Assistant Category Manager

RCL FOODS is a deeply rooted South African food manufacturer that produces some of the country's most-loved brands: Yum Yum peanut butter, Nola mayonnaise, Ouma rusks, Selati sugar, and Ultra Pet, just to name a few. At the heart of our culture and strategy is our Purpose – WE GROW WHAT MATTERS – which encapsulates our belief in collectively doing that little more to create a positive impact that matters. Visit our website at:

We have an opportunity for an Assistant Category Manager within our dynamic, high-performing Customer Team.

RCL Foods entrusts the Assistant Category Manager to:

• Support the Category Manager in his / her role.
• Administer and manage small projects, analytics, and Go-To-Market initiatives to achieve category volume and profit objectives, as assigned.
• Assist in gathering, compiling, and analysing customer, category, shopper, and channel performance, trends, and competitive intelligence.
• Engage with key internal stakeholders to ensure execution excellence through all key Demand Functions.

The role will be based in Westville and report to the Category Manager.

Category Planning:

• Support the Category Manager in annual business planning process through data analysis, insights and identification of growth opportunities.
• Support the development of proposals and recommendations for customers in executing category management projects, including customer reviews, NRM (Net Revenue Management) initiatives which translate into new opportunities for growth or improved profitability.
• Liaise with the operations team to ensure smooth implementation of initiatives.

Category Management:

• Support the Category Manager and review category performance, margins and customer profitability.
• Analyse shelf health, pricing data, product availability and visibility instore, consolidate feedback into actionable plans for the customer & Vector team to implement.
• Execute agreed perfect store across retail channel.
• Conduct periodic reviews of planograms and ranging to ensure maximised shelf efficiency.
• Continuous monitoring of competitor landscape (Pricing, Availability, Product).

Brand Management:

• Support the operations team on smaller shopper and brand marketing campaigns across the various brands.
• Build and deliver always on digital shopper comms across the various pet brands to support shopper conversion in the different channels.
• Ensure all marketing material is within brand CI across the brands.
• Liaise with in-house and in country agencies to support creation and deployment.

Category and Channel Growth through New Product Launches:

• Work with the Category Manager in development of new product launch plans.
• Support the preparation of Category stories and Trade presentations.

Information Analysis, Management and Reporting:

• Analyse and interpret key data to provide feedback on category performance and drive actions into the future.
• Assist in the compilation of business reports, presentations and category performance analysis (incl. causes of deviation) with an eye on NRM practices.

Financial Management:

• Support in management of the customer marketing spend budgets within agreed limits and ensure that all initiatives are shown to be commercially sound.
• Execute specific elements of the NRM Program, e.g. promo analysis as per business agreed targets.
• Understand key drivers of profitability and revenue growth to assist in achievement of financial targets.

KPI's:

• Business growth targets – volume, revenue and profit.
• Execution of brand plans and specific projects KPIs.
• Digital and social metrics and measurements.
• Shelf space and product availability.
• Accuracy of reporting.

• A Degree or Diploma in Marketing or Business Management (3 years).
• 2 to 3 years relevant experience in a similar environment.
• Valid Code EB drivers' license.