Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL), a proud subsidiary of East African Breweries Limited (EABL) and part of the global Diageo family, is seeking an ambitious and innovative professional to join its dynamic team as a Shopper Manager – Innovations (Premium Spirits).
As part of Diageo—the world’s leading premium drinks company renowned for its extraordinary brands like Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff, Baileys, Captain Morgan, Tanqueray, and Guinness—this role presents a remarkable opportunity for forward-thinking professionals to make a tangible impact on Kenya’s fast-growing premium spirits market.
At Diageo and KBL, our purpose is simple yet powerful: Celebrating life, every day, everywhere. This purpose defines how we work, how we innovate, and how we connect with our consumers. It reflects our passion for building brands that not only lead categories but also bring people together through shared experiences and celebrations.
KBL is the engine driving EABL’s leadership as the #1 FMCG business in Kenya. With ambitious growth targets—Net Sales Value (NSV) projected at $1B (CAGR 8%), Operating Profit at $378M (CAGR 10%), and Total Beverage Alcohol share at 85% (+50bps YoY) by F’30—this is an exciting time to join a company that is shaping the future of Kenya’s beverage industry.
As the Shopper Manager – Innovations (Premium Spirits), you will be at the center of this transformation. You will play a pivotal role in developing and executing an innovation strategy that brings new premium spirits to life, delivers exceptional commercial results, and strengthens KBL’s leadership in consumer experience.
About the Function: Sales & Innovation
KBL’s Sales team is the heartbeat of our business. We build strong relationships with customers, introduce exciting new products to market, and ensure that our iconic brands are available wherever consumers choose to celebrate.
In this fast-evolving environment, innovation is at the core of what we do. Every new product, campaign, and market expansion represents an opportunity to connect with consumers in new and meaningful ways. By leveraging deep consumer insights, data-driven marketing, and cutting-edge commercial strategies, our teams ensure that our innovations are not only creative but also commercially successful.
As a member of this function, you’ll work with diverse experts across marketing, finance, supply chain, and sales. You’ll have the freedom to innovate, the support to learn, and the space to grow your career within one of the most recognized global organizations in the FMCG industry.
Role Purpose
The Shopper Manager – Innovations (Premium Spirits) will develop, lead, and execute a robust innovation strategy designed to bring premium spirit innovations to market efficiently and successfully. You will oversee the commercialization process from ideation to execution, ensuring that every new product resonates with consumers and contributes to the company’s growth objectives.
Your role will require a balance of creativity, commercial acumen, and operational excellence. You will translate market insights into actionable strategies, ensure flawless execution of product launches, and continually optimize portfolio performance based on data and feedback.
Detailed Job Description
1. Key Deliverables
- Develop and Own the Innovation Strategy:
Craft a comprehensive innovation roadmap for the premium spirits category, ensuring alignment with KBL’s broader business goals and market trends. You will be responsible for identifying growth opportunities, defining target consumer segments, and creating innovation plans that position the brand portfolio ahead of competitors. - Commercialization and Pipeline Delivery:
Lead the end-to-end commercialization of new products, from concept creation to launch. This includes leveraging consumer and customer insights, coordinating with cross-functional teams, managing timelines, and ensuring effective go-to-market execution. - Excellence in Product Launches:
Oversee all elements of product launch planning, ensuring that every new product enters the market with impact. You will coordinate launch events, promotional campaigns, and retail activations that maximize visibility and drive consumer engagement. - Performance Management:
Track and manage the commercial performance of innovation brands post-launch. Utilize KPIs and data-driven insights to evaluate performance, identify improvement areas, and make informed interventions that enhance profitability and market share. - Efficiency and Governance:
Drive efficiency in resource allocation and ensure adherence to business governance frameworks. This includes budgeting, reporting, and ensuring that all innovation activities comply with company policies and industry regulations.
