Regional Fresh Foods Manager

Purpose of the Job:

The Regional Fresh Foods Manager is responsible for improving, implementing, and monitoring all fresh food processes, procedures, and policies within the franchise region. The role ensures consistent delivery of high-quality fresh products across all fresh food departments while achieving targeted profitability margins. The position oversees butchery, deli, bakery, fresh produce, convenience, fish, as well as Urban Barista Brewed and Rib & Rooster foodservice operations, ensuring food safety, hygiene, brand compliance, and operational excellence.

Job Objectives:

People Management Manage, support, and coach franchisees and in-store fresh food teams to drive performance and compliance. Identify skills gaps and facilitate relevant training to keep teams up to date with fresh food best practices. Monitor operational standards and provide constructive feedback and corrective action where required. Identify training needs regularly and ensure training interventions are aligned to outcomes. Act as a trusted advisor to franchisees on fresh food and foodservice operations. Fresh Food & Foodservice Profitability Guidance Plan and guide fresh food and foodservice stock ordering across all relevant suppliers. Support franchisees to procure, prepare, and produce fresh food and foodservice items in line with weekly and monthly production standards. Monitor weekly sales and profitability against benchmarks and drive corrective action where required. Ensure bakery, deli and foodservice production adheres to approved recipes, yields and portion controls. Drive cost control initiatives including waste reduction, culling procedures, packaging optimisation and equipment cost efficiencies. Analyse competitor activity and ensure brands remain competitive and relevant. Urban Barista Brewed and Rib & Rooster Oversight Ensure full operational compliance for Urban Barista Brewed and Rib & Rooster across assigned stores. Enforce adherence to brand standards, recipes, portion sizes, menu execution and product quality. Support franchisees with setup, training and ongoing performance improvements. Monitor sales performance, product mix and execution standards. Support new store openings and brand rollouts. Hygiene, Health & Safety Compliance (all departments) Ensure full hygiene, food safety and health & safety compliance across all departments and foodservice brands. Enforce adherence to food safety legislation, company standards and audit requirements. Guide correct implementation of food handling, hygiene practices, cleaning schedules, temperature control and cold-chain management. Monitor hygiene and safety audits and ensure corrective action plans are implemented and sustained. Act immediately on high-risk or critical compliance breaches. Availability & Merchandising Assurance Guide franchisees on maintaining optimal stock levels and perishable availability. Ensure merchandising standards and planogram changes are implemented timeously. Monitor weekly performance and availability trends across departments. Reporting Provide accurate and timely fresh food performance reporting to franchisees and divisional offices. Assist in compiling monthly executive summaries and operational insights.

Qualifications:

• Grade 12 or equivalent - (essential).
• Diploma or Degree in Retail Management, Food Technology or related field - (advantageous).

Experience:

• Proven experience managing fresh food departments within the retail industry (essential).
• +4 years’ experience in a regional or multi-store management role (essential).
• Strong understanding of fresh food operations, food safety and retail performance management (essential).
• Retail or FMCG experience (essential).

Knowledge and Skills:

• Microsoft Office