Assistant Category Manager – Wine

Assistant Category Manager – Wine | Fixed Term Contract ending October 2027

Ko wai mātou – About us

Kia ora.  We’re Foodies.  You know New World, PAK’nSAVE and Four Square right? That’s us!  With 300+ stores and over 24,000 Foodies across Te Ika-a-Maui, our North Island Co-op has the privilege of helping New Zealanders get more out of life.  Locally owned, we reflect the communities we serve, and we celebrate our people - our taonga, every day for being uniquely them.

Our Merchandise team works with supplier partners and store teams on category ranging, buying, pricing and promotions so we can get the right products on the right shelves at the right time for our customers.

Te Tūranga – About the role

We’re looking for an Assistant Category Manager – Wine to support the end‑to‑end management of one of our most complex, emotional and rewarding categories.

Wine is a category driven by genuine passion and enthusiasm. This role is uniquely positioned at the crossroads of cultivating meaningful supplier relationships, commercial success, and a deep appreciation for the world of wine.

Working closely with the Category Manager, you’ll support day‑to‑day trading, pricing, promotions and ranging - while helping balance the needs of large national suppliers alongside small and medium wineries.

Key responsibilities include:

• Supporting the planning and operation of the Wine category across New World, PAK’nSAVE and Four Square

• Managing pricing, promotions and ranging across a large, highly varied product set

• Analysing sales, margin and performance data to identify risks and opportunities

• Supporting relationships across top-tier suppliers and smaller producers where listening, judgement and empathy really matter

• Coordinating promotional activity and key launches with a strong focus on accuracy and timelines

• Responding to store queries and supporting store teams with wine-related needs

• Playing a key role in the delivery of the New World Wine Awards, including planning, coordination and execution

• Helping shape how we support the Wine category beyond shelf space.

Ngā painga – What we offer

We’re committed to providing awesome experiences for our people, including offering a range of benefits

• Free carparking - we’ve got over 1,000 carparks including free EV plugs

• Southern cross health insurance

• Onsite café with subsidised meals, mini mart, 5% discount at our retail stores

• Flexible working options, a day off on your birthday, long service leave

• Inhouse learning and development programmes and courses, flu vaccinations, and social network groups (we call them Tribes).

He kōrero mōu – About you

You’re analytically strong but genuinely passionate about wine. You enjoy working with data, but you also care deeply about the stories, people and producers behind the bottle.

You’re comfortable switching between conversations with senior executives at large suppliers and vineyard owners running family businesses - adapting your style, judgement and approach accordingly.

You’ll likely bring:

• A genuine interest in wine (industry experience, hands‑on involvement or strong personal passion)

• Strong numeracy and analytical capability, with confidence working through large, complex data sets

• Experience supporting pricing, promotions or commercial activity in retail or FMCG

• Exposure to managing multiple suppliers with differing needs and expectations

• The emotional intelligence to navigate commercial decisions that affect real people and livelihoods

• Strong planning, organisation and attention to detail in a fast‑paced environment

• A desire to grow a long‑term career in category management within a major retail business

Experience awesome. Achieve awesome. Be awesomely you.

We’re proud to have a focus on Diversity & Inclusion here at Foodies and welcome courageous behaviour, encourage togetherness, inspire our people to be their best selves in our Foodies whānau.

If you require accessibility support to ensure you can fairly access our recruitment process, please reach out to  [email protected].  Accessibility support could include, interview location, sign language interpreter, assistive technology.

Don’t ‘cart’ around – apply now!