For these reasons, it is worth taking a closer look at category management. Before category management, a handful of buyers were in charge of all grocery products in a retail supermarket, but acquiring the product was the only responsibility of these buyers. The type of procurement a buyer was involved in was mostly arranged around vendors, and not product categories'. Category managers differ from traditional buyers in that their total responsibilities are immense, but the number of products they control is significantly less. A category manager's responsibilities range from displays at the check-out counter to warehousing specifications for his products.
Category managers rely heavily on statistical and analytical data in making decisions.
Top executives recognize that strong analytical skills are necessary in a category-management position. Category management has taken some tremendous steps since its inception. Category management today is much more sophisticated, with supplier-partners and technological advances. Suppliers of grocery products have taken notice of category management, and some have begun to offer their assistance to retailers. They do so by aiding in data collection and, in some cases, help decide on issues such as shelf allocation.