Deli Manager - UCOOK Cavendish

DELI MANAGER

ROLE SUMMARY

An opportunity has become available for a Deli Manager at UCOOK. We are looking for a capable, dynamic, experienced and foodie to manage our new UCOOK concept store in Cape Town. Our ideal candidate has a love for food, strong leadership skills and a passion for excellent customer service. They will have experience in food or retail with abilities in operations, merchandising, inventory control, food production and people management.

UCOOK is a tech start-up and mealkit delivery service based in Cape Town. Our team of chefs create 32 recipes for our customers to choose from each week, and we deliver the fresh, locally sourced ingredients to their door. We are now expanding into physical retail and we’re looking for a key member of our team to ensure success of our new venture. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Management & Administration: 

• Day to day management of the store operations including all people management & admin required to ensure smooth operations. 
• Maintenance & filing of daily store documentation according to company policy and procedure 
• Manage and control of daily store requirements. Ensure that resources are always available e.g. stationery, staff coverage & wifi.
• Submission/reporting of information: e.g. store managers audits, sales figures, monthly staff scheduling for approval, attendance registers for payroll, HR/employment documentation & stock take discrepancies. 
• Ensure expenses are controlled and outliers investigated
• Identify and recognise where problems/issues exist. Inform Management when the solution is outside own area of responsibility or influence.
• Minimise risk by seeking expert advice and/or collaborating with colleagues as required.
• Ensure timely and accurate processing of payroll information. 

Sales and Customer Service:         

• Ensure that customers receive outstanding service by offering a friendly environment, excellent product & brand knowledge.     
• Ensure brand standards are upheld professionally.            
• Maximise store sales targets while working with team members to find successful sales techniques and maintain customer service standards.
• Increase the number of returning customers by ensuring that the food is always great and providing a memorable shopping experience. 
• Increasing average items purchase (AIP) by upselling while monitoring footfall and conversion rates in order to get ideas to further drive sales. 
• Ensure compliance with all policies and procedures through regular walk-throughs and audits.
• Monitor local market conditions and business trends by assessing mall standings and competitors in order to maximise sales and meet or exceed set goals.
• Monitor sales performance through analysis of sales reports and suggest new strategies to supervisors and staff.

Merchandising and Stock management:                                                     

• Ensure that the store looks great at all times. Food should be appetising and fresh and retail items neat and tidy. 
• Ensure the merchandise guidelines laid out by H/O are implemented, following merchandise principles, food safety & housekeeping disciplines. 
• Assemble & style deli food and follow the recipe work instructions provided by head office. Report anything that doesn’t look right and may affect the customer experience. 
• Implement signage &/or pricing instructions including dynamic promotional activities.
• Management of stock physically and on the system - receiving, receipting, transfers, counts, stock takes, returns etc. Ensure system Integrity is accurately maintained. 
• Planning and preparation of stock take according to company procedure. 
• Maintain inventory of stock & ordering supplies - check stock levels regularly and communicate when stock is required. 
• Work to reduce product damages by implementing control to guard against internal stock waste & damages. 
• Implementation of security measures to avoid stock losses. 
• Daily waste management and reporting. Monthly signoffs of damaged product. 
• Manage and communicate over/under-stocked lines with regards to sales opportunities 
• Sell by date management of product to be managed effectively, before product reaches expiry

People Management:                                                                    

• Create a staff shift roster monthly and manage the shifts to ensure that the store is always appropriately covered.  
• Recruitment & selection of  staff required. Providing induction, training and development needs of team members & succession planning of potential candidates for future growth.
• Performance Management Processes.
• Communication/Negotiation skills where difficult situations arise. 
• Initiate a self-motivated sense of urgency within the team, build & maintain robust relationships.
• Management & Delegation of: tasks, skills transfer between team, motivation of staff morale, influence buy-in to company objectives/goals in order to achieve brand expectations, encourage an environment of mutual respect, responsibility, ownership & self-management.
• Lead by example, maintain a professional demeanor in both attitude and attire at all times and provide staff with a strong leadership role model in all work related activities.
• Act as a liaison between store staff and Head Office Personnel to ensure the successful understanding and implementation of all store related information.
• Ensure that Food Safety and Health & Safety regulations are in place and communicated to all team members. 
• Focus on team objectives and encourage other members to achieve team objectives

Food Safety and Health and Safety

• Ensure Food Safety and Health & Safety compliance, ensuring the standards are met.  
• Make sure that all certifications are in order and that regular services are done. 
• Ensure that procedures are followed and standards maintained to ensure customer satisfaction. Including but not limited to deep cleans, pest control, chemicals and colour coding etc.

REQUIREMENTS

• 2 - 5 years retail experience, or in a similar retail environment, with prior management responsibilities. 
• A Tertiary qualification or certificate in Retail or Sales would be advantageous.
• Dynamic team player, with good attention to detail, initiative and a can do attitude.
• Passion for food & culinary knowledge - understanding of food, allergens, etc
• Skilled in ensuring the quality and consistency of food, as well as maintaining excellent presentation
• Ability to communicate with customers and store team members.
• Strong arithmetic & numeracy skills. 
• A commitment to customer service excellence, coupled with superior visual presentation abilities.
• Ability to demonstrate leadership skills with minimum direct supervision. 
• A proven aptitude for administration and the professional exercising of discretion at all times and under all circumstances. 
• Proven effectiveness in time management skills with ability to manage competing priorities
• Flexibility - ability to work varied hours/days as required in a retail environment.
• Knowledge of health and safety regulations, food safety standards, and legal compliance
• Business Ethics & Integrity
• Reliable transport