CHRISTOPHER FINN
Moreleta Park,Gauteng
Summary
Highly experienced and self motivated Operations and Area Manager with over 30 years experience in the retail and wholesale sectors of the FMCG field.Passionate employee well versed in strong communication and organisation skills.I seek solutions to problems and apply my extensive analytical knowledge to findings.Adept at multi-tasking,leading discussions and managing projects. Proven leadership skills including managing and motivating staff to achieve company objectives. Extensive background in business from owner/managing business to being employed in mainstream corporate companies. Able to use own initiative, time manage, achieve goals and work as part of/and lead a team to obtain the required results as set out by management.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
1
1
year of post-secondary education
Work history
Group Operations Manager-Gauteng Division
Kayur Investments Pty Ltd
Randburg, Gauteng
07.2024 - 09.2024
- Provide inspired leadership for the organization
- Overseeing daily business operations
- Ensuring stores are competitively priced
- Make important policy,planning and strategy decisions
- Develop and implement growth strategies and opportunities
- Training managers and staff
- Conduct interviews for high level employees
- Help promote a company culture that encourages top performance and high morale
- Oversee budgeting,reporting and planning together with the group financial manager
- Managing stock control
- Improving revenue
- Evaluating performance and productivity
- Monitored health and safety measures for guaranteed compliance.
- Monitoring and managing the specialist teams
- Reviewing workloads and manpower to ensure targets are met
- Work with the directors to determine vision,mission and values and plan for short and long term goals
- Handled negotiations with outside vendors and service agencies to meet group needs.
- Designed and implemented training to further develop staff based on business goals.
- Established clear budgets and cost controls strategies to meet objectives.
- Streamlined processes to improve and optimise office operations.
- Translated senior management directives into actionable front-line policies and implemented changes with staff.
- Organised financial and operational data to help with yearly budgeting and planning.
- Analysed and resolved complex resource management issues for optimised scheduling.
- Developed organisational policies for administrative oversight and internal controls.
- Planned revenue generation strategies designed for growth.
- Represented organisations at seminars, conferences and business events.
- Led and managed administrative staff to maintain smooth daily operations.
STORE MANAGER
Bloedstreet & Moreleta SUPERSPAR
PRETORIA CBD, South Africa
05.2020 - 06.2024
- Manage a staff compliment of 103 staff
- Ensure that standards are kept according to SPAR regulations & that the store image is up to standard
- Manage the TOPs liquor brand
- Maintain profitability ensuring shrinkage controls are in place
- Ongoing and meaningful communication to staff, liaising with customers, buyers, DC and suppliers
- Ensure store integrity through correct pricing and management availability
- Advance planning for upcoming events
- Analysing and interpreting information to assist in setting sales targets
- Implementing and effecting accounting controls, setting budgets and targets
- Monitoring gross profit and analyse sales and margin
- Achieve financial objectives, by preparing an annual budget, scheduling expenditures, analyzing variances, initiating corrective actions
- Investing capital and growing the existing business
- Analyze stock based on supply and demand
- Ranking reports are checked daily and problem areas are identified
- Controlling quality – determining range and merchandising principles
- Organize physical stock checks
- Decide on media and product for advertising
- Sourcing and securing promotional lines at competitive prices
- Keep abreast of developments in technology, incorporate, design and implement latest technology for supermarket shopping
- Ensure that equipment, building and assets are maintained
- Staff performance
- Follow all Health and Safety policies and procedures
- Implement security systems and procedures
- Resolving customer complaints timeously
- Out of stocks are ordered, ensuring that full range is ordered and always available on shelves.
- Created seasonal sales plans with varying stock and promotional strategies.
- Kept business in compliance with internal controls, industry regulations and health and safety requirements.
- Monitored competitor activities, responding creatively to maintain relevancy and competitive edge.
- Followed industry trends and set pricing strategies to maximise business returns.
- Established clear budgets with sound controls to keep business operating with optimum finances.
- Formulated marketing and advertising strategies for continuous business growth.
