At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and innovate retail food and beverage strategy at Excel London.
- Company: Join Levy, part of Compass Group, the world's largest catering company.
- Benefits: Competitive salary up to £90,000 plus benefits and a focus on sustainability.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for growth and collaboration across Europe.
- Why this job: Shape legendary guest experiences in a vibrant, high-profile environment.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in senior leadership within hospitality, with a passion for quality.
The predicted salary is between 90000 - 90000 € per year.
Levy is the vibrant and exciting sector of Compass Group, the world's largest catering company. We work at some of the greatest venues in the world, delivering legendary experiences in food, drink, and hospitality. In the UK and Ireland, we are proud to have a wealth of long‑standing partnerships with venues across sport, entertainment, and events.
Our ambition is continued growth across the UK and continental Europe. At the core of what we do is the belief that sustainably sourced great food and drink, coupled with exceptional service is key to creating bespoke legendary experiences at our venues. Beyond the plate, we are valued by our clients as visionary venue partners, providing a range of partnership‑lead solutions that enhance the experience of fans and guests within the venues that we operate.
Focused on "doing the right thing" for our people and the planet, sustainability, wellbeing, diversity, and inclusion are at the heart of what we do. We have a commitment to significantly reducing our carbon impact, are official partners of Paralympics GB, and are proud to pay all our team members at least the Real Living or London Living Wage.
Role Purpose: Levy UK is the food and drink partner for Excel London, managing and operating all food and beverage activity throughout the venues retail operation. We are seeking an exceptional Retail Director to shape, lead and deliver the retail food and beverage strategy, driving premium, branded and franchised concepts that elevate the guest experience and maximise commercial performance.
This is a high‑profile, senior leadership role requiring a dynamic, innovative and people‑focused leader with a strong track record in premium food and beverage operations, large‑scale logistics and stakeholder partnership management. The successful candidate will be instrumental in evolving the retail offer, challenging the status quo, and delivering sustainable growth in revenue, margin and reputation across one of the UK's most important event destinations.
As a member of the Excel London Hospitality (ELH) Senior Leadership Team, you will contribute to the strategic development and effective management of the organisation alongside fellow SLT members and Excel stakeholders.
Excel Retail Services - Scope: The retail operation includes:
- 24 boulevard retail units (branded and unbranded)
- Bridge Restaurant (140 covers)
- Frictionless automated retail store
- In‑hall retail operations (coffee shops, street food and bars)
- Immerse London
- High‑street coffee brand
- Premium street food and bar
- Small plates & wine bar
- Destination restaurant concept
The operation delivers circa 20m annual turnover, with an ambition to grow revenue and net profit over the next five years. Excel London and Immerse London attract over 5.5 million visitors annually hosting over 400 events per year.
Key Responsibilities:
Strategy & Leadership- Shape and deliver the retail food and beverage strategy, including franchises and premium brand partnerships.
- Lead innovation across food, beverage and technology to maintain Excel's world‑class positioning.
- Build and sustain strong, transparent partnerships with Excel London, Levy leadership and external stakeholders.
- Develop, agree and lead delivery of annual and quarterly Strategic Aims with the Excel Retail Board, providing regular progress updates and impact reporting.
- Champion internal coordination, communication and collaboration across the ELH SLT.
- Lead, inspire and align large fixed and variable teams around clear priorities, performance goals and continuous improvement.
- Own day‑to‑day operational delivery, ensuring consistent, high‑quality food, service and guest experience.
- Drive operational performance against agreed Excel Retail KPIs, reporting monthly to ELH Food & Drink Operations.
- Ensure operational readiness for all events, activations and trading periods.
- Maintain brand standards, food quality, presentation and service consistency across all retail areas.
- Lead health & safety culture and compliance across the venue.
- Champion sustainability initiatives in partnership with Levy and Excel stakeholders.
- Actively capture, analyse and respond to guest and client feedback to enhance experience.
- Create a high‑performance, values‑led culture aligned to Levy and client expectations.
- Develop engaged, energized and collaborative teams proud to deliver legendary hospitality.
- Work closely with the General Manager to ensure operational consistency and leadership capability.
- Mentor and coach the General Manager and senior leaders for succession and progression.
- Embed open communication, accountability and transparency across teams.
- Ensure excellence in data accuracy across venue systems to maximise E15 Insights value.
- Utilise E15 modelling to drive operational efficiency, performance improvement and growth.
- Partner with Business Transformation, Finance, Culinary, People, BUILT and Sales functions to optimise performance.
- Regularly review Growth Performance Scores and implement targeted action plans.
- Full P&L ownership, working closely with Finance to deliver accurate budgets, forecasts and results.
- Maintain tight control of operating costs while driving revenue growth and margin improvement.
- Build strong commercial understanding and accountability across line managers and teams.
- Use insight‑led decision‑making to identify growth opportunities and improve profitability.
- A passionate hospitality leader with a relentless focus on guest experience and quality.
- Proven innovator, comfortable challenging convention and leading change at scale.
- Inspirational people leader with strong emotional intelligence and communication skills.
- Strong track record in strategic planning, change management and operational delivery.
- Commercially and financially astute, with a data‑driven approach to performance improvement.
- Confident influencer and negotiator with credibility across senior internal and external stakeholders.
- Agile, resilient and adaptable, able to act with pace while maintaining quality.
- Minimum 10 years' senior leadership experience within a complex, quality‑driven food, drink or hospitality environment.
Retail Director - London employer: ESS
Levy UK&I is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that prioritises sustainability, diversity, and inclusion. As part of Compass Group, employees benefit from competitive salaries, comprehensive training, and opportunities for career advancement within one of the world's largest catering companies. Working at Excel London, a premier event venue, provides unique exposure to high-profile events and a chance to shape memorable guest experiences in a dynamic environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Retail Director - London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join relevant groups on social media, and don’t be shy to reach out to folks on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand Levy's values around sustainability and guest experience, and think about how your experience aligns with their mission. This will help you stand out as a candidate who truly gets what they’re about.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Do mock interviews with friends or family to get comfortable with common questions. Focus on showcasing your leadership skills and how you've driven success in previous roles, especially in hospitality and retail.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining the team at Levy and making a difference in the retail food and beverage space.
We think you need these skills to ace Retail Director - London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Retail Director role. Highlight your experience in premium food and beverage operations, and don’t forget to showcase any leadership roles you've had. We want to see how you can elevate guest experiences!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about hospitality and how your vision aligns with our goals at Levy. Be sure to mention any innovative ideas you have for enhancing retail strategies.
Showcase Your Achievements:When detailing your past roles, focus on your achievements rather than just responsibilities. Use numbers and data to illustrate your impact, like revenue growth or successful partnerships. We love seeing results!
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at Levy!
How to prepare for a job interview at ESS
✨Know Your Venue
Before the interview, do your homework on Excel London and Levy UK&I. Familiarise yourself with their operations, key partnerships, and recent events. This will not only show your genuine interest but also help you tailor your responses to align with their values and goals.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
As a Retail Director, your leadership style is crucial. Be prepared to discuss how you've built and inspired teams in the past. Share specific examples of how you've fostered a high-performance culture and led change, especially in premium food and beverage settings.
✨Emphasise Sustainability and Innovation
Levy places a strong emphasis on sustainability and innovation. Be ready to discuss your experience with sustainable practices in hospitality and how you've driven innovation in food and beverage operations. Highlight any successful initiatives you've led that align with their commitment to the planet.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and operational excellence. Think about challenges you've faced in previous roles and how you overcame them. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers effectively.
