Demand & Sourcing Analyst

SUMMARY:
Leading supplier of kitchen utensils, industrial cookware, commercial kitchens & appliances to the hospitality & food service industries based in Johannesburg is looking for a Demand & Sourcing Analyst.
 
The Demand & Sourcing Analyst is responsible for improving demand accuracy, supporting strategic procurement decisions and enhancing product competitiveness through data-driven insights.
 
The primary focus of this role is to analyse sales trends, develop accurate demand forecasts, and assess market and competitor pricing to ensure product offering remains appropriately positioned.
 
By evaluating competitor product specifications, pricing structures and cost differences, the role highlights opportunities for optimisation and supports the procurement team in aligning products to market expectations.
 
The Demand & Sourcing Analyst also plays a key role in new product launches by providing foundational demand estimates, competitive comparisons and performance tracking.

POSITION INFO:
Duties:

Forecasting & Demand Planning:

Lead the demand forecasting process ensuring alignment with overall business goals.
Collaborate with brand managers to generate initial and adjusted forecasts for new products based on market trends and sales projections.

Sales & Inventory Management:

Analyse sales performance data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities across product categories.
Highlight significant sales changes (positive or negative) and collaborate with brand managers to determine root causes.
Adjust demand forecasts based on promotions, marketing activity, or planned business initiatives.
Work closely with procurement to maintain adequate stock levels in anticipation of demand shifts.

Market Competitiveness & Pricing Intelligence:

Conduct ongoing pricing analysis across key product lines to understand company’s position in the market.
Provide product pricing insights that support buying decisions and guide overall pricing alignment. Use pricing and product insights to support procurement in evaluating alternative product specifications where appropriate, while maintaining quality and product integrity.
Assist with the development and maintenance of pricing comparison documents and relevant market analysis tools.

Reporting & Analysis:

Prepare high-level reporting on:

• New product performance.
• Dead stock and slow-moving items.
• Overstock and inventory exposure
• Competitor pricing comparisons
• Product cost and specification variances