Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Websites
Certification
References
Accomplishments
Charity and Volunteer Work
Software
Interests
Timeline
Generic
Cleo Jacobs

Cleo Jacobs

General Manager (Packhouse)
Tswane,GP

Summary

Dedicated professional with a proven track record in Technical Management, Quality Assurance and assisting sourcing fresh produce locally and Internationally at competitive prices while upholding stringent quality and food safety standards. Skilled in prioritization, multitasking, and organization to meet and surpass cost and delivery objectives. Committed to fostering enduring partnerships with both customers and suppliers (local and international farmers), demonstrating unwavering respect and support for the challenges they encounter on a daily basis.


Diligent General Manager with solid background in managing daily operations and driving team performance. Successfully led various projects, ensuring seamless execution and improved operational efficiency. Proven track record of fostering team collaboration and achieving impactful results in dynamic environments. Demonstrated strategic planning and effective communication skills.


Overview

16
16
years of professional experience
6020
6020
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
1
1
Language

Work History

General Manager (Packhouse)

Fruition Fruit
03.2024 - Current
  • Implement and drive the business unit strategy to ensure the overall success of the business
  • Excellent mechanical aptitude of packhouse equipment and sound knowledge of maintenance requirements
  • Maximize packhouse efficiencies, throughput, standing time, labour and expenses
  • Creating, setting and implementing all standard operating procedures within the packhouse
  • Optimal utilization of all resources, capacity and have a problem-solving attitude
  • Plan, assign, and allocate tasks/work to team members to achieve optimum productivity and utilization of the pack lines
  • Manage and oversee all compliance/technical requirements are up to date together with the department head
  • Manage budgets and cost drivers, e.g. labour, packing material, chemicals, overtime, electricity etc.
  • Understand and enforce all KPA’s per department and rate the performances on a yearly basis
  • Managing staff and maintaining high levels of discipline by enforcing the company rules and facilitating disciplinary processes where necessary
  • Identifying the need for upskilling within the departments and implementing the needed processes
  • Overseeing the selection, training, and performance of packers together with department heads.
  • Assisting/ guiding Compliance Manager in Technical and Quality Assurance aspects relating to raw product material decision making, ripening guidance, audit maintenance and implementation, OHS guidance, Internal Grower communications, ad hoc client requests and system management.
  • Stand as OHS 16.2. Renew Certificate of Acceptability (R638).
  • Cultivated strong relationships with clients, vendors, and partners to ensure long-term success and loyalty.
  • Monitored financial performance, set budgets and controlled expenses to provide financial stability and long-term organizational growth.
  • Developed and implemented strategies to increase sales and profitability.
  • Formulated policies and procedures to streamline operations.
  • Increased overall company efficiency by streamlining operations and implementing innovative managerial strategies.
  • Maximized efficiency by coaching and mentoring personnel on management principles, industry practices, company procedures, and technology systems.
  • Analyzed market trends/data to identify potential opportunities for business growth within existing or emerging markets successfully.
  • Championed continuous improvement initiatives that enhanced operational performance across all departments.
  • Addressed customer complaints and feedback with immediate action, turning dissatisfied customers into loyal patrons.

Commercial Manager

Produce Hub
09.2024 - 02.2025
  • Maintain and grow current supplier list and seasonal availability Calander
  • Build outstanding supplier relationships with clients such as Spar Group and other ad hoc commercial clients.
  • Manage purchases in line with customer demand, seasonality and best quality at the best price.
  • Research and predict product and customer trends based on customer demographic, the need to attract new customers, product offerings and market trends.
  • Research and introduce new products as and when they become available, by offering suppliers/farmers a unique launch platform for their products.
  • Shelf life tests of new produce lines.
  • Assisting in NPD, new lines and new packaging designs.
  • Overseeing market purchases and assisting in buying where necessary.
  • Manage department waste by introducing new solutions to minimise waste.
  • Manage Fresh department in line with annual budget.
  • Manage staff including rotation, discipline and productivity
  • Implement and oversee the enforcement of hygiene standards (BRCGS).
  • Ensure findings on hygiene audits are addressed and rectified urgently.
  • Implement corrective policies in accordance with said audits.
  • Ensure all required statutory records are kept up to date (PPECB docs).
  • Manage Chep accounts equipment IN and OUT with the receiving team.
  • Manage all HR related functions that relates to Fresh Staff compliment.
  • Assist in all Financial queries including follow up statements and credit notes.
  • Manage and build on the current Fresh Produce Database and Costing Files.
  • Report writing and feedback on post seasonal wrap ups per commodity/ supplier.
  • Create promotions working hand in hand with the marketing team.
  • Implement corrective actions where applicable, report, record and investigate any Customer Complaints.
  • Train staff to ensure that specialist advice is available when required.
  • Establish and maintain clear communication between relevant personnel.
  • Identify and report training needs.

