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- Tasks: Prepare delicious meals and support the shop floor team with customer service.
- Company: Join the UK's largest employee-owned business, Waitrose & Partners.
- Benefits: Earn £13.39 per hour with night premium pay and flexible working options.
- Why this job: Be part of a passionate team creating a positive dining experience for partners.
- Qualifications: Experience in catering or hospitality and a passion for food.
- Other info: Enjoy a supportive environment where you can thrive and grow.
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.
Key Responsibilities
- 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.
- Providing great service to our customers and supporting 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 shop-keeping tasks.
Essential skills/experience you'll need
- Experience of working as a cook in a catering or hospitality environment.
- Passionate about food and serving a varied and nutritious menu.
- Customer focused 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.
Desirable skills/experience you may have
- City & Guilds 706 1 and 2 or NVQ equivalent.
- Food Hygiene Certificate Level 2.
Closing Date: December 6, 2025
Pay: £13.39 Hourly
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours of Work: Part time position working Sundays 08:00-16:30
Job Level: Partnership Level 10
Where You’ll Be Working: Horsham (Waitrose & Partners), Albion Way, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 1AJ
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 Horsham 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 Horsham
✨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 up specific examples from your past work that highlight your ability to maintain high food hygiene standards and manage kitchen operations smoothly.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the Waitrose family!
We think you need these skills to ace Branch Cook, Supermarket Assistant in Horsham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Food: When writing your application, let your love for food shine through! Share any experiences you have in cooking or working with food, and how that passion can enhance the dining experience for our Partners.
Highlight Your Customer Service Skills: As a Supermarket Assistant, you'll be engaging with customers regularly. Make sure to mention any previous roles where you've provided excellent customer service, as this is key to standing out in your application.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use bullet points if necessary to make it easy for us to see your relevant skills and experiences. We appreciate clarity!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
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 a catering or hospitality environment, and share specific examples of how you've maintained a clean and safe kitchen.
✨Show Your Passion for Food
Demonstrate your enthusiasm for food and service during the interview. Talk about your favourite dishes to prepare and how you engage customers with the food on offer. This will show that you’re not just looking for a job, but that you genuinely care about what you do.
✨Be Ready for Teamwork Questions
Since you'll be working closely with both the kitchen and shop floor teams, prepare to answer questions about teamwork. Think of examples where you've collaborated effectively with others, especially in fast-paced environments.
✨Understand the Business
Familiarise yourself with the company’s values and mission. Be prepared to discuss how you can contribute to reducing food wastage and driving sales in the partner dining room. Showing that you understand the business will set you apart from other candidates.
