Category Controller - Beauty, Grooming & Fragrance

Duties & Responsibilities
Category Plan and Performance:

• Prepare the annual category plan, covering sales, margin, stock turns, inventory and ageing targets by sub-category and store type.
• Review weekly and monthly results, identify gaps and agree clear corrective actions.
• Use customer, market and competitor information to identify premium brands, new trends and opportunities that can attract high- net-worth and aspirational customers to SPAR.

Assortment and CATMAN:

• Decide the assortment by sub-category, brand, price point, pack size and store type, with a clear premium offer in stores serving
• high-value customers.
• Implement CATMAN and new assortment plans, including item setup, ranging, planograms and product launches.
• Review SKU performance and recommend listing, delisting, substitution and range reduction where required.

Sales, Pricing, Margin and Promotions:

• Set competitive selling prices while protecting the approved markup and gross margin.
• Prepare the promotion calendar with Marketing and suppliers, secure supplier funding and review the result of each promotion.
• Improve the product mix, premium offer, gifting and cross-selling to grow sales, margin and average basket value.

Demand Planning and Availability:

• Agree sales forecasts, order levels, safety stock and stock cover with Inventory Control and Demand Planning.
• Keep KVIs, top sellers and new products available, and resolve stockouts and supplier shortages quickly.
• Coordinate local purchases, imports, CWH allocation and store replenishment based on demand.

Stock Management:

• Manage stock cover, stock turns, ageing, no-sale, near-expiry, damaged and slow-moving stock.
• Take action through transfers, markdowns, supplier returns, clearance and stopping further purchases.
• Avoid overbuying and excess stock after promotions, and keep inventory within approved limits.
• Control stock accuracy and shrinkage, particularly for fragrances, premium products, testers and other high-value items.

Supplier Management:

• Negotiate cost prices, rebates, payment terms, listing fees, promotion funding, exclusives, returns and service levels.
• Review supplier performance on fill rate, delivery, quality and commercial support.
• Identify suitable new brands and suppliers, and ensure approved contracts and documents are in place.

Store Execution and Team Management:

• Visit stores to check availability, premium presentation, displays, testers, security controls, price accuracy and planogram compliance.
• Ensure products are genuine, batch and expiry details can be traced, item master details are correct and all regulations arefollowed.
• Give the team clear priorities and work with Operations, Marketing, Finance, Logistics, BI and Inventory Control to complete agreed actions.

Key Performance Indicators

• Sales and like-for-like growth against budget
• Gross margin percentage, markup and gross margin value
• KVI / top-seller availability and category on-shelf availability
• Stock cover, stock turns, return on inventory and inventory against budget
• Stock accuracy and shrinkage against approved targets
• Reduction in ageing, no-sale, near-expiry, damages and slow-moving stock
• Promotion uplift, sell-through, supplier funding and post-promotion residual stock
• Premium category sales, average basket value, assortment performance and timely CATMAN / new product rollout
• Supplier fill rate, delivery performance, terms secured and store execution

Education and Years of Experience

• Minimum of a First Degree in Business, Marketing, Supply Chain, Pharmacy, Cosmetic Science or a related field.
• MBA or a relevant professional qualification is an advantage.
• Minimum 8 years of category management or buying experience in Modern retail / FMCG, including at least 3 years in Beauty, Personal Care, Grooming or Fragrance.
• Proven experience in supplier negotiation, assortment, pricing, promotions, demand planning and managing category sales, margin and stock.
• Strong Excel, BI and ERP skills; Microsoft Dynamics 365 experience is an advantage.
• Good knowledge of branded and imported merchandise, product authenticity, expiry and regulatory controls.

Key Competencies:

• Category planning and commercial ownership
• Premium customer and market insight
• Supplier negotiation and relationship management
• Assortment, pricing and promotion management
• Demand planning and stock management
• Data analysis and commercial judgement
• Store execution and working with other teams
• Integrity, ownership and attention to detail

Application Closing Date
31st August, 2026.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should forward their CV to: using the Job Title as the subject of the email.

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