative relationships with suppliers to secure the best possible products, pricing and service
• Monitor supplier performance against agreed KPIs, addressing issues and identifying opportunities for improvement
• Monitor stock levels and work with key stakeholders to maintain product availability
• Use data and commercial insight to support category decisions and identify opportunities for growth and improved performance

Skills and experience

• Previous experience in a Buyer, Category Manager or similar commercial role within the food sector
• Strong commercial and analytical skills, with the ability to interpret data and turn insight into action
• Proven supplier management and negotiation experience
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
• Confident managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Strong Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel

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