Lead - Category

Role Overview:
As the Category Lead for Oils, you will own the P&L and strategic growth of theOils category within the B2B HoReCa segment. You'll drive business outcomes through deep market understanding, supplier partnerships, sourcing excellence, assortment optimization and data-backed decision-making. This role is ideal for a category professional passionate about food commodities, supply chain dynamics and customer-centric innovation in the hospitality and foodservice industry. Key Responsibilities 1. Category Ownership & Growth Strategy . Own the Category P&L - driving topline growth, margin improvement, and working capital efficiency across the Oils portfolio. . Develop and execute the category growth strategy in line with organizational goals and market opportunities. . Identify and act on category growth levers - assortment, pricing, supply chain optimization, and brand/vendor collaborations. . Maintain a deep understanding of the B2B Oils market - consumption trends, price movements, bulk buying patterns, and brand positioning within the HoReCa ecosystem. 2. Market Understanding & Competitive Intelligence . Conduct regular market and competitor analysis (brands, pack sizes, price points, and sourcing models). . Stay on top of commodity price fluctuations, trade policies, and regional demand trends affecting edible oils. . Anticipate shifts in HoReCa customer behavior and proactively adjust sourcing and assortment strategies. 3. Sourcing, Procurement & Vendor Management . Lead vendor sourcing and negotiations for both branded and private-label oils. . Build strong relationships with manufacturers, distributors and aggregators to ensure consistent supply, quality, and competitive pricing. . Manage stock positions and procurement planning to align with demand forecasts and price movements. . Drive end-to-end catalogue management - from vendor onboarding to SKU listing, pricing and pricing accuracy. 4. Assortment & Merchandising . Curate the optimal assortment for the HoReCa segment focusing on relevance, pack sizes and value-based pricing. . Collaborate with the supply chain and operations teams to ensure seamless availability and timely replenishment. . 5. Promotions, Marketing & Growth Initiatives . Leverage data insights to plan targeted promotions, bulk deals and volume-based incentives for HoReCa customers. 6. Cross-Functional Collaboration . Work closely with internal teams - Supply Chain, Finance, Marketing, Growth & Analytics and Operations to deliver business objectives. . Set up category SOPs and best practices for pricing, inventory management, vendor engagementand catalog health. Desired Skills & Qualifications . 2+ years of experience in category management, sourcing, or procurement, ideally inFMCG/B2B Food Supply or Agri Commodities. . Understanding of the HoReCa market and how buying behavior differs from retail consumers. . Proven experience managing P&L, sourcing contracts and large vendor portfolios. . Ability to analyze market trends and price indices to take smart stock positions and manage category risk. . Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to make data-backed decisions in a dynamic environment. . Excellent communication and negotiation skills with an ability to build long-term strategic partnerships. . A self-starter with high ownership, attention to detail, and the agility to thrive in a fast-paced start-up ecosystem.