Kirti A.

Product Engineer

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India14 yrs experience

Most Likely To SwitchHighly Stable

Key Highlights

Over 10 years of experience in retail category management.
Recognized for outstanding commitment and leadership at Godrej.
Attended multiple international food trade shows.

Stackforce AI infers this person is a Retail Category Management Expert with extensive experience in product development and market strategy.

Contact

Skills

Other Skills

ApparelBooksDenimE-commerceFashionFashion BuyingFashion DesignForecastingGlobal SourcingInternational BusinessInternational MarketingInternational RelationsInventory ManagementKnitwearMerchandise Planning

About

I have 10+ years of experience in retail in category management across non food and food categories. I am well versed with handling spectrum of categories from beauty to grocery. I have attended various International Food Trade shows like SIAL Paris 2018, ECRM Berlin 2018,SIAL Canada 2017, Gulf Food Exhibition Dubai 2016, Hong Kong Trade Fair 2015 that adds on to my knowledge of global food trends. I was nominated for ‘Outstanding commitment to Leading Self’ at Godrej network level (5 nominations out of 250 entries) and have won ‘Outstanding commitment to Leading Self’ at Godrej Nature’s Basket in 2018. Was also nominated for Outstanding Professional Achiever (Manager) at Godrej network level in 2019. I was part of panel In Chr-Hansen Cheese Conclave 2019. I was selected 'Wewomen Leadership program 2021' in Reliance Retail. I strongly believe if we are game to hustle, nothing is impossible.

Experience

Reliance retail

3 roles

Category Head - Processed Foods, Confectionery and Snacks for Reliance Freshpik and Signature

Promoted

Apr 2024 – Present · 1 yr 11 mos

Head - Business Intelligence and Planning for Reliance Freshpik and Signature

Apr 2023 – Mar 2024 · 11 mos

Category Head (for Dairy Bakery Frozen Confectionery Snacks Biscuits for Fresh Signature & Freshpik)

Jul 2019 – Mar 2023 · 3 yrs 8 mos

Developing & executing category revenue and margin plans consistent with the overall category targets and budgeting
Lead online and offline research on category trends & competition for these categories to make in-roads for sustained growth for present & future
Drive brand negotiations on terms of trade, other income, consumer offers, site monetization etc
Assortment planning–ensuring right products are mapped per store cluster to meet customer choices
Inventory planning–closely working with supply chain team to ensure optimum days cover of KPI SKUs is maintained across format
Promotion planning–closely working with suppliers to collaborate on different consumer promos for buying cycle, marketing events, etc
Understanding customer behavior & competition through rigorous site visits & online benchmarking
Category data crunching to take data driven decisions – Revenue,Margin ,OOS KPI SKUs,Fill rate,Mark Down Analysis
Working closely with Finance to budget revenue, net margin and other income
Expanding Signature format in metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata and rising Tier 2 cities like Mohali, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, , Bhubaneshwar, Jamshedpur, etc
Part of incubation team that launched first ever premium store of Reliance Retail Grocery division – Freshpik @ JWD , BKC, Mumbai
Liaison with central offline & online marketing team for ATL & BTL activities for the formats
Liaison with catalogue team to onboard vendors and assortment listing on Freshpik App, formulization of digital assets to be monetized, consulting UI/UX team on category to improve metrics of customer funnel, developing hierarchy nomenclature, etc

Godrej group

Category Head (for Dairy, Bakery, Fresh RTE) at Godrej Nature's Basket

Aug 2016 – Jul 2019 · 2 yrs 11 mos · Vikroli Head Office

Responsible for Range Innovation through understanding of the industry, trends/events, and continually monitor competitor/industry developments. Attended International & Indian Food Trade Shows - SIAL Paris 2018, ECRM Berlin 2018, SIAL Canada 2017, Gulf Food Exhibition Dubai 2016, and Hong Kong Trade Fair 2015 ,Annapurna Food Show, SIAL India, The Upper Crust, etc to stay on top of industry trends and budding categories
Developed Pricing Strategy for Private Label brands (in bakery and dairy category)
Data crunching to take data backed decisions – Revenue, Margin, Dump & shrink, KPI SKUs OOS, Fill rate (end to end business ownership of categories
Lead strategic partnerships (GNB – Magson’s tie up, SPOC for BAIN), negotiate better terms of trade and deals
Vendor Management – successful vendor onboarding and product listing at offline stores and online site
Business Negotiations – close terms of trade, renegotiate existing terms with vendors to increase margins, negotiate and partner brands on consumer offers
Asset Monetization – online ( banners, boxes, SKUs enhancement, etc ) and offline (End caps, shelf strips, pillar and facade branding, cashtill visibility, etc
Promotion planning – negotiating promos for marketing initiatives

Cosmo fine foods

Key Account Manager - MT & E-commerce

Mar 2015 – Jul 2016 · 1 yr 4 mos · Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Formulated the offline & e-commerce channel sales budget & growth plans in line with business strategy
Built sustainable relationships with strategic key accounts partners and negotiated favourable terms of trade
Negotiated and executed promotions and visibility with key partners (online and offline)
Developed strategies to enhance selling effectiveness and increasing trials in offline accounts like Natures Basket and Westside Gourmet
Coordinated Social Media and other off-channel activation for Cosmofine Foods through consumer offers, ABV drive, Bill penetration drive, etc
Liaisioned with regional purchase teams of key accounts to ensure higher brand penetration
Launched new products as per plan within allocated budgets, ensured effective budget spends on visibility drives (online and offline)

Future group india

2 roles

Assistant Manager

Promoted

Apr 2014 – Dec 2014 · 8 mos

Topline and Bottomline drive to achieve allocated budget
Data analysis to drive business– Revenue, Margin, Dump & shrink, KPI SKUs OOS, Fill rate
Brand and vendor management – regular brand meets to discuss business, negotiate consumer offers (Buying period and other marketing activities like Big Days, Wednesday Bazaar, etc)
Enhanced bottomline through visibility closures – instore asset monetization
KPI SKU analysis – shared with teams (internal & brands) to take timely action
SPOC for ATL & BTL marketing activities like FAB Frozen, Big Days ( 15th Aug and 26th Jan Sale), Wednesday Bazaar, October sale, etc

Senior Executive

Oct 2012 – Mar 2014 · 1 yr 5 mos

Category Manager - Imported Foods , Frozen Foods and Italian Delicacies

Shoppers stop

Assistant Merchandiser

Aug 2011 – Sep 2012 · 1 yr 1 mo · Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Handled brands - Loreal, Maybelline, Lakme, Chambor, Revlon, MaxFactor, Burjois , Deborah and Loccitane
Inventory analysis - close collaboration with brand and store teams to prevent OOS situations
KPI SKU (Top 50 SKUs) analysis – shared with teams (internal & brands) to take timely action
Drive business to meet topline and bottomline targets of the category
TOP SKU analysis – regular sharing of reports with internal and brand teams to ensure achievement of sales & margin budget
Regular monitoring of brand counters at stores to ensure BAs report on time, right assortment width and depth was maintained to reduce customer frictions
New Store Opening – ensured SISs of brands was set up on time and trained BAs were allocated at stores
SPOC for Marketing initiatives like Makeover Marathons ,where free makeover was given to customers