Ulrike Semrau
Venus Bay,Australia
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Dairy/ Freezer Manager, Produce Manager
Tarwin Lower IGA
Tarwin Lower
03.2022 - 10.2025
- Initally as Dairy/ Freezer Manager I was responsible for maintainance of the department including ordering, stock control, ticketing, merchandising and promotion of weekly specials and new products.
- I had to emphasise stock rotation and quality control with the aim of maximising sales and turnover.
- Further duties included training new staff under my supervision to establish, maintain snd enforce required standards of hygiene and presentation throughout the department.
- Also assisting the store manager to arrange staff structures to cope with deliveries and restocking including rostered days off and extended trading hours.
- Due to the seasonal nature of the area, as a Full-time Employee I was also tasked with opening and closing the store and covering any breaks in.
- In the abscence of Upper Management on weekends it was my Job to sort out any customer enquiries/ complaints and technology glitches.
- When I took over the Produce Department in September 2024 after the former Produce Manager left these duties transferred over to the new Department.
- Achievements:
- Establishing and maintaining solid business relationships with several Local farmers and producers as well as Reps from further affield.
- Establishing and maintaining great relationships with the local residents and sporting clubs as well as seasonal residents and visitors.
- Building the produce department's sales to consistantly run at over 12% of the stores weekly sales.
Assistant Produce Manager, Produce Manager
Michael's IGA & Liqueur Leongatha
Leongatha
09.2019 - 03.2022
- As assistant produce manager, then Produce Manager I was responsible for maintaining the quality and volume of the fresh fruit and vegetable department including wastage control, product display/ placement and customer interaction to increase sales.
- Further duties included invoicing, departmental book-keeping, staffing, all ordering, communicating and working with head office management regarding upcoming promotions.
- Achievements:
- Although often being understaffed within the department I managed to maintain team morale, and lead our small team to maintain the department to the highest standard of quality and cleanliness even during the Covid pandemic.
- Implemented unprecedented hygiene and work practices due to the covid pandemic.
- Always ensuring departmental compliance with sanitation, safety and performance audits.
- Successfully negotiated unusual supply and demand scenarios caused by panic buying (worked out what was most in demand, adjusting the ordering accordingly and last minute).
- Fine-tuned stock on hand drastically, thereby ensuring minimum waste and consistent freshness.
- Driving customer sales by personal interaction and creative product placement.
- Not only meeting the expected sales targets, but exceeding them to where department sales were 60% up on the same time the previous year.
- Building and maintaining business relationships with some local suppliers.
Produce Manager, General Retail Assistant
Tarwin Lower IGA
Tarwin Lower
02.2014 - 09.2019
- I was originally employed as a general retail and cafe assistant when the store was little more than a general store.
- It became an IGA express and eventually after my employers build a brand-new supermarket, we moved in an became the Tarwin Lower IGA.
- Perhaps because of my passion for vegetable gardening I was assigned the role of Produce Manager.
- Achievements:
- The new store opened right at the beginning of the busy tourist season, so we all had to hit the ground running.
- I played an important role in establishing the new store as a source of a wide range of high quality fresh produce.
- Helped build customer confidence in both the local and seasonal community knowing that everything they may want for their pantry is available locally, of the highest quality and at reasonable prices.
- Worked closely with the local sports-clubs and event organisers to provide all their fresh produce needs at events.
- I worked hard to establish business relationships with a lot of local suppliers and farmers which allowed the store to establish its reputation for showcasing an extensive range of the best local produce in the area.
- Identified and helped implement the supply of more niche gourmet products for both our permanent local customers and the seasonal visitors.
- Working in this business also allowed me to gain a good understanding of grocery management software, and to contribute in other areas of store management such as Deli, Dairy/Freezer, Grocery, Liquor and front of house.
Education
Some College (No Degree) - Operation of A Forklift
Australian Safe
Tarwin Lower, VIC12-2018
Some College (No Degree) - Retail Operations
Master Grocers Association
On Line10-2015
High School Diploma -
Luther College
Melbourne, VIC11-1980
Some College (No Degree) - Food Handler Training
Maroondah City Council
Melbourne, VICSome College (No Degree) - Responsible Serving of Alcohol
Liquor Licensing Commission
Melbourne, VICSkills
- Strong work ethic
- Excellent customer skills
- Attention to detail
- Creativity
- Thinking on my feet
- Willingness to take responsibility
Certification
- Food Handlers Certificate
- Current Victorian RSA Certificate
Hobbies and Interests
- Keen vegetable gardener with a passion for fresh produce.
- Involved in planning and organizing special activities at work such as dress-ups and work functions.
Previous Work History
Extensive career in the hospitality industry, mostly front of house with a customer focus. Positions ranged from waitering in specialty restaurants, to cafes, bar work, running business conferences, events set-ups and supervision to barista duties., Melbourne, Far North Queensland, Country Victoria
References
Available upon request
Timeline
Dairy/ Freezer Manager, Produce Manager
Tarwin Lower IGA
03.2022 - 10.2025
Assistant Produce Manager, Produce Manager
Michael's IGA & Liqueur Leongatha
09.2019 - 03.2022
Produce Manager, General Retail Assistant
Tarwin Lower IGA
02.2014 - 09.2019
Some College (No Degree) - Operation of A Forklift
Australian Safe
Some College (No Degree) - Retail Operations
Master Grocers Association
High School Diploma -
Luther College
Some College (No Degree) - Food Handler Training
Maroondah City Council
Some College (No Degree) - Responsible Serving of Alcohol
Liquor Licensing Commission