At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead operations for a premium food retail group and launch new concepts.
- Company: Founder-led food group in London with a focus on quality and innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonuses, and long-term incentives.
- Why this job: Take ownership and make a real impact in a dynamic food retail environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in multi-site operations and a strong leadership background.
- Other info: Opportunity for significant career growth and professional development.
The predicted salary is between 90000 - 120000 £ per year.
We are working with a founder‑led London food group operating across food retail and in‑house production. The group includes an established, high‑quality bakery business alongside a new premium concept brand preparing for launch. This is a rare opportunity to step into a hands‑on Group General Manager role with genuine authority. The mandate is clear: professionalise operations, scale the bakery, successfully launch a new retail concept, and build the systems required for multi‑site growth while reducing day‑to‑day founder dependency. It is an execution‑led leadership role for a senior operator who wants ownership, accountability, and impact.
As Group General Manager, you will have full operational responsibility across both businesses, covering people, performance, profitability, and rollout readiness.
You Will:
- Ownership of all day‑to‑day operations including labour model & rotas, stock, suppliers, margins & costs
- Roll‑out of new site openings, building systems and playbooks to cover site openings, recruitment and training
- Strengthen the retail operation through retail standards, margin improvement, product quality, and customer experience
- Launch, test and refine the concept brand including route to market (retail/wholesale), pricing, merchandising and staffing
- Establish data, dashboards, and performance management across sites
- Recruitment, training, L&D and people leadership
- Full P&L accountability at group level
- Capacity planning and scheduling
- Create a culture of ownership and accountability across all sites, reducing Founder involvement in operations and cadence
About You:
You are a senior food retail operator with experience across both retail and food production environments.
You Will Likely Bring:
- Multi‑site operational leadership experience within premium food retail, bakery, café, or consumer food brands
- A proven track record of scaling operations, improving performance, and leading change
- A hands‑on, decisive leadership style with strong commercial instincts
- Commercial execution and P&L ownership experience
- System & playbook thinking
Group General Manager - Premium Food Retail employer: IWC Independent Worldwide Consolidators SpA
Contact Detail:
IWC Independent Worldwide Consolidators SpA Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Group General Manager - Premium Food Retail
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts, attend food retail events, and connect with people on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their products and values, especially since this role is all about premium food retail. Tailor your answers to show how your experience aligns with their goals.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your hands-on leadership style during interviews. Share specific examples of how you've scaled operations or improved performance in previous roles. This will demonstrate that you’re ready to take ownership and drive results.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged with our brand.
We think you need these skills to ace Group General Manager - Premium Food Retail
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Food Retail: When writing your application, let your love for food retail shine through! Share specific experiences that highlight your enthusiasm for the industry and how it aligns with our premium food group.
Be Specific About Your Experience: We want to see your hands-on experience in multi-site operations. Use concrete examples from your past roles to demonstrate how you've successfully scaled operations and improved performance in similar environments.
Highlight Leadership Skills: As a Group General Manager, leadership is key! Make sure to showcase your leadership style and how you've created a culture of ownership and accountability in previous positions. We love a decisive leader!
Tailor Your Application: Don’t just send a generic application! Tailor your CV and cover letter to reflect the specific requirements of this role. Show us how your skills and experiences make you the perfect fit for our founder-led food group. And remember, apply through our website!
How to prepare for a job interview at IWC Independent Worldwide Consolidators SpA
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Group General Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your understanding of P&L accountability. Brush up on key financial metrics and be ready to discuss how you've improved margins or reduced costs in previous roles. This shows you’re not just a leader but also a savvy operator.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare to talk about your hands-on leadership approach. Share specific examples of how you've built a culture of ownership and accountability in past positions. This will resonate well with the company's need for someone who can reduce founder dependency and empower teams.
✨Be Ready to Discuss Scaling Operations
Think about times when you've successfully scaled operations in a multi-site environment. Be prepared to share strategies you used for recruitment, training, and maintaining quality across locations. This is crucial for the role, so have concrete examples at the ready.
✨Understand the Brand and Market
Research the company’s existing bakery business and the new premium concept brand. Be ready to discuss how you would approach launching and refining this new concept, including your thoughts on pricing, merchandising, and customer experience. Showing that you understand their market will set you apart.