HOD Fresh : Supply Chain Fresh Produce Buyer and Quality Manager

Evergreens the Fresh Market
11.2021 - 08.2024
  • Manage sourcing strategy, including SLA agreements and negotiation decisions, to improve quality and sales
  • Negotiate raw product availability and pricing with farmers and brokers based on quality parameters
  • Creating and distributing sourcing reports for internal usage and trend analysis/ annual sales analysis
  • Be the company expert in matters related to raw product quality, market trends and seasonal availability
  • Designing different commodity availability calenders per provincial area and contact listings per grower
  • Travel to grower fields to monitor progress of produce for the upcoming season with existing supply base (farmers & pack houses and packaging suppliers) and expanding the network to increase the availability and variety to meet their growing demands
  • Effectively communicate with suppliers to ensure timely deliveries, excellent product quality, continuous improvement for cost reductions and improving lead times
  • Evaluate and select suppliers based on their ability to supply product in accordance with the store’s requirements Eg. quality, contract compliance, and accuracy among others
  • Work with other parts of the company to determine volume needs or consumer preference
  • Design and manage new product lines and market new lines accordingly
  • Improve variatal category options throughout the season and build brand confidence
  • Assess local market conditions and identify current and prospective new fruit supply opportunities
  • Share knowledge with directors, sales team on availability, prices and crop outlook and market development
  • Manage purchase orders, invoicing (GRV) and contracts in ERP system (ARCH system)
  • Improve the presence and reputation of the company in the farmers community and the different fruit associations in South Africa
  • Improve the overall sustainability profile of the supply chain
  • Managing Chep recons and assisting with account queries
  • Managing HR related queries with regards to packhouse, store and floor staff including off schedules/ leave schedules and weekly timesheets
  • Signing off all invoices and double checking statements, negotiating payment terms per supplier

Technical Quality Manager and Packhouse Manager (National)

ARVUM Fresh T/A Fruition
04.2017 - 11.2021
  • Manage, co-ordinate and maintain all Quality and Technical functions for Fruition Pack houses in different provinces which includes Packhouse Operations Management
  • Implement and maintain food legality and hygienical standards, ethical standards and due diligence standards of local (WW) retailers at supply base pack houses.
  • Maintain all Due Diligence requirement for WW local and import client.
  • Maintain and manage TQM site for Fruition, the FPI Project for standard development(WW) and updatanding and maintaining the specification portal for Fruition.
  • Implementation of high standard of specifications on fruit for local and imported into SA for supply to Woolworths Nationally
  • Benchmarking, Consumer Research and R&D
  • Seasonal Business reviews for WW (Imports and local)
  • Liaise with WW Technologist and local and import (technical teams) with regards to technical requirements as well as advise on quality parameters and minimum quality standards for WW (both Local Season and Import Season)
  • Manage QC agents in UK, Spain, Israel, Turkey and Egypt for Import seafreight and airfreight commodities (Stonefruit, Cherries, Soft and Hard Citrus,Grapes, Litchis; Figs). Manage and assist Import protocols and PROKON/ DAFF liason.
  • WW Hygiene Audit and ethical Internal and 3rd party audit management and maintaining of the systems including champion for Farming for the Future
  • Build central database with all certification of all growers
  • Certification per farm / deadlines / action points / corrective action reports/ spraying records
  • Grower visit, farm visit and pack house reports (Nationally and Internationally)
  • Maintaining of Ripening protocol and Ripening regime for Fruition product (Nectarines, plums,mangos and pluot’s) at both packhouses nationally
  • Manages and coordinates all packhouse activities including, but not limited to, production planning and execution, administration, logistics and workers engaged in receiving, grading, storing, and shipping fruits;
  • Actively drive, structure and organize the packing process;
  • Maximize packhouse efficiencies, throughput, standing time, labor and expenses;
  • Maximize profitability of packhouse operations, involved in the setting of the annual budget and daily management of staying within the set budget.
  • Labor productivity to be managed effectively. To plan, organize and control all relevant production plans together with the Senior Production Supervisor to ensure that goods are produced efficiently, on time, within budget and to standard.
  • Determine the human resources required.
  • Ensure that the packaging materials are sourced by the Packaging Manager, as per the instructions of the Key Accounts Managers.
  • Monitoring the administration of consignment notes and delivery notes that should be 100% accurate and according to the SOP. Ensure that all employees reporting to you are effective / trustworthy / accurate and have timeous response to the Paarl office.
  • Ensure compliance with and knowledge of employer/employee related laws and ethical business standards. Signing off on all leave applications.
  • Decision making regarding equipment use, maintenance, modification together with the Maintenance Manager.
  • Implementing all standard operating procedures for all in-house operations and ensuring these are adhered to.
  • Implementation and adherence to health and safety procedures.
  • Determine and implement improvements to the production process.
  • Monitor and review the performance of staff and organize necessary interventions for improvement.
  • Ensure efficient collaboration and co-ordination between relevant departments including commercial, distribution and office management.
  • Extensive knowledge of department processes within the whole company.
  • Covid 19 risk assessments, procedure implementation and training/ managing thereof.

