Job Description
It's fun to work in a company where people truly BELIEVE in what they're doing!
To lead the strategic growth, innovation, and operational excellence of the Fresh & Prepared Foods category across the business. The Fresh & Prepared Foods Co-Ordinator holds end-to-end accountability for category performance, leveraging commercial analysis, trend-led product development, margin optimisation, and disciplined in-store execution to drive sustainable results.Working in close collaboration with Buying, Store Operations, and Marketing, the role delivers differentiated, customer-centric food solutions that elevate the in-store experience, enhance profitability, minimise waste, and position the Fresh & Prepared Foods offering as a key destination within Fresh Foods. The Co-Ordinator provides strategic guidance and operational support to Deli Managers, ensuring sales and promotional opportunities are fully optimised through robust production planning aligned to sales forecasts and promotional calendars, thereby safeguarding gross margin and controlling shrinkage.
Minimum Requirements:
Grade 12 (essential).
Diploma or Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Culinary qualification at level 4 or higher.
3-5 experience as a Sous chef or
5–7 years’ management experience within a retail Deli, Canteen environment, or in a Unit Manager or Catering Manager role.
Demonstrated experience managing margin, waste, and operational performance.
Strong knowledge of food safety legislation and merchandising principles.
Competencies:
Strong commercial and financial acumen (margin analysis, cost control, yield optimisation).
Strategic thinking with innovation capability.
Advanced analytical proficiency (Excel, SAP, Power BI, retail BI systems).
Deep understanding of fresh food production planning and food safety compliance.
Ability to influence and drive change across multiple stores.
Strong project management and execution capability.
Customer-centric mindset with an eye for food trends and quality.
Key Responsibilities:
Category Strategy and Commercial Performance
Execute a forward-thinking Fresh & Prepared Foods category strategy aligned to customer trends and business growth objectives.
Drive sales, gross margin, and contribution targets through pricing architecture, promotional optimisation, and product mix management.
Identify white space opportunities, emerging food trends, and innovation pipelines to enhance competitive positioning.
Product Innovation and Customer Experience
Lead development and rollout of innovative hot and cold deli solutions, seasonal ranges, and value-added offerings.
Oversee and enforce strict recipe compliance, portion control standards, and structured production planning frameworks to ensure consistency, cost control, and operational efficiency
Enhance in-store theatre, visual merchandising, and food presentation to create a compelling fresh food experience.
Champion food quality, taste profiling, and sensory standards across stores.
Operational Excellence and Store Enablement
Provide strategic guidance to Deli Managers to optimise labour planning, production cycles, and stock management.
Establish clear operating standards, execution playbooks, and best practice frameworks.
Monitor store compliance with food safety regulations, hygiene standards, and quality assurance protocols in line with company policy and local health regulations.
Identify margin leakage linked to over-portioning, waste, or handling errors and develop a corrective plan or training to coach Deli managers and staff.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives to streamline processes and improve profitability.
Support new store openings, refurbishments, and format optimisation for Fresh & Prepared Foods.
Data Analytics and Performance Insights
Analyse sales, margin, waste, and stock holding performance to identify risk and growth opportunities.
Use data analytics to produce actionable commercial insights and influence business decisions.
Track promotional effectiveness, seasonal activity performance and ROI, adjusting strategies to improve conversion and profitability.
Develop performance dashboards and scorecards to guide store-level accountability, identify best practice and underperformance trends.
Track temperature compliance reports and food safety audit outcomes to monitor and guide stores on identified gaps.
Develop structured action plans supported by measurable KPIs.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Partner with Buying and Demand Planning to ensure optimal product availability and stock flow.
Collaborate with category management on innovation, quality improvement and cost engineering initiatives.
Participate in product evaluation, tastings, benchmarking sessions, and category reviews.
Act as the key liaison between Support Office and Stores for Fresh & Prepared Foods execution.
Merchandising and Standards
Support the rollout of planograms and visual merchandising guidelines.
Ensure stores adhere to quality, hygiene, and presentation standards in the Fresh & Prepared Foods departments.
Assist with the distribution of operational manuals, recipes, and display guides to ensure consistent compliance across stores.
Gather and communicate feedback from stores to improve product range and merchandising effectiveness.
Administrative Support
Assist with promotional planning and monitor execution through reporting.
Compile sales and performance reports for the category team.
Leadership Impact
Mentor and upskill Fresh & Prepared Foods Managers on commercial acumen, margin management, and customer engagement.
Foster a performance-driven culture focused on accountability and continuous improvement.
Influence stakeholders across Operations, Marketing, and Buying to deliver integrated category solutions.
Closing Date: 13 June 2026
If you like wild growth and working with happy, enthusiastic over-achievers, you'll enjoy your career with us!
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