Category Manager

Job Title: Assistant Manager / Manager Wet Category

Location: Andheri, Mumbai
Experience: 5 - 10 Years
Function: Category
Industry: Food Manufacturing / Food Service

Job Description:

Food Specialities India Pvt. Ltd. (FSIPL) is looking for an Assistant Manager / Manager Wet Category to manage and drive product development initiatives across Sauces, Gravies, Dips, Dressings, Condiments and other related Wet Food Products.

The role will be responsible for end-to-end New Product Development (NPD), product formulation, trials, optimisation, scale-up and commercialisation, with a strong focus on Food Service, QSR, HoReCa, Institutional and B2B food applications.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead New Product Development (NPD) for the Wet Category, including sauces, gravies, dips, dressings, condiments, mayonnaise and cooking sauces.
• Develop and optimise food formulations based on customer requirements, product applications, market needs and business objectives.
• Conduct and coordinate laboratory trials, product trials, sensory evaluation, plant trials and scale-up activities.
• Manage products from concept and formulation through commercialisation and successful production.
• Work on product improvement, reformulation, recipe optimisation and cost optimisation while maintaining product quality, consistency and sensory attributes.
• Develop products suitable for Food Service, QSR, HoReCa, Institutional and B2B customers, understanding their application and functional requirements.
• Work closely with Sales / Business teams to understand customer requirements and translate them into product formulations and specifications.
• Coordinate with Procurement and ingredient suppliers for raw material evaluation, ingredient selection and development of suitable alternatives.
• Work closely with Manufacturing teams on plant trials, process optimisation, scale-up and commercial production.
• Collaborate with Quality and Regulatory teams to ensure compliance with FSSAI, food safety, quality and customer specifications.
• Support technical troubleshooting and resolution of formulation, product quality and application-related issues.
• Identify opportunities for new products, product extensions and improvements based on market and customer requirements.
• Manage multiple NPD projects and ensure timely execution as per agreed timelines.
• Maintain product development records, formulations, specifications, trial reports and other relevant documentation.

Candidate Profile:

• Bachelor's / Master's degree in Food Technology, Food Science, Food Engineering, Food Chemistry or a related discipline.
• 5–10 years of relevant experience in Food Product Development, R&D, Category Development or a similar role.
• Hands-on experience in Wet Food Products such as Sauces, Gravies, Dips, Dressings, Condiments, Mayonnaise, Cooking Sauces or related categories.
• Strong experience in food formulation, recipe development, product trials, sensory evaluation, scale-up and commercialisation.
• Experience in Food Service, QSR, HoReCa, Institutional or B2B food products will be preferred.
• Experience in food manufacturing / food processing is preferred.
• Good understanding of food ingredients, food processing, food safety, quality and FSSAI requirements.
• Strong project management, problem-solving, communication and cross-functional coordination skills.

Key Skills: Wet Food, Wet Category, Sauces, Gravies, Dips, Dressings, Condiments, Mayonnaise, Cooking Sauces, Food Service, QSR, HoReCa, Institutional Food, B2B Food, Food Manufacturing, Food Processing, R&D, NPD, New Product Development, Product Development, Food Formulation, Recipe Development, Sensory Evaluation, Product Trials, Plant Trials, Scale-up, Commercialisation, Product Optimisation, Cost Optimisation, Food Ingredients, FSSAI, Food Safety.