Job Purpose:

Category Development Specialist – Offline is responsible for assisting the Category Development Manager - Offline to enhance and ADVP (Assortment – Distribution – Visibility – Penetration) strategy in off-line and the development of B&B brands and the respective categories we operate in. Based on business analysis he/she support Category Development Manager - Offline to track plan by brand  in order to optimize offline assortment, distribution, visibility, build household penetration via strong trade communication and by making consumers/shoppers buy our products.

Place in the organization 

The Category Development Specialist – Offline reports directly to Category Development Manager – Offline, who reports to Marketing & Category Development Manager.

Category Development Specialist – Offline is overall responsible for assisting B&B brand and products development in offline channels and works closely with sales team to manage or track in-stores activities to drives pos and rotation.

1. Business Analysis
   • Support Category Development Manager - Offline to make market analysis to identify business growth opportunities.
   • Support Category Development Manager - Offline to make introduction analysis and price analysis.
   • Trade Marketing administrative tasks related to reporting; related to ADVP reporting, copycat tracking, payments, document filling, etc.
   • Collect competitor information(price/promotion/activities/new products etc) based on good market insight and understanding of offline retail channels and MBS channels.
2. ADVP
   • Support line manager to develop and execute yearly offline trade marketing plans to promote products and drive sales.
   • Implement the Assortment and Distribution plan with the sales team for our key customers. Keep track on current status, improvements needed and drive better results by optimizing listings and distribution by key customer.
   • Implement the Visibility plan (POSM, Displays, Brand Block/Zone, etc.) with the sales team for our key customers. Keep track on current status, improvements needed and drive better results by optimizing the visibility of our products by key customer.
   • Implement the plan to build household Penetration (pricing strategy, promotions, events, tasting/sampling, etc.) with the sales team for our key customers. Keep track on current status, improvements needed and drive better results by optimizing the visibility of our products by key customer.
   • Implement the new product launch and closely track the progress according to the timeline.
   • Come up with ideas and plans to improve our performance related to ADVP by keeping track on trends, consumer/shopper insights, competitor activities and our own evaluations and learnings.
3. Trade and Consumer Communications:

• • Support proactive communication to the trade; leaflets, presentations, brand stories, samples, etc.
  • Handling and management of suppliers/agents on a daily basis related to purchase of gifts, POSM, giftboxes, etc. Also handle the execution of tasting/sampling events with external agencies and ensure excellent execution.
  • Assist the Category Development Manager - Offline in his/her work if and when needed and work pro-active together with the sales team to ensure excellent execution and to drive results in line with the targets. Communicate in an open manner and work together constructively with members of the other departments.

Education (degree):

• • University level – Bachelor Degree

Specific knowledge:

• • Knowledge of the FMCG business in China and the route to market.
  • Microsoft: word, excel and power-point
  • Outlook

Experience:

• • Around 3 – 5 years of solid (trade) marketing experience.
  • Strong experience in FMCG (preferably in food/drinks), working with A-brands and working in an international environment.
  • Knows and understands the market, channels, customers as well as consumer and shopper behavior in China and has an actual network with agencies and research companies.

Language(s):

• • Fluent in Chinese and English (both verbally and written)

Personal competences:

• • Strong personality and serious partner in business
  • Good oral and written communication skills
  • Analytical, fact-oriented, solution-oriented (“how can we make this happen”)
  • Hands on mentality with an eye for detail
  • Independent and self-motivation
  • High energy level (no 9-5 mentality), a good sense of humor and willing to learn