Category Lead - Staples

About the Role

We are looking for a Category Lead – Staples to build and scale SuperK’s business in staples (oil, rice, atta, spices, pulses, etc.).
This role goes beyond procurement—you will own the end-to-end lifecycle of staple products, from sourcing and pricing to quality, and category P&L.
You will act as a mini-GM for the category, responsible for driving margin expansion, product-market fit, and scale.

Roles & Responsibilities

1. Category P&L Ownership
Own revenue, margins, and profitability for staples
Drive higher gross margins vs branded benchmarks
Optimize mix between private label and branded SKUs

2. Sourcing & Supply Chain Development
Identify and onboard manufacturers, millers, and contract partners
Negotiate cost structures, TOTs, and long-term supply agreements
Build a reliable, cost-efficient sourcing network with consistent quality

3. Product Development & Quality
Define product specifications (quality, grading, packaging)
Work with vendors to develop differentiated SKUs tailored for Bharat consumers
Ensure strict quality control and consistency across batches

4. Pricing & Value Leadership
Design pricing strategies that deliver clear value vs branded alternatives
Track commodity price movements and adjust pricing dynamically
Balance margin expansion with price competitiveness

5. Assortment & Merchandising Strategy
Build a focused, high-velocity assortment for staples
Drive in-store visibility for staples
Design merchandising and bundling strategies to improve adoption

6. Demand, Inventory & Scale
Forecast demand and ensure high fill rates across stores
Work with supply chain teams to maintain optimal inventory levels
Scale successful SKUs across regions and formats

7. Category Growth & Adoption
Drive brand penetration within the staples category
Work with marketing and ops teams on in-store and app-led interventions
Track repeat purchase, customer feedback, and product performance

8. Analytics & Performance Tracking
Track key metrics:
Gross margin %
Staples share in category
Sell-through and inventory turns
Repeat purchase rates
Identify underperforming SKUs and drive exit or improvement plan

What we are looking for?

4–8 years in staples procurement, commodity trading, or category management
Strong experience in oil, grains, spices, pulses, or similar staples categories
Experience working with manufacturers / contract production
Strong commercial and P&L mindset
Deep understanding of commodity cycles and cost structures
Ability to balance cost, quality, and consumer value
Structured thinker with strong execution ability
High ownership and bias for action