Business Head - Fruits & Vegetables Category

JEYACHANDRAN RETAIL PVT LTD
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job TitleBusiness Head Fruits & Vegetables CategoryDepartmentBuying& MerchandisingReports ToChief Operating Officer LocationThiruvananthapuram, Kerala Grade / BandSenior Leadership Business HeadEmployment TypeFull-Time, PermanentJob Purpose
The Business Head Fruits & Vegetables (F&V) will own the end-to-end P&L, sourcing, and operations of the Fruits & Vegetables category across all Ramachandran Retail stores. The role is accountable for building a scalable, fresh, and cost-efficient F&V supply chain, driving category growth and margins, ensuring consistent quality and freshness standards, and positioning F&V as a key footfall and loyalty driver for the retail chain.
Key Responsibilities
1. Category Strategy & P&L Ownership
Own the annual F&V category business plan revenue, gross margin, wastage/shrinkage, and contribution targets across all store formats.
Define category strategy (assortment width/depth, pricing architecture, premiumisation vs. value play) aligned to catchment and store format.
¢ Monitor and report category P&L monthly; drive corrective action on underperforming stores or SKUs.
2. Sourcing & Procurement
¢ Build and manage a robust sourcing network farmer collectives, mandis, wholesale markets, and direct-from-farm tie-ups to secure quality produce at competitive cost.
¢ Negotiate rate contracts, credit terms, and seasonal buying plans with suppliers and vendors.
¢ Drive backward integration initiatives (farmer partnerships, contract farming) to reduce intermediary costs over time.
¢ Track market prices, seasonality, and crop cycles to plan procurement and manage cost volatility.
3. Quality, Freshness & Wastage Control
¢ Establish and enforce quality grading, ripening, and handling standards from procurement to shelf.
¢ Implement cold-chain, storage, and FIFO practices to minimise spoilage and shrinkage across stores.
¢ Set up daily freshness audits and rejection protocols at receiving and store level.
¢ Own wastage benchmarks by SKU/store and drive continuous reduction through process and demand-planning improvements.
4. Store Operations & Merchandising
¢ Partner with store operations teams to ensure display standards, stock availability, and category hygiene.
¢ Design planograms and seasonal merchandising calendars to maximise sell-through and basket size.
¢ Roll out standard operating procedures (SOPs) for handling, pricing, and replenishment of F&V across stores.
5. Demand Planning & Inventory
¢ Forecast demand by store and season; align procurement volumes to minimise both stock-outs and excess inventory.
¢ Work with supply chain/logistics on distribution planning, delivery frequency, and last-mile freshness.
6. Team Leadership
¢ Build, mentor, and manage the F&V category team buyers, category managers, and store-level F&V leads.
¢ Set KPIs and conduct performance reviews for the category team; identify training needs on quality, sourcing, and safety practices.
7. Compliance & Vendor Governance
¢ Ensure sourcing and handling practices comply with FSSAI and other applicable food-safety regulations.
¢ Manage vendor onboarding, contracts, and periodic vendor performance reviews.
8. Cross-Functional Coordination
¢ Collaborate with Finance on costing, pricing, and margin analysis.
¢ Work with Marketing on promotions, festive campaigns (e.g., Onam), and footfall-driving initiatives for the category.
¢ Coordinate with HR on manpower planning for category and store-level F&V roles.
Key Result Areas (KRAs)
¢ Category revenue growth and gross margin % vs. plan
¢ Wastage/shrinkage % reduction year-on-year
¢ On-shelf availability and freshness index across stores
¢ Sourcing cost efficiency and vendor mix optimisation
¢ Customer satisfaction / footfall contribution from F&V category
¢ Team productivity, retention, and capability building
Qualifications & Experience
¢ Graduate/Postgraduate in Business Management, Agribusiness, Supply Chain, or related field (MBA preferred).
¢ 1015 years of experience in retail category management, with at least 5 years focused specifically on Fruits & Vegetables / Fresh/Perishables category.
¢ Prior experience in organised retail, supermarket chains, or agri-business sourcing strongly preferred.
¢ Demonstrated track record of managing category P&L and supplier/vendor networks at scale.
Skills & Competencies
¢ Strong commercial and negotiation acumen; comfortable owning P&L accountability.
¢ Deep understanding of F&V sourcing, seasonality, grading, and cold-chain/handling practices.
¢ Data-driven decision making comfortable with sales, margin, and wastage analytics (Excel/ERP systems).
¢ Strong vendor and stakeholder management skills across farmers, mandis, and wholesale networks.
¢ Leadership ability to build and manage a multi-location category and store-level team.
¢ Willingness to travel frequently between markets, sourcing points, and store locations.