Category Lead - Staples

This role is for one of the Weekday's clients

Min Experience: 4 years

Location: Bangalore

JobType: full-time

This position extends beyond procurement, as you will manage the complete lifecycle of staple products—from sourcing and pricing to quality control and overseeing the category P&L.

In this role, you will function as a mini-General Manager for the category, taking charge of enhancing margin growth, ensuring product-market fit, and driving scalability.

Requirements

Roles & Responsibilities

• Category P&L Ownership
• Take full responsibility for the revenue, margins, and profitability of staples
• Drive gross margins above branded category benchmarks
• Optimize the product mix between private label and branded SKUs
• Sourcing & Supply Chain Development
• Identify and onboard manufacturers, millers, and contract partners
• Negotiate cost structures, terms of trade (TOTs), and long-term supply agreements
• Develop a reliable, cost-effective sourcing network ensuring consistent quality
• Product Development & Quality
• Define product specifications including quality, grading, and packaging
• Collaborate with vendors to create differentiated SKUs tailored for Bharat consumers
• Ensure strict quality control and batch-to-batch consistency
• Pricing & Value Leadership
• Develop pricing strategies that provide clear value compared to branded alternatives
• Monitor commodity price fluctuations and adjust pricing dynamically
• Balance expanding margins with maintaining price competitiveness
• Assortment & Merchandising Strategy
• Build a focused, high-turnover assortment for staples
• Enhance in-store visibility for staple products
• Create merchandising and bundling strategies to boost product adoption
• Demand, Inventory & Scale
• Accurately forecast demand and maintain high fill rates across stores
• Collaborate with supply chain teams to maintain optimal inventory levels
• Scale successful SKUs across multiple regions and formats
• Category Growth & Adoption
• Drive brand penetration within the staples category
• Partner with marketing and operations teams on in-store and app-based interventions
• Monitor repeat purchase rates, customer feedback, and product performance
• Analytics & Performance Tracking
• Monitor key metrics including:
• Gross margin percentage
• Staples' category share
• Sell-through rates and inventory turnover
• Repeat purchase rates
• Identify underperforming SKUs and implement exit strategies or improvement plans
  
  

What We Are Looking For

• 4 to 8 years of experience in staples procurement, commodity trading, or category management
• Strong expertise in oil, grains, spices, pulses, or related staples categories
• Experience collaborating with manufacturers and contract production partners
• Solid commercial acumen with a P&L ownership mindset
• Deep understanding of commodity cycles and cost structures
• Ability to balance cost, quality, and consumer value effectively
• Structured thinker with excellent execution skills
• High sense of ownership and a proactive approach
  
  

Location - Bangalore