Experience

Nando's South Africa

• South Africa
• Restaurants
• 700 & Above Employee

• Commercial Manager - IMEA markets (Foods)

  • Jul 2022 - Present

  Negotiate and facilitate commercial terms.Manage suppliers (quality, service, development, production, forecasting, pricing).Procurement of goods - combining the full suite of commercial functions. Focus on Grocery and Restaurant suppliers.Sourcing of cost effective, suitably capable manufacturing, co-packing, ingredient and packaging partners utilizing the latest innovation and technology developments.Sourcing of cost-effective supply chain solutions for all new/existing products (NPD and EPD).Own all product component/supply chain COGS.Continued cost optimization initiatives.Key contributor to business continuity and disaster recovery planning. Management of alternate sources of direct and indirect supplies.Manage all relevant product master data.



CBH

• South Africa
• Food and Beverage Manufacturing
• 100 - 200 Employee

• National QSR & Foodservice Technical Sales Manager

  • Mar 2018 - Jul 2022

  Manage the performance of the Food Service (FS) & QSR channels for Supreme Poultry.Manage and monitor the profitable performance of the QSR and Foodservice channels by optimizing product mix, pricing, and customer selection.Drive QSR & FS channels to represent target of total business.Draw up a strategy for each QSR & FS group.Negotiate listings, pricing, and activities to drive volume that is more predictable and profitable.Ensure administration is up to date i.e., account plan, trading terms, credit limit, price list, product specifications, invoicing, deliveries, payments, claims and disputes, pallet recovery and customer complaints.Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual sales forecast.Demand planning input linked to customer requirements, customer plans, production capacity and stock holding objectives.Complete weekly reports and call plans for weekly sales meeting.Conduct in person customer visits and business reviews.Ensure the monthly expenditure does not exceed the allocated budget.Drive customer service support to reduce complaints.Knowledge of Quality Auditing; Standard compliance and Risk Assessment.Knowledge of Quality Management Systems & Processes.Understanding of HACCP, food safety and Good Manufacturing Practices.Knowledge of FSSC 22000.Research and develop Poultry products. Look for other development opportunities in line with market trends.Test methods that will maximize production on QSR and Foodservice lines.Research and develop licensed seasoning batch packs.Research and test new packaging solutions.Advise and design the labelling information for new product developments. Set up capability days to QSR, Retail and Foodservice customers.Arrange and perform cook-ups with customers.Use the best raw material to produce high quality products that are consistent, profitable, and sustainable.



PepsiCo

• United States
• Food and Beverage Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• Project Manager; Affordable Nutrition

  • May 2017 - Feb 2018

  Project manage development cycle from ideation to launch, depending on project stage, to meet agreed timeline and benchmarks, providing updates to Line Manager, following business processes.Develop & execute product development programs as chartered.Provide updates and coordinate with wider team and commercialization to ensure activities are aligned. Play a key role in the cross-functional projects teams by representing R&D views/agenda.Influence other key stakeholders through understanding of both technical knowledge and business priorities (e.g. managing competing business priorities).Understand and demonstrate application of consumer product testing, sensory, analytical etc. tools to deliver superior products in line with optimum product design.Demonstrate effective use of available planning tools and processes to schedule work activities and goals with minimal supervision and find ways to achieve goals in a resource stretched environment.Leveraging expertise inside and outside the organization to deliver development solutions.



Cavalier Group

• South Africa
• Food & Beverages
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Senior Food Technologist & Technical Sales

  • Aug 2016 - Apr 2017

  Identify, research, and develop new product initiatives.Relationship management with customers, ensuring consistent communication regarding new product development initiatives, feedback, and follow-up. Research, develop and implement integrated product packaging strategy to conform to customer requirement.Liaise with procurement to ensure specified raw material is available for NPD.Manage multiple development projects from initial concept to launch. Compile food labelling information according to relevant legislation and customer specification. Monitoring of launched products to ensure the quality is maintained. Supervise and control subordinate's activities to ensure daily targets are met. Supervise time and attendance of all subordinates. Ensure disciplinary procedures are applied adequately. Assure stable employee relations by managing conflict and creating a positive and performing working environment. Always ensure acceptable personal hygiene of all staff. Always manage correct use of PPE.Ensure process and product hygiene standards are always maintained.Actively participate in all people development initiatives linked to the Human Resources Strategy.Build, support and maintain healthy diverse internal (peers / team members / managers) as well as external (service providers etc.) relationships.Provide relevant and specialized technical support.



