Basie Basie

Senior Cold Storage, Stock Control, and Distribution Manager with over 15 years of experience leading operations at Winelands Pork. Oversees a team of 90 staff, managing cold storage, inventory, and distribution functions across multiple sites to ensure end-to-end cold chain compliance, operational efficiency, and consistent on-time, in-full deliveries. Expert in inventory management, stock reconciliation, procurement, fleet operations, maintenance scheduling, and supplier liaison, consistently maintaining >99% stock accuracy and >98% equipment uptime.

Skilled in team leadership, KPI tracking, regulatory compliance (HACCP, food safety), disciplinary management, and process improvement, driving productivity, cost optimisation, and operational excellence. Adept at cross-functional collaboration, aligning procurement, production, and distribution to meet market demand while maintaining rigorous quality and safety standards. Recognised for strategic planning, operational problem-solving, and building high-performing teams in high-pressure, fast-moving environments.

Cold Storage & Stock Control and Distribution Manager - Winelands Pork - Cape Town, South Africa

(2009-01)

Competent areas include (but are not limited to) – Cold Storage Manager, Stock Control Manager, and Distribution Manager roles.

• Oversee daily cold storage operations, including stock-in and stock-out systems, ensuring real-time visibility and traceability of all perishable inventory.
• Conduct routine maintenance checks on freezers and cold rooms, coordinating repairs and preventative maintenance to maintain >98% equipment uptime.
• Lead and supervise a large cold storage workforce of up to 90 staff, including supervisors, forklift operators, pickers, and general workers, ensuring shift coverage, productivity, and compliance.
• Monitor and control freezer temperatures, implementing corrective actions to ensure 100% cold chain compliance and zero temperature-related product losses.
• Enforce department housekeeping standards, ensuring clean, safe, and audit-ready storage areas in line with food safety and hygiene requirements.
• Coordinate service scheduling and maintenance for forklifts and cold storage equipment, reducing operational downtime by 15–20%.
• Maintain accurate documentation and compliance records to support internal audits, food safety inspections, and customer quality audits.
• Oversee daily stock movements, managing receiving, issuing, and dispatch processes through structured stock-in/stock-out controls.
• Maintain inventory accuracy above 99% through cycle counts, variance analysis, and corrective actions.
• Manage and track time and attendance for the stock control and warehouse teams, ensuring labour optimisation and payroll accuracy.
• Lead disciplinary hearings and internal inquiries, enforcing company policies while maintaining fair and compliant labour practices.
• Control procurement of consumables and operational stock, sourcing from approved suppliers and managing costs within departmental budgets.
• Produce stock, variance, and performance reports to support operational and financial decision-making.
• Track logistics operations end-to-end, overseeing driver checklists, vehicle inspections, and dispatch documentation to ensure compliant and efficient deliveries.
• Plan and execute daily delivery schedules, achieving 98%+ on-time, in-full (OTIF) delivery performance.
• Oversee fleet management, including purchasing of new trucks and forklifts, service bookings, licensing, and maintenance scheduling.
• Coordinate internal and third-party transport resources to maintain cold chain integrity throughout distribution.
• Optimise delivery routes and load planning, reducing transport inefficiencies and operational costs by 10–15%.
• Act as the primary liaison between dispatch, drivers, warehouse, and management to resolve delivery issues and improve service levels.
• Monitor distribution KPIs, including delivery accuracy, vehicle utilisation, and cost per delivery.

Grade 12 / Senior certificate - HTS Bellville (2005)