Category Analyst- Food and Beverages (Superpharm)

The incumbent is required to build strong customer relations with external and internal customers ensuring alignment with the company’s core values, Accountability, Care and Trust.

JOB DUTIES

FORECASTING

• Work with the Category Management, Marketing and Operations team in identifying and forecasting consumer trends with an aim of having the right products to give the company a competitive advantage.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret historical data and market and sales trends to develop forecasts.
• Use statistical models and machine learning algorithms to improve forecast accuracy.
• Collaborate with sales, finance, operations, and supply chain teams to align forecasts with business goals.
• Monitor forecast accuracy and adjust models based on new data or changing conditions.
• Develop visual reports and dashboards using tools like Excel, Power BI.
• Identify risks, opportunities, and trends that may impact business performance.
• Support budget planning, inventory management, and strategic decision-making.
• Continuously improve forecasting processes through automation and best practices. 

RATIONALIZATION

• Recommends and executes rationalization exercises to keep portfolios in line with consumer needs.
• Analyze current portfolio of divisions to improve performance of the food and beverage divisions.
• Develop and implement rationalization strategies.
• Work with stakeholders to assess cost-benefit trade-offs and recommend improvements.
• Support change management initiatives to ensure smooth implementation of rationalization efforts.
• Document and maintain process rationalization reports, recommendations, and action plans.
• Monitor and measure the impact of rationalization efforts on efficiency and cost savings. 

SPECIAL PROJECTS

• Plan, execute, and oversee special projects aligned with business goals.
• Collaborate with executive leadership, department heads, and stakeholders to define project scope, objectives, and success criteria.
• Develop and maintain project plans, timelines, and budgets.
• Monitor progress, identify risks, and implement corrective actions to keep projects on track.
• Conduct research, analyze data, and provide recommendations for decision-making.
• Ensure effective communication and alignment across teams.
• Prepare reports, presentations, and updates for senior management.
• Drive continuous improvement and innovation in project execution. 

MERCHANDISING

• Work with Category Manager, Food Innovation Officer and Suppliers to establish right assortment, space allocations and merchandising presentation at category level. Able to identify merchandising trends (i.e., fixtures, visual merchandising) and translate into action.
• Work with Category Manager and Food Innovation Officer to execute assortment recommendations for revisions that directly contribute to improved category performance including but not limited to: Sales, Gross Profit, Inventory Days on Hand, and Gross Margin Return on Inventory Investment (GMROII).
• Produce and distribute error-free, effectively merchandised, and profitable Planograms with clear, concise instructions through advanced understanding of Space Planning and Planogram systems.
• Responsible for managing the Presto Brand planograms and product dimensions.
• Ensure that the strategic vision for the category is correctly being catalogued onto planograms while ensuring space requirements, size requirements and merchandising guidelines are met.
• Assist through analysis in identifying the optimal assortments, based on geographic, demographic attributes, and sales potential by store and provide optimal store planogram assortments.
• Use available software and technology, where applicable, to provide space analysis reporting, planogram reporting, assortment reporting and analysis and provide recommendations based on interpretation and findings.
• Manage and organize all supporting documentation for planogram development. This includes authorized copies of planograms and other documents that may contain directional information pertaining to the development of the planogram for communication with/to stores to give direction and aid in the process.
• Manage project timelines to keep all required participants updated and on schedule for Merchandising Sales Driving Initiatives and other Merchandising initiatives. Accountable for meeting deadlines as per Category and Marketing calendars.
• Collaborates with Store Operations for Image Enhancements and New Store Openings and other departments key to the execution and success of departmental initiatives.
• Supports Store Operations by clearly articulating merchandising instructions accurately and responding to store requests with resolution.