Crown Food Group

• South Africa
• Food and Beverage Manufacturing
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Senior Food Technologist

  • Apr 2014 - Jul 2016

  Manage projects for the innovation, finance, and procurement divisions.Manage projects across various sectors in the Research and Development department.Demonstrate and promote the sale of Crown Food Ingredient products into the Meat sector of the food industry. Translate the customer or client’s needs into a Product Design brief which highlights the criteria to be addressed during the development of the product. Ensure the project is sustainable and has a long-life cycle. Provide technical expertise, advice and assistance pertaining to the product group, to customers, Crown branches and their staff, nationally. Ensure continued volume growth of products produced by Crown Food Ingredients either as complete functional ingredients systems or components of a food system. Optimize Crown Food Ingredients profits and control costs within budget parameters.Provide regular promotional activities to enhance the sale of the products pertaining to the market sector. Research High Pressure Processing (HPP) - a cold pasteurization technique by which products, already sealed in its final package, are introduced into a vessel, and subjected to a high level of isostatic pressure transmitted by water. Research and test the latest regulations regarding Sodium levels acceptable in specific emulsified meat products. Test different salt substitutes to make the finished products compliant with the Sodium regulations i.e., Himalayan salt, NoSalt, Nu-salt, Morton, LoSalt, FitSalt.Improve existing recipes and packaging with optimization of raw material usage.Set up taste panels to test and validate the performance of different types of peppers in food - determine how they differ in flavour and colour –using the Scoville scale as a guide.Design an automated quality control and stage gate system with specific standards for employees to follow when developing a product. Advise on different processing methods to optimize production and cost saving solutions.



University of Cape Town

• South Africa
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Basics of Financial Management

  • Sep 2015 - Feb 2016

  Sound financial management is a crucial aspect of any thriving business.This course gave me a better understanding regarding the basics of finance and financial management within a business context, including how to budget, read financial statements, conduct a cash flow analysis, cut costs and perform several other finance-related functions. This knowledge will enable me to make good personal and work-related financial decisions, and gain important insight into the financial side of business in order to make a real impact in my career.



Sesto (Sector Education Skills Training Organisation)

• GENERIC MANAGEMENT (NQF4) Student

  • Mar 2015 - Dec 2015

  This qualification has enabled me to demonstrate competencies in management relating to Planning, Organizing, Leading, Controlling and Ethics. Overall, this qualification ensures that I am capable of: *Developing plans to achieve defined objectives.*Organizing resources in accordance with a developed plan.*Leading a team to work cooperatively to achieve objectives.*Monitoring performance to ensure compliance to a plan.*Making decisions based on a code of ethics. This qualification has enabled me to demonstrate competencies in management relating to Planning, Organizing, Leading, Controlling and Ethics. Overall, this qualification ensures that I am capable of: *Developing plans to achieve defined objectives.*Organizing resources in accordance with a developed plan.*Leading a team to work cooperatively to achieve objectives.*Monitoring performance to ensure compliance to a plan.*Making decisions based on a code of ethics.



Crown National

• Trainee

  • Jan 2014 - Mar 2014

  Training includes Food Safety Programs, Presentation Skills, Sales Training, Introduction to Management, Understanding Business Strategy, Assertiveness Training, Finance for non-financial managers and Selling and Marketing. Training includes Food Safety Programs, Presentation Skills, Sales Training, Introduction to Management, Understanding Business Strategy, Assertiveness Training, Finance for non-financial managers and Selling and Marketing.



University of the Free State

• Part time- Laboratory Assistant

  • Jun 2012 - Dec 2013

  Various tasks include: To facilitate and support the work and research of professional, technical staff in a state laboratory; assisting in the production of biological products, performing tests on biological specimens, and assisting in the breeding and management of laboratory animals. I also assist professional and technical staff in the performance of analytical tests by preparing test samples, microscope slides, cleaning and preparing equipment, cleaning work areas and keeping them supplied with equipment and chemicals.

• Bsc. Agric student Food Science & Microbiology

  • Jan 2010 - Dec 2013

  Subjects: 2nd YearVWS 232- Food ChemistryVWS 212- Introductory Food ScienceBOC 216- Biochemistry of biological MKB 216- Introduction to MicrobiologyVWS 224- Foods SystemsVWS 222- Chemical Analysis of FoodsBOC 226- Enzymology MKB 226- Microbial Diversity and Ecology Subjects: 3rd YearBOC 314- Molecular BiologyDMT 322- Statistical AnalysisMKB 324- Microbial Physiology MKB 334- Microbial Eukaryotic Diversity & EcologyMKB 344- Pathogens and ImmunityVWS 314- Food Products from AnimalsVWS 324- Food Products from plants VWS 334- Food EngineeringVWS 344- Food MicrobiologySubjects: 4th YearVDG 314- Human nutritionVWS 414- Food products from plants: advancedVWS 343- Product development and sensory analysis VWS 424- Dairy ScienceVWS 444- Meat ScienceVWS 461- Seminar in Food ScienceEBUS 61406- Core Business Activities EBUS 62406- General Management