At a Glance
- Tasks: Support fresh food operations, drive sales, and coach store teams with hands-on guidance.
- Company: Join Henderson Group, Northern Ireland's leading foodservice provider with a family-oriented culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, bonuses, company car, healthcare, and staff discounts.
- Other info: Be part of a team that values ambition, teamwork, and integrity while giving back to the community.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the community while developing your career in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: 3 years management experience in fresh food retail and strong IT skills required.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Fresh Food Operational Support
At Henderson Group, we are proud to be Northern Ireland's leading foodservice provider. Our group encompasses Henderson Wholesale, Henderson Retail, Henderson Foodservice and Henderson Group Property. We employ over 5,500 staff and have been placed 3rd in Ulster Business Top 100 Companies 2025. We're a family-owned, ambitious team that cares about our people and the community in which we live. Henderson Retail is the largest organisation to be awarded Investors in People Platinum in Northern Ireland. The IIP framework recognises people management excellence and our commitment to investment in people. Our brand includes SPAR, EUROSPAR and ViVOXtra. Our dedicated store teams are award winning, including accolades such as Independent Retail Chain of the Year at The Grocer Gold Awards 2025.
Overview of the role:
Due to continued growth, Henderson Retail Ltd are now looking for a Fresh Food Operations Support. Reporting to the Fresh Food Manager, this role will involve being a fresh food specialist in chilled foods, fresh produce, bread and cake. It will be the point of contact for our store teams, providing support to the Fresh Food operations in store to drive sales, improve profitability, trade safely and legally, and continuously look for efficient ways of working.
Working as a Fresh Food Operational Support you will:
- Coach our store teams with hands-on in store practical support in relation to merchandising and creative solutions to drive sales.
- Deliver the fresh food proposition in new and redeveloped stores through great organisational skills and the ability to deliver to timelines.
- Formulate and deliver coaching workshops for our store teams that improve the fresh food operation in store.
- Produce weekly and monthly reports that give insights into the fresh food operation accompanied by actions to improve performance.
- Collaborate with other business functions to develop and implement business development solutions to allow sales and profit improvement.
- Feel comfortable being able to present confidently commercial insights into the fresh food performance against the key metrics to the wider Retail Leadership Team and Senior Leadership Team.
Skills for Success:
Joining us as Fresh Food Operational Support the minimum criteria you'll need is:
- Minimum of 3 years management experience within the Fresh Food retail sector.
- Strong IT proficiency, with advanced working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, particularly Microsoft Teams, PowerPoint, Word, and Excel.
- Full, valid UK/EU driving licence.
The Attributes you'll need include:
- Demonstrable proven strong communication and written skills that can be tailored to the appropriate level of recipient.
- Ability to influence others from a cross-team/matrix position.
- Coaching skills, being able to adapt your approach to the individual.
- Commercially aware of the fresh food marketplace and ability to utilise that knowledge to identify opportunities for improvement.
- Strong customer focus and ability to motivate and inspire others to deliver the best possible customer service.
- Strong analytical skills to interpret and action sales information.
- Previous experience in formulating PowerPoint presentations and presenting to groups.
It is Desirable if you have:
- Third-level qualification in Business or a related discipline.
- Experience working/providing support across multiple sites.
- Previous experience in a business development role.
Are we right for you?
As part of this role, it will be important that you feel aligned with the values that we live and work by.
- Ambition: We always strive to be better. We seek new challenges and look for ways to do things better.
- Customer First: We provide exceptional service. We put customers at the heart of everything and support our communities.
- Teamwork: We succeed together. We help colleagues to succeed, and we share our knowledge and skills.
- Integrity: We are fair, honest and ethical. We treat everyone with dignity and respect. We are inclusive and champion diversity.
The Reward:
The impact you can make with Henderson Group goes far beyond your day to day. You will be part of a business supporting defibrillator installations and school sports days. In the last year Henderson group staff and retail stores raised over £1 million for charity partners. We will help you to feel proud of what you do and achieve. And we will be here to celebrate your success. Our business has been recognised externally for delivering excellence in employment. We value employee development and heavily invest in our people.
Benefits include market competitive salary, bonus scheme, company car, reimbursement for company mileage, contributory pension scheme, healthcare, life insurance, employee assistance programme, social club, Reward Gateway Employee Recognition & Discount Scheme throughout UK/Ireland, staff discount (grocery/fuel) at SPAR/EUROSPAR Henderson Group company-owned stores and many more.
Applicants should note that based on the response, the Company may increase the shortlisting criteria. This is a full-time position working 36.5 hours per week working 5 days over 6, Monday-Saturday. Availability from 6am may be required in some instances for this role. Completed applications must be submitted online by midnight on Tuesday 2nd June 2026. We are an equal opportunities employer.
Skills: FMCG, Fresh Foods, Business Development, Microsoft Office, Data Analysis, Coaching And Mentoring, Staff Development.
Benefits: Staff Discounts, Medical Aid / Health Care, Pension Fund, Employee Assistance Programme, Social Club, Company Vehicle.
Fresh Foods Operation Support employer: Henderson Group
Henderson Group is an exceptional employer, recognised for its commitment to employee development and community support. With a family-oriented culture, competitive salary packages, and a range of benefits including a company car and healthcare, we empower our staff to thrive in their roles while making a positive impact. Join us in Newtownabbey, where your contributions will be celebrated, and you'll have the opportunity to grow within a leading foodservice provider that values ambition, teamwork, and integrity.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Fresh Foods Operation Support
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Research Henderson Group, their values, and their fresh food operations. This will help you tailor your conversations and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or attend industry events. Building relationships can give you insider info and might even lead to a referral, which is always a bonus!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the interview by practising common questions related to fresh food operations. Think about how your experience aligns with their needs and be ready to share specific examples of your past successes.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the Henderson Group family.
We think you need these skills to ace Fresh Foods Operation Support
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in fresh food operations. Use keywords from the job description to show that you understand what we're looking for.
Show Off Your Skills:Don’t just list your skills; give examples of how you've used them in previous roles. Whether it's coaching teams or analysing sales data, we want to see how you can bring value to our team.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so make sure your writing is easy to read and free of jargon. This will help us see your communication skills in action!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way to ensure it gets to the right people and helps us keep track of all applications efficiently.
How to prepare for a job interview at Henderson Group
✨Know Your Fresh Food Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of fresh food operations, especially in chilled foods and produce. Be ready to discuss trends in the fresh food market and how they can impact sales. This will show that you're not just familiar with the products but also passionate about them.
✨Show Off Your Coaching Skills
Since the role involves coaching store teams, think of examples where you've successfully trained or mentored others. Prepare to share specific instances where your coaching led to improved performance or sales. This will demonstrate your ability to influence and inspire others.
✨Get Comfortable with Data
You'll need strong analytical skills for this position, so be prepared to discuss how you've used data to drive decisions in the past. Bring examples of reports you've created or insights you've derived from sales data, and be ready to explain how those insights led to actionable improvements.
✨Practice Your Presentation Skills
Since you'll be presenting to leadership teams, practice delivering a mock presentation. Focus on clarity and confidence, especially when discussing commercial insights. This will help you feel more at ease during the actual interview and showcase your communication prowess.
