VCMI E-bulletin: February 2010: Understanding Category Management
February 5th, 2010
Following the successful Module 4: How to Approach Retailers workshop, the Value Chain Management Initiative (VCMI) is hosting Module 5: Understanding Category Management on February 18, 2010. The workshop will be broadcast across the province via video conferencing at many different locations.
A successful value chain forms when producers, processors, distributors and/or retailers collaborate and share information in order to maximize profitability and minimize risk. VCMI promotes the value chain model and assists in the development of agri-food value chains.
Category Management is a retailing concept in which the total range of products sold by a retailer is divided into groups of similar products termed categories. Examples of food categories are dairy, meat, bakery, produce, snacks, etc. Each category is then run like an independent business unit with its own set of profitability targets and strategies.
Understanding category management from a value chain perspective is important. Instead of the traditional adversarial relationship, the relationship moves to one of collaboration, exchanging of information and data and joint business building and strategic partnership.
Module 5 - Understanding Category Management is designed to:
- Introduce participants to the basic category planning concepts and tools.
- Take participants through a category planning exercise.
- Help participants develop their own category plan.
- Provide a variety of category management skills and tools that can be used by participants.
- Place category management in an overall context of relationship and key account management with retail partners.
- Develop the value chain partnering capabilities of suppliers.
This workshop will benefit producers, producer groups, food processors and suppliers that are in the process of approaching retailers with their product offers and existing suppliers who want to explore opportunities for improving their relationships with retail customers.
Host Site: Teulon, Mb - MAFRI GO office - 77 Main Street 886-2696
Rural Video Conference Sites: Arborg, Beausejour, Carman, Dauphin, Flin Flon, Russell, Somerset, Souris, St. Pierre, Swan River, The Pas and Winnipeg.
To register please fill out a form, which can be found on the homepage, save it and email it to: Jayne.Kjaldgaard@gov.mb.ca.
Or print out the form, fill it out and fax it to the attention of Jayne Kjaldgaard at 204.467.5129.
For more information call 461-2978.
