Category Manager HMR

Summary

Overall, as a category manager for Home Meal Replacement, your role would be to drive the success of the category by developing and implementing effective strategies, managing supplier relationships, optimizing pricing and profitability, and staying attuned to market dynamics and consumer demands.

Specific Responsibilities

• Overall responsibility for the success, business planning and day to day activities of all HMR Store programs, including but not limited to: Hot Foods, Pizza, Sandwiches, Ready Meals, Deli Salads & Entrees, Catering & Entertaining, Skip The Dishes, and the Licenced Starbucks Program.
• Works closely and in conjuction with the HMR Innovation Manager to provide analysis on category performance, assortment, and profitability. 
• Complete periodic reviews of categories in conjunction with the Senior Category Manager & HMR Innovation Manager, AC Nielsen and Dunnhumby. Conduct analyses of retail history, advertising success, product movement, space allocation (merchandising) and overall category performance. Set objectives accordingly to meet overall sales and profit targets in conjuntion with the HMR Innovation Manager.
• Maintain and update periodic sales reporting, planograms, master category lists, ingredients, system recipe inputs and weekly compliance audits, including Starbucks & E-Commerce.
• Conducts internal and external research, mines data, and applies strategic thinking in order to make sound business recommendations that will deliver sales growth.
• Performance Monitoring: Tracking and analyzing key performance indicators (KPIs) for the HMR category, such as sales growth, market share, and profitability. You would generate reports and provide insights to management, highlighting areas of success and areas that require improvement.
• Pricing and Profitability: Analyzing pricing strategies to maximize profitability while remaining competitive within the market. You would conduct regular pricing reviews, monitor pricing trends, and make recommendations for pricing adjustments based on market dynamics and cost considerations.
• Work closely with the HMR Innovation Manager & Marketing Team  on programs to communicate new initiatives, special pricing programs, seasonal products and everyday pricing. This includes planning and executing marketing campaigns, monitoring sales performance, and analyzing the effectiveness of promotions.
• Identifies strategic opportunities to deliver new revenue streams to HMR Merchandising through new products, tools and/or services, promotions and marketing.
• Continuous Improvement: Staying updated with industry trends, consumer preferences, and competitive activities to identify opportunities for continuous improvement within the HMR category. 
• Conducts in-store and competitive shopping audits.
• Work with Central Procurement and Private Label on branded product launches.
• Supplier Management: Building and maintaining relationships with suppliers and vendors who provide Home Meal Replacement products. This involves negotiating contracts, managing pricing and terms, and monitoring supplier performance to ensure quality, availability, and timely delivery of products.
• Collaborates with vendors to deliver on identified new product opportunities.
• Together with the Innovation Manager, be accountable for the operational execution of the category with the Deli Store Operations team.
• Works collaboratively with field specialists to ensure store operation procedures are maximized and ensure HMR programs are commercially viable. (Sales, Shrink, Yield)
• Required to visit stores to review program execution and provide feedback.
• Financial accountability for the category including, sales, profit, margin and yield.
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
   

Qualifications:

• Bachelor degree.
• 5 – 7 years of relevant experience.
• Excellent analytical skills.
• Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Outlook, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel is an asset.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Some travel required.