OK Regional Fresh Foods Manager 2026: Full-Time Retail Management Vacancy in Port Elizabeth
OK, part of the Shoprite Group recruitment platform, is recruiting a Regional Fresh Foods Manager for a full-time position in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape. The successful candidate will oversee fresh-food and foodservice operations across the franchise region, with responsibility for operational standards, profitability, food safety, staff development, merchandising and brand compliance.
The vacancy, reference SHO260911-2, requires Grade 12 or equivalent, proven experience managing fresh-food departments within retail, at least four years of regional or multi-store management experience, and Retail or FMCG experience. Applications close on 21 September 2026.
Opportunity Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | OK |
| Recruitment platform | Shoprite Group eRecruitment |
| Position | Regional Fresh Foods Manager |
| Reference number | SHO260911-2 |
| Employment type | Full-time |
| Location | Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape |
| Country | South Africa |
| Minimum education | Grade 12 or equivalent |
| Preferred qualification | Diploma/Degree in Retail Management, Food Technology or related field |
| Required experience | 4+ years in regional or multi-store management |
| Sector experience | Retail/FMCG |
| Salary | Not specified in the official advert |
| Closing date | 21 September 2026 |
| Application destination | Shoprite eRecruitment |
About the Opportunity
The Regional Fresh Foods Manager is responsible for improving, implementing and monitoring fresh-food processes, procedures and policies throughout the assigned franchise region.
A central objective is ensuring stores consistently deliver high-quality fresh products while achieving targeted profitability margins.
The position covers multiple fresh-food departments and foodservice operations, including:
- Butchery.
- Deli.
- Bakery.
- Fresh produce.
- Convenience.
- Fish.
- Urban Barista Brewed.
- Rib & Rooster.
The Regional Fresh Foods Manager must ensure these operations meet expectations for food safety, hygiene, brand compliance and operational performance.
This is a regional leadership position rather than a single-store management role.
Who Can Apply?
Candidates must have Grade 12 or an equivalent qualification.
A Diploma or Degree in Retail Management, Food Technology or a related field is listed as advantageous rather than essential.
Applicants must have proven experience managing fresh-food departments within the retail industry.
The vacancy also requires:
- More than four years of experience in a regional or multi-store management role.
- Strong understanding of fresh-food operations.
- Knowledge of food safety.
- Retail performance-management knowledge.
- Retail or FMCG experience.
These experience requirements are identified as essential in the official vacancy.
Key Responsibilities
The Regional Fresh Foods Manager will work across people management, profitability, foodservice operations, health and safety, stock availability, merchandising and reporting.
A major part of the position involves supporting franchisees and their fresh-food teams.
The successful candidate will monitor operational performance and help ensure that standards are implemented consistently across different stores within the region.
Corrective action must be taken when stores or departments fall below required operational or compliance standards.
People Management
The Regional Fresh Foods Manager will manage, support and coach franchisees and in-store fresh-food teams.
The objective is to improve both performance and compliance.
The successful candidate will identify skills gaps and help facilitate relevant training so that teams remain informed about fresh-food operational practices.
Training needs must be reviewed regularly, with interventions aligned to specific performance outcomes.
The Regional Fresh Foods Manager will also serve as a trusted adviser to franchisees on fresh-food and foodservice operations.
Fresh Food and Foodservice Profitability Guidance
Commercial performance is a significant component of the position.
The successful candidate will plan and guide stock ordering across relevant fresh-food and foodservice suppliers.
Franchisees will receive support with procuring, preparing and producing fresh-food and foodservice items in line with weekly and monthly production standards.
The Regional Fresh Foods Manager will monitor weekly sales and profitability against established benchmarks.
Where performance falls below expectations, corrective action must be driven.
The successful candidate will also ensure that bakery, deli and foodservice production follows approved:
- Recipes.
- Yields.
- Portion controls.
Cost Control and Waste Management
Maintaining profitability requires careful management of operating costs.
The Regional Fresh Foods Manager will drive initiatives involving:
- Waste reduction.
- Culling procedures.
- Packaging optimisation.
- Equipment cost efficiencies.
The role also involves analysing competitor activity and helping ensure the relevant brands remain competitive and commercially relevant.
Candidates should therefore be comfortable using operational and sales information to identify opportunities for improvement.
Urban Barista Brewed and Rib & Rooster Oversight
The Regional Fresh Foods Manager will oversee Urban Barista Brewed and Rib & Rooster operations across assigned stores.
The successful candidate must ensure compliance with the operating requirements of these foodservice brands.
This includes adherence to:
- Brand standards.
- Approved recipes.
- Portion sizes.
- Menu execution.
- Product-quality requirements.
The manager will support franchisees with setup, training and ongoing performance improvements.
Sales performance, product mix and execution standards will also be monitored.
