GO DESi - Lead - Modern Trade - Startup (5-6 yrs)

Modern Trade Lead

Location: Bengaluru

Work Schedule: Mon-Sat (2 Saturdays in a month are off)

Who we are:

At GO DESi, our mission is to make DESi 'POP'ular. We are a packaged food brand making regional DESi products relevant and accessible to customers while ensuring quality and authenticity. Today the bulk of our products operate in the Impulse category. Our best seller is DESi POPz, we sell more than 90 lakh POPz monthly. Our other categories include DESi Meetha, DESi Mints, and DESi Bytes. We have an integrated backend i.e. we own the entire supply chain from sourcing to manufacturing.

GO DESi aims to be a sustainable brand with the larger purpose of becoming a beacon for non-zero-sum capitalism, where all stakeholders win.

Brief:

- We are seeking an experienced and result-oriented Modern Trade Manager to drive our brand's presence in national modern trade accounts. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in scaling up startup brands in national key accounts and well-established connections in the modern trade sector.

- This role requires a strategic thinker with excellent negotiation skills, a deep understanding of FMCG dynamics, and the ability to drive sales growth while maintaining profitability.

Job Responsibilities:

- Own end-to-end responsibility for national modern trade accounts.

- Build and maintain strong relationships with key account stakeholders.

- Negotiate and execute joint business plans with retailers.

- Drive new account openings and optimize existing partnerships.

- Develop and implement channel-specific strategies for SKU selection, pricing, and promotions.

- Ensure alignment with overall company goals and brand positioning.

- Set and achieve sales targets, ensuring profitability across modern trade channels.

- Monitor and manage trade spends, discounts, and margins to maintain a healthy P&L.

- Work cross-functionally with supply chain, marketing, and finance to drive growth.

- Ensure compliance with retailer terms, supply agreements, and in-store execution.

- Track and analyze performance data to optimize assortment, pricing, and promotions.

- Resolve operational issues related to stock availability, payments, and logistics.

Requirements:

- Minimum 5 years of experience in a Modern Trade role within an FMCG company.

- Proven experience in scaling up a startup brand in national key accounts.

- Strong network and connections in national modern trade to facilitate market entry.

- Excellent negotiation, communication, and relationship management skills.

- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret sales data and market trends.

- Ability to work cross-functionally and drive execution with multiple stakeholders.

- Proficiency in MS Office.

Why you should join GO DESi?

At GO DESi we are growing exponentially and discovering new problems and creative solutions daily. We like to solve problems, take initiative, pitch in when needed, and are always up for trying new things and experimenting. That's why we seek out colleagues who embody our values. Here, you own your work, right from day one. You can grow enormously if you are a self-learner and embrace challenges.