Quality Assurance Manager (National)

Lebombo Cape and Lebombo Finepack KZN
06.2012 - 04.2017
  • Devising and establishing a company’s quality procedures, standards and specifications (implementing full quality and food safety systems from scratch)
  • Reviewing customer requirements and making sure they are met;
  • Interpret and implement quality assurance standards
  • Evaluate adequacy of quality assurance standards
  • Working with purchasing staff to establish quality requirements from external suppliers;
  • Setting standards for quality (Accept/ Reject criteria) as well as health and safety;
  • Making sure that manufacturing or production processes meet international and national standards;
  • Devise sampling procedures and directions for recording and reporting quality data
  • Review the implementation and efficiency of quality and inspection systems
  • Plan, conduct and monitor testing and inspection of materials and products to ensure finished product quality
  • Looking at ways to reduce waste and increase efficiency (Farming for the Future);
  • Defining quality procedures in conjunction with operating staff;
  • Setting up and maintaining controls and documentation procedures;
  • Monitoring performance by gathering relevant data and producing statistical reports;
  • Making suggestions for changes and improvements and how to implement them;
  • Using relevant quality tools and making sure managers and other staff understand how to improve the business;
  • Identify training needs and organize training interventions to meet quality standards
  • Conducting and documenting internal audits and managing all internal training requirements and needs
  • Investigate customer complaints, rejections and non-conformance issues
  • Develop, recommend and monitor corrective and preventive actions
  • Responsible for document management systems
  • Coordinate and support on-site audits conducted by external providers (HACCP, BRC, IBL Hygiene, IBL Ethical, Global Gap, Farming for the future, Ina Paarman, BCS Organic, PPECB)
  • Client Liaison and Relationship Building through the Retail & FMCG Supply Chain.

Quality Assurance Manager

Federated Farmers (PTY)Ltd
09.2010 - 05.2012
  • Aiming at achieving Food Safety, Quality and Controls to satisfy Pick 'n Pay, Spar and Freshmark.
  • Implementing Quality Control systems; Writing Policies, Procedures (Prerequisite Procedures PRPs and Standard Operating Procedures SOPs) to govern Federated’s Fresh produce packing; preparing submission sheets for micro analysis of samples and implementing micro control; preparing Import Documentation for import permits as well as full communication with DAFF; preparing for audits; implementing cleaning and sanitation systems including documentation; monitoring truck temperature controls as well as fridge units temperature controls; managing waste; doing quality control checks and recording of all incoming stock; internal training on all staff; doing trend analysis on shelf life and retention samples, running and organizing pack house staff and stock when supervisor isn’t available, taking responsibility for some staging accounts. Also ordering and doing stock control of all incoming packaging material (includes boxes, labels and plastic) and creating purchase orders on Accpack. Managing packaging planning and forecasting. Client Liaison and Relationship Building through the Retail & FMCG Supply Chain. Managing Ad Hoc projects in Compliance with Food Safety Standards.