The position additionally involves supporting new store openings and brand rollouts.
Hygiene, Food Safety and Health & Safety Compliance
Food safety is a major responsibility in this vacancy.
The successful candidate must ensure hygiene, food-safety and health-and-safety compliance across fresh-food departments and foodservice brands.
This includes enforcing adherence to relevant food-safety legislation, company standards and audit requirements.
The Regional Fresh Foods Manager will guide stores on the appropriate implementation of:
- Food-handling procedures.
- Hygiene practices.
- Cleaning schedules.
- Temperature controls.
- Cold-chain management.
Hygiene and safety audits must be monitored, and corrective action plans must be implemented and sustained where problems are identified.
The official advert specifically requires immediate action on high-risk or critical compliance breaches.
Availability and Merchandising
The Regional Fresh Foods Manager will guide franchisees on maintaining appropriate stock levels and ensuring availability of perishable products.
Merchandising standards must also be maintained.
The successful candidate will ensure that planogram changes are implemented on time and monitor weekly availability and performance trends across departments.
This part of the role requires balancing product availability with the cost-control and waste-reduction responsibilities associated with perishable merchandise.
Reporting
Accurate reporting forms part of the Regional Fresh Foods Manager’s responsibilities.
The successful candidate will provide timely fresh-food performance reports to franchisees and divisional offices.
The position also involves assisting with the preparation of:
- Monthly executive summaries.
- Operational insights.
Candidates should therefore be comfortable translating store and regional performance into useful information for operational decision-making.
Salary, Stipend or Funding Coverage
The official vacancy does not specify a salary or remuneration package for the Regional Fresh Foods Manager position.
No salary estimate should therefore be added.
The vacancy is confirmed as full-time, but additional employment benefits are not specified in the supplied advert.
Documents Required
The supplied vacancy does not specify a complete list of documents required for application.
Applicants should follow the instructions presented by the Shoprite eRecruitment system.
As an editorial recommendation, candidates should ensure their application clearly demonstrates their regional or multi-store management experience, fresh-food retail expertise, food-safety knowledge and Retail/FMCG background.
Applicants with a Diploma or Degree in Retail Management, Food Technology or a related discipline should also make this visible, although the qualification is listed as advantageous rather than essential.
How to Apply
Candidates should apply through the official Shoprite eRecruitment platform.
- Visit the Shoprite eRecruitment website.
- Search for Regional Fresh Foods Manager.
- Confirm reference number SHO260911-2.
- Confirm the advertised location as Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape.
- Review the experience and qualification requirements.
- Sign up for or log in to your candidate account.
- Complete the online application.
- Provide the documents requested by the recruitment platform.
- Review your information for accuracy.
- Submit the application before 21 September 2026.
Official recruitment platform:
Apply on the Official Shoprite Careers Platform
Applications should be submitted directly through the official recruitment platform rather than through Reign Gigs.
Closing Date
Applications close on 21 September 2026.
Candidates should search using reference SHO260911-2 and submit their applications before the deadline.
Applicants should pay particular attention to the experience requirements because this is a regional management opportunity requiring established fresh-food retail and multi-store management experience.
Application Tips
Show the scale of your management experience. Rather than simply stating that you managed fresh-food departments, identify the number of stores, departments or teams you were responsible for where appropriate.
Demonstrate measurable experience with fresh-food profitability, waste control, stock availability and operational performance. These areas are central to the advertised responsibilities.
Highlight genuine food-safety experience, particularly work involving hygiene audits, cold-chain management, temperature controls and corrective action.
Finally, clearly demonstrate your four or more years of regional or multi-store management experience, as this is an essential requirement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Regional Fresh Foods Manager vacancy based?
The vacancy is advertised for Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
Is a university degree compulsory?
No. Grade 12 or equivalent is essential. A Diploma or Degree in Retail Management, Food Technology or a related field is listed as advantageous.
How much experience is required?
Candidates need more than four years of experience in a regional or multi-store management role, together with proven fresh-food retail management experience.
Is FMCG experience required?
Yes. The official advert lists Retail or FMCG experience as essential.
When do applications close?
Applications close on 21 September 2026.
Official Source
Organisation: OK
Position: Regional Fresh Foods Manager
Reference: SHO260911-2
Location: Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Closing date: 21 September 2026
Official recruitment platform:
Source checked: 14 September 2026
Conclusion
Experienced fresh-food retail managers looking for a regional leadership position can consider the Regional Fresh Foods Manager vacancy in Port Elizabeth. The role covers fresh-food profitability, franchisee support, food safety, merchandising, staff development and foodservice operations across multiple stores. Candidates need Grade 12 or equivalent, relevant fresh-food retail experience, more than four years of regional or multi-store management experience and Retail/FMCG experience. Applications for SHO260911-2 close on 21 September 2026.
Keywords
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