Bakery Deli Manager

Job Title: Deli and Bakery Department Manager

Position Overview

The Deli and Bakery Department Manager will be responsible for the full management, control, and daily operation of the deli and bakery departments. This position requires a disciplined, experienced, and hands-on manager who is able to maintain strict operational standards, lead staff effectively, control stock and wastage, and ensure that all food safety, hygiene, and customer service requirements are met at all times.

The successful candidate will be expected to take full ownership of the department and will be held accountable for the performance, cleanliness, productivity, and overall standard of the deli and bakery.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage and oversee all daily operations within the deli and bakery departments.
• Ensure that the department is fully prepared, clean, stocked, and ready for trade before opening each day.
• Supervise all food preparation, baking, cooking, packing, labelling, pricing, and display of products.
• Ensure that all products are produced according to required quality, portioning, presentation, and freshness standards.
• Plan daily production according to sales trends, customer demand, promotions, and stock availability.
• Monitor staff performance, conduct, attendance, productivity, and discipline within the department.
• Allocate duties to staff and ensure that all tasks are completed properly and on time.
• Enforce strict hygiene, cleanliness, food safety, and housekeeping standards at all times.
• Ensure that all work surfaces, equipment, fridges, freezers, display units, utensils, floors, and storage areas are cleaned and maintained correctly.
• Monitor expiry dates, product rotation, stock levels, wastage, damages, and shrinkage.
• Ensure proper stock control, ordering, receiving checks, and storage procedures are followed.
• Report all equipment faults, refrigeration issues, staff issues, stock shortages, customer complaints, and operational concerns to senior management immediately.
• Ensure that all staff follow company procedures, health and safety rules, and food handling requirements.
• Train, guide, and correct staff where necessary to maintain departmental standards.
• Ensure that customer service is professional, efficient, and respectful at all times.
• Prevent unauthorised production, wastage, misuse of stock, poor hygiene practices, and failure to follow instructions.
• Maintain accurate records where required, including wastage, production, cleaning, stock, and staff-related documentation.

Minimum Requirements

• Previous experience in managing a deli, bakery, supermarket food department, catering operation, or food production environment.
• Proven ability to manage staff and enforce standards.
• Strong knowledge of food safety, hygiene, cleaning, and stock control procedures.
• Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced retail environment.
• Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Must be punctual, reliable, disciplined, and accountable.
• Must be hands-on and willing to work directly in the department when required.
• Must be able to work retail hours, including weekends, public holidays, early mornings, and late shifts where necessary.
• Experience with production planning, wastage control, ordering, and departmental profitability will be an advantage.

Accountability

The Deli and Bakery Department Manager will be held responsible for the overall condition and performance of the department. Poor hygiene, excessive wastage, lack of stock control, poor staff supervision, failure to follow instructions, or failure to maintain company standards will be regarded as serious performance issues.

The successful candidate must understand that this is a management position requiring active supervision, strict control, and daily involvement in all aspects of the deli and bakery operation.

Pay: R10 000,00 - R14 000,00 per month

Work Location: In person