Quality Control System Administrator

Seemans Quality Meat (a FoodCorp Company)
08.2009 - 09.2010
  • Assisting the QA Manager in implementing Quality Control systems; Writing Policies, Procedures (Prerequisite Procedures PRPs and Standard Operating Procedures SOPs) to govern Seeman’s food production operations;
  • Preparing Submission Sheets for micro analysis of samples; Assisting with Export Documentation for Export Permits;
  • Preparing for HACCP Audits as Team Leader
  • Appointed to assist with training other QC staff in procedures and standards
  • Part Time and Vacation Positions – Part-time PA and Debtor’s Clerk at Boschenmeer Golf Club (Paarl, W-Cape), 2008/9; Salesperson/Front Desk, Klein Parys Wine Estate (Paarl); Secretary/PA, Shellbrook Medical Clinic (Canada), 2003/4

Education

B.Psych Hons - Humanities

University of South Africa (Unisa)
Pretoria
01-2009

BA Humanities - Physchology And Research

University of Stellenbosch
Western Cape
03-2007

Matric -

Paarl Gimnasium High School
11-2003

Skills

  • HACCP coordinator
  • HACCP exam proficiency

    • Operational efficiency management

    Customer relationship management

    Effective team leadership

    Project coordination

    Verbal and written communication

    Technical and Quality Management

    Goal setting

    Client relations

    Time management

    Training and development

    Organizational development

    Advertising and marketing

Certification

Specialties and training: Bright Star Management Leader, First Aid Level 1 and 2; ISO 22000:2005; HACCP; BRC (V6 and V7); Internal Auditing; Hygiene for Managers; FIRI Autoclave/Retort Operations; Labelling Law R146; Corrective Action and SANS 10049:2011, Altech Netstar, Triton, Dipar, ARCH POS, Dynamics Reporting 365 Business Central, IBL, BCS Organic Farming and GlobalGap audits, SAAFOST and PMA conferences, Health and Safety, SAQA R638 Implementation and Management.

References

Andrea van der Westhuizen, +27 82 556 8571, Fruition Fruit

Colin Mussit, Director, +27 83 386 6970, Produce Hub

Natasha Righter, +27 83 310 4876, Evergreens

Magduldt van Eden, +27 82 372 7538, Unlimited Group

Accomplishments

  • Receiving a team award from Woolworths in Produce and Horticulture division for the team to import the first Ever container of Cherries from the UK to SA including variatal work on imported Stonefruit and Cherries (Oct 2018)
  • Receiving a Woolworths award in Produce and Horticulture division for developing a world class staging protocol and showing improvement in the Quality Safety System (Oct 2016)
  • Attaining and holding the AA grade BRC certification for Lebombo Cape for the second year in a row (Nov 2016)
  • Attaining 98% for Lebombo Finepack KZN their first IBL Hygiene audit (2016)

Charity and Volunteer Work

  • SAPS Lucern cricket tournament for underprivileged community kids (organiser)
  • Fundraising for SPCA Paarl
  • Santa shoebox Project for underprivileged kids

Software

MS OFFICE

DataGear / Dipar

Entecom

PowerBi

Isometrix

Nav Vision

Business Central

ARCH POS System

Interests

READING

RESEARCH

COOKING

RUNNING AND HIKING

GARDENING

FISHING

Timeline

Commercial Manager

Produce Hub
09.2024 - 02.2025

General Manager (Packhouse)

Fruition Fruit
03.2024 - Current

HOD Fresh : Supply Chain Fresh Produce Buyer and Quality Manager

Evergreens the Fresh Market
11.2021 - 08.2024

Technical Quality Manager and Packhouse Manager (National)

ARVUM Fresh T/A Fruition
04.2017 - 11.2021

Quality Assurance Manager (National)

Lebombo Cape and Lebombo Finepack KZN
06.2012 - 04.2017

Quality Assurance Manager

Federated Farmers (PTY)Ltd
09.2010 - 05.2012

Quality Control System Administrator

Seemans Quality Meat (a FoodCorp Company)
08.2009 - 09.2010

B.Psych Hons - Humanities

University of South Africa (Unisa)

BA Humanities - Physchology And Research

University of Stellenbosch

Matric -

Paarl Gimnasium High School

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Cleo JacobsGeneral Manager (Packhouse)