Category Manager

Category Manager (Fresh Fish) Vacancy - URGENT!

• Annual Salary: £55k per annum, negotiable DOE
• Location: West London
• Job Type: Full-time, Hybrid

We are seeking a Category Manage (Fresh Fish) / Wet Fish Buyer to manage our entire fresh fish category. This role is crucial for sourcing, merchandising, and ensuring alignment with industry trends and market demands. The successful candidate will have a profound understanding of the seafood market, sustainable sourcing practices, and will be instrumental in maximizing profitability while maintaining the highest standards of quality and freshness.

Day-to-day of the role:

• Category Strategy Development: Develop and implement short- and long-term strategies for the fish category, aligning with company objectives and market trends.
• Product Assortment: Define the optimal product mix to meet customer needs and reflect industry trends, ensuring a diverse range of fish products.
• Vendor Management: Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers, negotiate competitive pricing, contracts, and promotional offers, and ensure timely delivery of fresh stock.
• Quality Assurance: Collaborate with the quality control team to ensure all fish products meet safety, freshness, and sustainability standards.
• Contract Management: Manage annual pricing contracts, define team structure and roles in the buying process, and establish relevant policies.
• Inventory Management: Oversee stock levels and collaborate with the operations team to ensure supply chain efficiency, avoiding stock-outs or excess inventory.
• Trend Analysis: Keep abreast of emerging trends in the seafood industry, including sustainability practices, sourcing, and consumer preferences.
• Team Collaboration: Work closely with other category managers, the fresh foods team, and senior management to ensure seamless execution of departmental goals.
• Innovation: Drive innovation within the fresh category by continuously sourcing new products, both domestically and internationally, to enhance the existing range and align with client needs.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• Experience: Minimum of 5 years in fresh food retail, specifically in seafood or fish categories, with a strong preference for experience in category management or buying.
• Knowledge: In-depth understanding of seafood products, industry standards, quality control, and sustainability.
• Skills: Excellent negotiation, communication, and analytical skills, with the ability to make data-driven decisions and present results to senior management.
• Passion for Fresh Foods: A genuine passion for fresh, quality foods and a commitment to sustainability and customer satisfaction.
• Team Player: Strong collaboration skills and the ability to manage cross-functional teams effectively.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary with performance-based incentives
• Health and wellness programme
• Opportunities for career advancement within a growing company
• Flexible working hours and hybrid working setup
• Company events
• Product and employee discounts
• Free parking
• Health & wellbeing programme
• Holiday leave benefit
• Car and Cycle2Work Scheme

Apply now if interested!