From day one, Richard Manzini, the newly appointed CEO of Daybreak Foods (previously Daybreak Farms) has led robustly from the front, metaphorically building the plane while flying it, and successfully so.
Daybreak Foods’ chequered history saw the company literally fighting for its life late last year, but a welcome lifeline was given when Richard Manzini was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer, and he took the first steps to turning the business around.
Manzini took over the reins during possibly one of the South African poultry industry’s most turbulent times, right in the middle of the Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) pandemic. To come in and run an integrated poultry business at a time like that, came with its own set of difficulties. However, Manzini’s first order of the day, stabilise and strengthen financial controls through improved corporate governance, saw the business not only weather the storm, but come out reasonably unscathed.
With the industry back on track, Manzini has put a clear-cut strategy in place. This includes modernising the company’s agricultural and technical equipment as well as upskilling staff and contractors, both of which speak to the company’s growth.
“Daybreak Foods is bigger than me, which is why I want to build an incredible team of experts and individuals around me to make sure I make the right decisions for the people and business,” says Manzini.
“And essentially, this business is its people – not only is it my mission to build a profit-making business, but to build one where people feel free to be themselves, to bring their strengths to table; even my most junior staff can have opinions that can cause rapid or distinctive improvements within the business, which is why I listen to them, as much as I do to my more senior staff.” In addition to people, Daybreak Foods is using technology and data to make more informed decisions. One aspect of this data collection is audits across the business affecting traceability, efficiency and integration processes. These audits also speak to where Daybreak Foods can improve compliancy, and where there are gaps in processes that need to be filled.
“The right mix of technology and people will translate into even more growth for Daybreak, and with the strong and dedicated leaders in the various departments, I am confident that this growth will be quickly attained, and steadily improved on.
“The heads of each department spend hours at their post. Their “Can-do” attitudes, and their easy way of sharing means that every day they teach me more about our business, about our operations and they fully are committed to our stated objectives. They are making decisions daily, managing change management processes and practices, without seeming to tire. Because of this elevated level of teamwork, we have seen cost savings, and furthermore, seen behavioural changes that bode well to what we are trying to do.” For Manzini, it’s also about meeting the people on the ground–it’s about doing site visits, whether he has to get up early to be there when the plant opens or stay awake long enough to meet the night shift – and truly putting his people first.
Daybreak has approximately 3 500 employees, across the business making it a sizeable operation and whilst a few things currently keep him awake at night, Manzini is confident that he has the full support of the board, his management team and the resolve of the labour force to direct the organisation towards a sustainability matrix that is measurable and fully predictable. Manzini insists on transparency with the board and having journeyed though the governance review process for Daybreak, is creating a policy environment, putting in frameworks in line with the operations, streamlining SOPs and implementing change management processes. He is clear that Daybreak Foods now has an accountability framework across the management layers and pillars – an asset for each and every stakeholder within the business.
“Daybreak Foods is bigger than me, which is why I want to build an incredible team of experts and individuals around me to make sure I makes the right decisions for the people and business”
says Manzini.
“I think one of the greatest abilities a leader can have is to connect with people of all levels. To this end I ensure that I am as comfortable with high-powered individuals, as I am with the sweepers at the plants. It’s about meeting the needs of Daybreak’s employees and winning back the community wherein the business operates–Daybreak needs to cement itself and reclaim our market share, at every level. “Whilst there is a journey we need to take with Daybreak, I’m clear of what that entails and how we reposition it and walk it. I want to remain extra vigilant to the compact we have signed with our employees and the promise of job security and alignment with our principles and values: We care, we make the right business decisions, and we make informed decisions.”
“The growth story of Daybreak Foods is that we are and will continue to be more than a food or protein business, we will play across the entire value chain. And this strategy excites me,” adds Manzini, “we aren’t just looking for more SKUs, but other divisions; we are looking to broaden our product offering and whilst growth might start off organic, inorganic growth will be optimistically pursued with the support of the board and shareholder.”
And it’s not only within Daybreak Foods that Manzini has had an impact, but outside of the business as well. Industry experts have dubbed him a learning sponge, rapidly assimilating knowledge about poultry and poultry operations, to the point that many of his decisions speak of someone who’s been in industry for decades. Many of his peers have remarked that one of his greatest qualities is his willingness to truly surround himself with the best in industry.
“We will write a better future; not because we are re-writing the past–simply because the future and present require it of us. It is who we are and how we will become a mainstay in everyone’s minds,” says Manzini in closing, leaving it clear that he is here to tell the South African corporate story of how we can run and create great businesses that are globally competitive.
CEO of Daybreak Foods