2. Functional Capabilities
- Strategic Commercial Planning:
Develop winning commercial strategies that outperform competition and accelerate category growth. You will analyze market dynamics, competitor activities, and emerging consumer trends to position KBL’s innovation portfolio strategically. - Marketing and Brand Integration:
Partner with marketing teams to develop integrated campaigns that communicate innovation stories effectively. You’ll ensure that marketing and sales strategies are seamlessly aligned to deliver measurable results. - Post-Launch Performance Management:
Continuously monitor innovation performance against business targets. Recommend pricing, promotion, and distribution adjustments to maximize commercial outcomes and ensure long-term sustainability of each product. - P&L Management:
Navigate the profit and loss structure of the innovation portfolio to optimize returns. You’ll ensure that pricing strategies balance affordability with profitability, and that value is created across the entire value chain—from suppliers to consumers.
3. Organizational Leadership
- Inspire and Engage Teams:
Motivate and guide cross-functional teams to execute breakthrough innovations. You will play a leadership role in fostering collaboration between departments such as marketing, finance, operations, and supply chain. - Creative Problem Solving:
Address challenges with agility and creativity. Whether it’s responding to changing market dynamics or consumer preferences, you’ll bring solutions that maintain brand competitiveness and relevance. - Influence and Stakeholder Management:
Build and sustain relationships across multiple stakeholders—both internal and external. This includes engaging senior leaders, partners, and customers to align objectives and secure support for innovation initiatives.
4. Experience and Skills Required
- Proven experience in innovation project management, sales, or commercialization within FMCG, beverages, or related industries.
- Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to align diverse teams and drive collaborative results.
- Commercial awareness and experience in managing P&L and understanding value chain dynamics.
- Ability to thrive in fast-paced, ambiguous environments, effectively managing multiple priorities simultaneously.
- Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities to foster collaboration and team synergy.
- A growth mindset—eager to shape the future of KBL through a forward-looking innovation pipeline that delivers value for both the business and consumers.
Workplace Culture and Flexibility
At Diageo and KBL, we understand that flexibility is fundamental to achieving both personal and professional fulfillment. Our teams embrace a culture that values diverse working arrangements—whether that means remote work, flexible hours, or location-based flexibility.
We believe that when people are empowered to work in ways that suit them best, they deliver their strongest performance. That’s why we encourage open discussions about flexibility right from the start, ensuring every team member feels supported from day one.
Rewards and Benefits
Diageo’s success is driven by the exceptional talent and dedication of our people—and we make sure that contribution is recognized and rewarded. Our total rewards package is designed to reflect individual performance and market competitiveness.
Employees enjoy access to:
- Competitive salaries aligned with market benchmarks.
- Comprehensive health and wellness programs.
- Generous leave entitlements that support work-life balance.
- Opportunities for professional growth and global mobility within the Diageo network.
- Recognition programs that celebrate innovation, collaboration, and excellence.
We believe that a thriving workforce drives sustainable growth. By investing in your success, we ensure that you grow as the business grows.
Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Our purpose—to celebrate life, every day, everywhere—extends to how we value and respect people across the world. At Diageo and KBL, we are committed to building an inclusive culture where every individual feels seen, heard, and appreciated.
Diversity isn’t just a goal; it’s a business imperative. We believe that diverse perspectives fuel innovation, creativity, and better decision-making. Whether it’s gender, ethnicity, age, ability, sexual orientation, social class, or educational background, every team member contributes uniquely to our shared success.
By joining KBL, you’ll help us champion a culture that values equity, inclusion, and representation. Together, we’re creating a workplace where people can bring their whole selves to work—and where everyone has equal opportunity to succeed.
Why Join KBL?
This role isn’t just about managing a portfolio—it’s about shaping the future of Kenya’s premium spirits market. As Shopper Manager – Innovations (Premium Spirits), you’ll have the opportunity to:
- Drive innovation that transforms consumer experiences.
- Collaborate with world-class professionals passionate about growth and excellence.
- Work with globally recognized brands that define celebrations across cultures.
- Develop your skills within a company that prioritizes learning, inclusion, and purpose.
- Be part of a team building Diageo’s next chapter of success in Africa.
If you’re passionate about innovation, commercial excellence, and creating products that inspire celebration, this is the perfect role for you.
Worker Type: Regular
Primary Location: KBL Headquarters, Nairobi, Kenya
Additional Locations: None
Job Posting Start Date: June 23, 2025
Application Deadline: October 14, 2025
