Job Description: Product Manager - Sweets / Cookies and Namkeen

Position: Product Manager

Department: Marketing / Product Development

Location: Bangalore

Reporting to: Vice President

1. Role Overview:

The Product Manager will be responsible for managing the entire lifecycle of food products-from concept, development, launch, growth, and improvement. The role involves deep consumer understanding, market research, coordination with R&D, supply chain, sales, and ensuring profitability and brand growth within the assigned category.

2. Key Responsibilities:

A. Product Strategy & Planning:

- Define product strategy, roadmap, and category plans aligned with company goals.

- Conduct competitive analysis, market mapping, and consumer insight studies.

- Identify gaps, new trends (health, convenience, flavours, packaging), and innovation opportunities.

B. New Product Development (NPD):

- Work closely with R&D, QA, packaging, and manufacturing for formulation, trials, and product specifications.

- Lead product tastings, sensory panels, and ensure products meet consumer expectations.

- Coordinate costing, BOM creation, and pricing decisions with finance and supply chain.

- Ensure packaging development, artwork finalization, and regulatory compliance (FSSAI labelling, claims).

C. Go-To-Market (GTM) & Launch Management:

- Develop GTM plans, launch calendars, and brand communication.

- Plan promotional strategy, POS content, digital campaigns, and 360- marketing support.

- Work with sales teams to plan distribution expansion, channel strategy (Retail, Modern Trade, E-commerce, HoReCa).

D. Product Performance & Lifecycle Management:

- Monitor sales, profitability, market share, and consumer feedback.

- Manage SKU rationalization, pack/price strategy, and cost optimization.

- Drive improvements in taste, packaging, shelf life, or cost efficiency.

E. Cross-Functional Coordination:

- Liaise with supply chain for forecasting, demand planning, and inventory management.

- Coordinate with legal and regulatory teams for FSSAI, packaging norms, nutritional declarations.

- Collaborate with agencies for research, design, and marketing content.

3. Key Skills & Competencies:

- Strong understanding of Indian food market trends and consumer behaviour.

- Knowledge of food ingredients, processing basics, and regulatory requirements (FSSAI).

- Analytical ability to interpret data, Nielsen/Market Pulse reports, sales dashboards.

- Project management and cross-functional leadership.

- Creativity in product and brand development.

- Excellent communication and presentation skills.

4. Qualifications:

- MBA in Marketing / PGDM OR B.Tech Food Technology + MBA preferred.

- 5-12 experience required with 3-8 years of experience in FMCG / Foods category (snacks, beverages, dairy, bakery, packaged foods, etc.).

- Experience in NPD and brand management is highly desirable.

5. KPIs / Success Metrics:

- New product launch success rate.

- Category growth, revenue, and profitability.

- Market share improvement.

- Cost savings / product reformulations.

- Brand awareness & consumer satisfaction scores.

- On-time project delivery.