- Negotiated buying conditions and sales contracts to secure lucrative deals.
- Analysed consumer data to predict future purchasing trends for informed decision-making.
RETAIL OPERATIONS MANAGER(ROM)
SPAR NORTH RAND
GAUTENG, South Africa
01.2016 - 02.2020
- Consult with the retailers and store managers
- Ensure that standards are kept according to SPAR regulations & that the store image is up to standard
- Improve communications with the Distribution Centre
- Analyze store performance statistics and recommend solutions
- Assist retailers with improvement in retail growth, profitability, bench marking of expenses, cash flow and gross profit
- Liaise and assist with store openings-launches and revamps
- Build team concept
- Compile business plans, cash flow forecasts and feasibilities
- Establishing new business opportunities
- To promote the image and success of the SPAR group
- Category Management – WOW(War on Waste) and Health Check – Ranging of product according to sales
- Provide leadership to the support team of 4 specialists in butchery, bakery, HMR and produce departments
- Drive sales aggressively in new and existing stores
- My role is to consult and assist retailers to become more profitable and manage relations with the Distribution Centre, as well as DC Corporate & Bond Perfected stores' and to achieve profitability & GP results as per my KPA's.
REGIONAL AREA and RETAIL PROJECTS MANAGER
Eskort
Silverton, South Africa
01.2014 - 01.2016
- Manage two retail factory butchery shops specializing in pork meat product – processed, value added range
- Manage 4 store managers, 2 assistant managers, 2 administrators
- Implement operational systems of the business
- Reduce shrinkage and waste within the businesses
- Monitoring and Analyze Sales and Expense Budgets
- Ensure stores are profitable
- Look for opportunities to drive sales and volumes
- Interview and employ staff
- Project management of opening new stores - Latest store opened in Nelspruit July 2015 within budget
- Meetings with Suppliers and Management
- General Management Reports
- Financial & Retail systems
- Merchandising planning
- New products for stores
- Planning promotions for stores.
- Investigated issues affecting group operations, prepared reports and helped correct problems.
- Handled negotiations with outside vendors and service agencies to meet group needs.
- Represented organisations at seminars, conferences and business events.
- Oversaw facility maintenance and allocated needed resources to meet standards.
- Monitored health and safety measures for guaranteed compliance.
- Maintained smooth-running business operations by delegating priorities to staff abilities.
OPERATIONS and AREA MANAGER
Bluewater Bay Superspar, Rosehill Superspar
Port Elizabeth and Port Alfred, South Africa
01.2009 - 01.2014
- Staff complement of 20, including Managers, Assistant Managers and Department heads directly reporting to me
- In charge of Sales & Purchase budgets
- Forensic Monitoring
- Monitoring and Analyze Sales and Expense Budgets
- Checking Daily GRV Summary reports
- Supplier payments for Gondola Ends and deals
- Meetings with Suppliers and Management - Approving and Checking Daily Orders
- General Management Reports
- Cash flow – Control Purchasing and Expenses
- Stock taking reports and GP's in departments
- Financial & Retail systems
- Approached new tasks and projects with enthusiasm and passion, increasing employee motivation and morale.
- Analysed sales reports to identify trends and update strategies.
- Conducted training sessions to educate employees on best practices and procedures, increasing team performance.
- Drove revenue increases and team morale by developing and deploying incentivised sales contests.
- Developed marketing plans to support department strategies.
- Conducted regular market assessments to stay current on trends and maintain readiness for changes.
- Developed pricing structures based on historical and current trends, competitor activities and supply chain data.
- Merchandising
- Marketing & planning promotions besides Spar (instore, etc)
- Customer Service / Complaints, etc
- General Reports.
- Managed team of 95 staff, driving performance with motivational strategies to exceed sales targets.
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND PROJECTS MANAGER
BARO Ireland Ltd
Dublin
01.2005 - 01.2009
- Specialist lighting solutions for the presentation of goods in retail industry - food and non-foods
- Manage a client List of 150 customers (SE Area)
- Sales
- Cold calling
- Debtor Management
- New Business
- Project Management
- Reports
- Trade Shows.
