Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Personal Information
Languages
References
Hobbies and Interests
Timeline
Generic
Steve Rajzman

Steve Rajzman

Windhoek

Summary

A dedicated and results-oriented General and Operations Manager with a passion for the fresh produce sector. I bring a strong work ethic and a commitment to excellence in overseeing all aspects of operations, from procurement to distribution. With a keen eye for detail and a focus on quality control, I strive to ensure that our products meet the highest standards while maintaining efficiency and productivity. I excel in building and leading high-performing teams, fostering a positive work environment, and driving operational improvement initiatives. My effective communication skills and ability to collaborate with various stakeholders enable me to achieve operational goals and exceed customer expectations. I am enthusiastic about leveraging my experience and skills to contribute to the success and growth of a forward-thinking organization in the fresh produce industry.

Overview

36
36
years of professional experience

Work History

GENERAL MANAGER - FRUIT & VEGETABLES

METRO NAMIBIA - SEFELANA GROUP
01.2023 - Current
  • Develop innovative supplier partnerships to support a lean and profitable supply chain
  • Manage supplier performance and implement scorecard to align business objectives on cost, quality on time in full, lead-times etc
  • Identify areas of risk in the supply chain, prioritise and implement plans to mitigate such risks
  • Conduct contract negotiation and ongoing market (price) analysis and report conclusions
  • Prepare requests for Tender (RFQ's) and documentation
  • Collation and reporting of cost saving against targets and track impact of profitability
  • Responsible for accurate item costs into Profit & Loss
  • Conduct logistic analysis to determine most cost effective and efficient methods with both suppliers and customers (cost to serve)
  • Drive business and industry compliance aligning with the relevant department
  • Supplier/Farmer visits
  • Provide support to the business during execution of larger projects, including new product development (NPD) and innovation pipeline
  • Price negotiations & formulations, Farmer & retail.

OWNER - FRUIT & VEGETABLES

GRUNKO NAMIBIA
01.2019 - Current
  • Creating marketing platforms to link farmer to retailer
  • Export of a variety of fresh fruits and vegetable products to other SADC countries such as Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia
  • Procurement of Fresh Produce
  • Export Logistics
  • Warehousing Logistics
  • Pack House Acquisition
  • Flow Processes
  • Packaging
  • Operations
  • Specification Implementations
  • Farmer & Customer Relations
  • Price Forming
  • Training
  • Product Placement & Display.

GENERAL MANAGER - VEGETABLES

WESGROW POTATOES (PTY) LTD
CHRISTIANA
01.2014 - 12.2018
  • Management of consortium of 16 farmers planting 6000 hectares of seed and commercial potatoes along with roatational crops of 750 hectares onions
  • Their objective was to penetrate the retail sector via a central value add Pack House at farm level
  • Traditionally product was sent in bulk form to national markets & general value add pack sheds
  • Supply & demand would be the price barometer
  • Was tasked to design, implement & manage a fully functional HACCP accredited facility servicing the retail sector.
  • Oversaw product development initiatives from concept through completion stages.
  • Developed marketing strategies designed to increase brand awareness within target markets.
  • Represented company at international industry events such as trade shows and conferences.
  • Assisted in the design of mechanical storage facilities of seed potatoes

CO-OWNER - VEGETABLES

UP TO DATE SALES PTY (LTD)
01.1995 - 12.2013
  • Procurement of various fruit and vegetables direct from farmer to retail outlets, starting with informal market stalls and rapidly expanding to supply large main retail stores such as Pick n Pay and SPAR, by value adding at central warehousing
  • Extended the footprint across South Africa acquiring 3 additional pack houses in Natal, Eastern & Western Cape
  • Procurement of Fresh Produce - Pick & Pay and Spar supermarket chains
  • Retail Sales
  • Warehousing Logistics
  • Pack House Acquisition, Natal/Eastern Cape/Western Cape
  • Flow Processes
  • Packaging
  • Operations
  • Specification Implementations
  • Farmer & Customer Relations
  • Price Forming
  • Product Development
  • Growing Programs
  • Achieved the "Pick 'n Pay Supplier of the Year Award" for all 4 branches

ELECTRICIAN - OPEN CAST COAL MINE - NEW VAAL COLLIERY

ANGLO AMERICAN
01.1989 - 01.1995
  • Reticulation & breakdown repairs of: 3 Draglines, 6 P&H Shovels, 3 Demag Hydraulic Shovels and 6 GD Drills.

Education

Mining Industry Engineering Trade, Training Board Namibia

Duneside High, Walvis Bay, Namibia

Sasolburg College, South Africa

Technical Matric -

NTC Level 5 Electrical Engineering MIETTB-Seal MEN 10595 -

Skills

  • Contract negotiation skills
  • Confident communicator
  • Team player
  • Organized with attention to detail
  • Relationship building with both internal & external stakeholders
  • Resilient with a proactive approach
  • Crisis Management

Personal Information

  • Age: 52
  • Number of Children: 1 Son, 11 yrs
  • Date of Birth: 06/10/71
  • Gender: Male
  • Nationality: Namibian (Dual South African)
  • Driving License: Full
  • Marital Status: Married

Languages

  • Advanced English
  • Advanced Afrikaans
  • Intermediate German

References

REFERENCES AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

Hobbies and Interests

  • Cooking
  • Camping & Travelling
  • Sports fan
  • Amature Archaeologist

Timeline

GENERAL MANAGER - FRUIT & VEGETABLES

METRO NAMIBIA - SEFELANA GROUP
01.2023 - Current

OWNER - FRUIT & VEGETABLES

GRUNKO NAMIBIA
01.2019 - Current

GENERAL MANAGER - VEGETABLES

WESGROW POTATOES (PTY) LTD
01.2014 - 12.2018

CO-OWNER - VEGETABLES

UP TO DATE SALES PTY (LTD)
01.1995 - 12.2013

ELECTRICIAN - OPEN CAST COAL MINE - NEW VAAL COLLIERY

ANGLO AMERICAN
01.1989 - 01.1995

Mining Industry Engineering Trade, Training Board Namibia

Duneside High, Walvis Bay, Namibia

Sasolburg College, South Africa

Technical Matric -

NTC Level 5 Electrical Engineering MIETTB-Seal MEN 10595 -

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