Category Manager - Private Label

As a Product Manager in our Own Brands team, you will be part of building the most preferred Private Label and Exclusive brands in New Zealand! 

You’ll lead the strategy, performance, and development of a portfolio of Own Brand products—ensuring they deliver value for our customers and our co-operative.

This is a unique opportunity to work closely with regional category teams and supplier partners to shape category strategies, drive growth, and bring innovative, customer-led products to life.

• Managing the full lifecycle of Own Brand products—from concept through to performance optimisation
• Developing and delivering category and brand strategies aligned with customer insights and regional priorities
• Building strong relationships with internal stakeholders and supplier partners
• Leading category reviews and identifying growth opportunities through data and insights (e.g. Nielsen, Dunnhumby)
• Managing supplier performance, contracts, and negotiations
• Driving new product development, renovations, and innovation pipelines
• Monitoring performance metrics including sales, margin, and market share
• Ensuring compliance with food safety, regulatory, and Own Brand standards
• Leading projects and cross-functional initiatives to deliver strategic outcomes

You’re a commercially savvy product or category professional with a passion for the food industry and a strong understanding of FMCG. You combine commercial acumen, critical thinking, and customer insight to identify opportunities, solve problems, and deliver results in a fast-paced environment.

Confident and adaptable, you use data and market trends to inform decisions and drive performance. You’re a strong relationship builder who works effectively across teams and with external partners, influencing for successful delivery, bringing a proactive mindset, attention to detail, and a focus on continuous improvement.

Experience in FMCG, grocery retail, or the food industry is preferred, along with exposure to category management, private label brands, supplier engagement, range reviews, and procurement processes. Familiarity with tools such as Nielsen or Dunnhumby would be an advantage.