At a Glance
- Tasks: Cook delicious meals and support the shop floor team with customer service.
- Company: Join the UK's largest employee-owned business, Waitrose & Partners.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, flexible hours, and a supportive work environment.
- Why this job: Make a difference by serving great food and engaging with customers.
- Qualifications: Experience in cooking and a passion for food are essential.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team that values kindness and respect.
The predicted salary is between 11 - 16 £ per hour.
As a Supermarket Assistant Branch Cook, you'll be working in our back-of-house of one of our shops in the Partner Dining Room, providing hot and cold food for Partners to enjoy during their break times. When not working in the kitchen, you'll support the wider shop floor team as a Supermarket Assistant, providing the distinct service and passion for food that our competitors can't compete with.
In addition to your contractual pay, any time worked between 22:00 - 06:00 will attract Night Premium at a rate of £3.50 per hour. This will also apply to existing Partners who have enrolled onto Enhanced Hours Premium arrangements.
Key ResponsibilitiesWhen taking on the role of Branch Cook, you'll be responsible for:
- The smooth running of the overall kitchen with support and direction from the management team.
- Maintaining a clean, tidy, and safe kitchen environment.
- Ensuring portion control, preparation, storage methods and due diligence to avoid food wastage. Helping to protect our profits.
- Adhering to high food hygiene standards.
When not working in the kitchen you'll be helping to provide great service to our customers and support with a variety of shop-keeping related tasks including:
- Stock replenishment - ensuring our shelves remain as full as possible and products are in the right place at the right time for our customers.
- Fulfilling online customer orders ready for our drivers to deliver their shopping direct to their doors.
- Reducing wastage by following product due diligence and markdowns to those reaching their sell by dates.
- Working with the wider shop team to support when needed including; checkout support, managing Click & Collect orders, fulfilling on-demand customer orders and more.
- Maintain a safe and tidy working environment with general shopkeeping tasks.
- Experience of working as a cook in a catering or hospitality environment.
- Passionate about food and serving a varied and nutritious menu.
- Customer Focussed with the ability to engage partners with the food on offer.
- Demonstrate commercial awareness, driving sales within the partner dining room, whilst also controlling costs and wastage.
- Flexible and adaptable to be able to work between kitchen and shop floor as required.
- City & Guilds 706 1 and 2 or NVQ equivalent.
- Food Hygiene Certificate Level 2.
Closing Date: January 13, 2026
Pay: £13.61 Hourly
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours of Work: Hours to cover a 2 week rota. Week 1: Monday 07:00-12:00 Tuesday 07:00-12:00, Friday 11:00-16:00 and Saturday 07:00-12:00. Week 2: Wednesday 07:00-12:00, Thursday 07:00-12:00, Friday 07:00-12:00, Saturday 11:00-16:00
Job Level: Partnership Level 10
Where You'll Be Working: Chichester (Waitrose & Partners), Via Ravenna, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 1RD
Important points to note:
It’s important to note that some of our roles are subject to pre-employment vetting (which may include DBS checks for successful candidates). If required, you’ll be informed and provided with information about vetting during the recruitment process and we encourage you to complete any vetting documents quickly to avoid delays. Any DBS checks required will be carried out by a third-party registered body and financial probity checks may also be required for some of our roles.
We also recommend that you apply as soon as possible as vacancies can close early if we see a high number of applicants.
We want all of our Partners to have a good work-life balance and we support flexible working. This might mean flexible or compressed hours, job sharing or shorter hour contracts, where possible. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview.
Branch Cook, Supermarket Assistant in Chichester employer: John Lewis Partnership
Contact Detail:
John Lewis Partnership Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Branch Cook, Supermarket Assistant in Chichester
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company! Before your interview, do a bit of research on Waitrose and its values. This will help you connect with the team and show that you're genuinely interested in being a part of their mission.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice makes perfect! Run through common interview questions with a friend or in front of the mirror. Focus on how your experience as a cook and your passion for food can contribute to the Partner Dining Room.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your skills! If you get the chance, bring along a dish you've prepared or share a story about a time you went above and beyond in a kitchen setting. This will highlight your culinary passion and customer focus.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up! After your interview, send a quick thank-you email to express your appreciation for the opportunity. It’s a nice touch that shows you’re keen and professional.
We think you need these skills to ace Branch Cook, Supermarket Assistant in Chichester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Food: When writing your application, let your love for food shine through! Share any experiences that highlight your passion for cooking and serving delicious meals. We want to see how you can bring that enthusiasm to our kitchen.
Highlight Relevant Experience: Make sure to mention any previous roles you've had in catering or hospitality. We’re looking for folks who have hands-on experience as a cook, so don’t be shy about showcasing your skills and what you’ve learned along the way!
Be Customer-Focused: Since you'll be engaging with our Partners and customers, it’s important to demonstrate your customer service skills. Include examples of how you've provided great service in past roles, as this is key to thriving in our environment.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands quickly. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at John Lewis Partnership
✨Know Your Kitchen Basics
Brush up on your cooking skills and food hygiene standards before the interview. Be ready to discuss your experience in maintaining a clean kitchen and how you ensure food safety. This shows you're serious about the role and understand the importance of these practices.
✨Show Your Passion for Food
During the interview, express your love for food and cooking. Share examples of dishes you've prepared or your favourite ingredients. This will help you connect with the interviewers and demonstrate that you’re not just looking for any job, but are genuinely excited about this opportunity.
✨Demonstrate Customer Focus
Prepare to talk about your experience in customer service. Think of specific instances where you went above and beyond to ensure customer satisfaction. This is crucial as the role involves engaging with partners and providing excellent service in both the kitchen and shop floor.
✨Be Ready to Discuss Flexibility
Since the role requires switching between kitchen and shop floor duties, be prepared to discuss your adaptability. Share examples of times when you successfully managed multiple tasks or adjusted to changing priorities. This will show that you can thrive in a dynamic environment.