REGIONAL AREA SALES MANAGER OF LEINSTER
Pernod Ricard-BWG Foods Ltd. (Spar)
Dublin
01.2003 - 01.2005
- Responsible for 170 Spar stores in the Leinster & North East regions
- Euro 280 million annual turnover
- Lead a team of 6 sales developers/representatives
- New business recruitments
- Sales
- Group loyalty
- Ensured that all customers comply with statutory & group regulations, procedures, policies & controls
- Training of Retailers & their staff on a regular basis
- Customer relations
- Debtor Management
- Compiled reports for the Company's Credit Policies
- Retail Advisory activities.
PROJECTS MANAGER
Pernod Ricard - BWG Foods Ltd. (Spar)
Dublin
01.2000 - 01.2003
- Developed existing & new stores to the Company specification
- Designing the store and seeing it through to completion
- Providing costings and meeting with suppliers
- Negotiating prices for material and equipment
- In charge of site meetings & quality control
- Reports on Progress
- Merchandising
- Training of merchandisers
- Trade Shows.
OWNER MANAGER
Queenstown Spar
Queenstown
01.1995 - 01.2000
- Managing the day to day operations of a supermarket
- Staff compliment of 70 staff
- Administration
- Ordering
- Receiving of goods
- In-store and Local Advertising and promotions
- Staff Recruitment and Training
- Store standards and hygiene
- Book keeping and financials.
Education
Management Growth Programme 2019 - Learning for Leaders
Rhodes Business School
South Africa 01.2019 - 02.2020
Diploma in Sports Nutrition & Personal Training - undefined
ITEC Ireland 2008
Skills
- Strategic planning
- Competitor analysis
- Customer relationship building
- Logistical planning
- Production reporting
- Department management
- Leadership skills
- Project Management
- Digital marketing
- Operational support
- Financial risk analysis
Languages
English
Fluent
Afrikaans
Upper intermediate
Affiliations
- Keeping Fit
- Cooking
- Tactical Combat Shooting & Survival Skills
Personal Information
- Gender: Male
- Nationality: Irish/South African
References
Rigardt Botha, Retail Operations Director, SPAR North Rand Division, +27 832559407, rigardt.botha@spar.co.za
- Karen King, Senior ROM, SPAR North Rand Division – Corporate Stores, +27 834553095, karen.king@spar.co.za
- Hannes Coetzee, Member, Thaba SUPERSPAR - iStores Group, +27 825761332, thabaspar@istores.co.za
- Gerrit Bakker, Member, Nylstroom SPAR, +27 824419888, gbakker@bakkers.co.za
- Ben Lubbe, Colleague, SPAR North Rand, +27 825519292, ben.lubbe@spar.co.za
Timeline
Group Operations Manager-Gauteng Division
Kayur Investments Pty Ltd
07.2024 - 09.2024
STORE MANAGER
Bloedstreet & Moreleta SUPERSPAR
05.2020 - 06.2024
Management Growth Programme 2019 - Learning for Leaders
Rhodes Business School
01.2019 - 02.2020
RETAIL OPERATIONS MANAGER(ROM)
SPAR NORTH RAND
01.2016 - 02.2020
REGIONAL AREA and RETAIL PROJECTS MANAGER
Eskort
01.2014 - 01.2016
OPERATIONS and AREA MANAGER
Bluewater Bay Superspar, Rosehill Superspar
01.2009 - 01.2014
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND PROJECTS MANAGER
BARO Ireland Ltd
01.2005 - 01.2009
REGIONAL AREA SALES MANAGER OF LEINSTER
Pernod Ricard-BWG Foods Ltd. (Spar)
01.2003 - 01.2005
PROJECTS MANAGER
Pernod Ricard - BWG Foods Ltd. (Spar)
01.2000 - 01.2003
OWNER MANAGER
Queenstown Spar
01.1995 - 01.2000
Diploma in Sports Nutrition & Personal Training - undefined
ITEC Ireland 2008
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