Swiggy - Category Lead

Description: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 Responsibilities1. 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.For your candidature to be considered on this job, you need to apply necessarily on the company's redirected page of this job. Please make sure you apply on the redirected page as well. (ref:iimjobs.com)