Job category: FMCG, Retail, Wholesale and Supply Chain
Location: Western Cape
Contract: Permanent
EE position: No
Introduction To interpret our target customer needs and lifestyle trends to deliver a product development plan that delivers leading innovation, maximises core growth, ensures consistent high quality, value for money and exceeds our customer's expectations, whilst contributing to the respective category's overall profitability
Give input to and implement category and supplier strategiesIdentify, analyse and interpret lifestyle, retail and food trends to ensure that the category continues to deliver strategic leading edge innovation and profitable sales growthA highly skilled culinary professional to contribute expertise in flavor profiling, ingredient selection, and recipe creation to enhance product developmentManage and implement the product development process within this selected category to ensure that product ranges are delivered in line with agreed product direction whilst adhering to brand values, within a set CTPUsing lessons learnt to analyse catalogue and identify product eliminations, upgrades and new opportunities to maximize the categoryIntegrate with cross functional team in commercial, technology and planning wrt the launching of competitive, profitable rangesIntegrate with marketing and sales management teams to ensure maximum product exposure and implementation of initiativesImplement a product development program to support customer needs and to deliver to the foods directional frameworkDrive the strategic direction for ranging and positioning products for the customerSet the product benchmarks, BIIC and STS for the category or identified rangesBe the proud custodian of productDevelop and maintain sustainable, mutually beneficial long-term relationships with suppliersIn conjunction with technical team, set and continuously improve the quality standards of the product ranges, through local and international benchmarking.Initiate and manage design brief and packaging development for the range, ensuring briefs communicate customer facing messages and tier of productAdopt a customer- facing way of working and gain an intimate understanding of the various customer segments through research and customer focus groupsA culinary qualification is crucial or a relevant BSc Consumer Science or relevant qualification with relevant culinary experience5 to 8 years Food's product development experience – relevant experience in prepared and ready meals would be advantageousAbility to interpret and drive innovation strategy across categoryTeam leadership abilityA superior palate and sensory evaluation skillsAbility to engage with supplier and collaboratively ensure that technical and product expertise are leveraged to enable delivery of profitable products that meets our customers needsUnderstanding of foods, lifestyle trends and target market with a focus on prepared mealsPassion for food/ high level of culinary skills with ability to transfer passion into commercially viable productCustomer orientationInnovative / continuous improvement mind-setTeam player with appreciation of diversityStrong communication skills (both written and verbal)Proven commercial aptitude – ability to understand and use financial indicatorsAbility to incorporate product strategy into supplier baseProven ability to work with design team to ensure appropriate visual imagery is developed within the corporate brand identityStrong integrator – proven ability to work within in a matrix and lead / drive cross group projectsStrong presentation, communication and negotiation skillsAbility to set and improve quality standards in a complex supplier base#J-18808-Ljbffr
