Retail Private Label Manager

Retail Private Label Manager

Job Summary

The Retail Private Label Manager is responsible for developing, managing, and growing the company's private label portfolio. This role oversees product development, supplier management, pricing strategy, category performance, and brand positioning to deliver profitable growth while meeting customer needs and maintaining high quality standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the private label strategy aligned with the company's commercial objectives.
• Identify market trends, customer insights, and category opportunities for new private label products.
• Manage the end-to-end product lifecycle, from concept and sourcing to launch and post-launch performance.
• Collaborate with merchandising, buying, marketing, quality assurance, supply chain, and operations teams.
• Identify, evaluate, negotiate, and manage relationships with local and international suppliers.
• Lead product assortment planning and category reviews.
• Conduct competitive benchmarking, pricing analysis, and market research.
• Develop business cases for new product introductions and range extensions.
• Ensure compliance with quality, regulatory, packaging, and labeling requirements.
• Monitor sales performance, margins, inventory levels, and profitability of private label products.
• Work with marketing to develop branding, packaging, promotional campaigns, and in-store merchandising.
• Manage product cost optimization and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Resolve supplier performance issues and ensure service level agreements are met.
• Prepare regular performance reports and recommendations for senior management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Supply Chain, Food Science, or a related field.
• MBA or professional certification is an advantage.
• 5–10 years of experience in retail buying, category management, merchandising, sourcing, or private label management.
• Experience with FMCG, grocery, consumer goods, health & beauty, or household products is highly preferred.
• Proven experience working with domestic and international manufacturers.

Skills & Competencies

• Private label development
• Category management
• Product sourcing
• Supplier relationship management
• Negotiation
• Product development
• Financial analysis and margin management
• Pricing strategy
• Inventory management
• Market and consumer research
• Brand management
• Project management
• Commercial acumen
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Private label sales growth
• Gross margin improvement
• Private label market share
• New product launch success rate
• Supplier performance and on-time delivery
• Product quality and compliance
• Inventory turnover
• Cost savings achieved through sourcing initiatives
• Customer satisfaction and product ratings

Preferred Industry Experience

• Supermarkets and hypermarkets
• Grocery retail
• FMCG
• Pharmacy chains
• Home and household retail
• Consumer goods
• Wholesale and distribution
• E-commerce retail