At a Glance
- Tasks: Cook delicious meals and assist customers in a vibrant supermarket environment.
- Company: Join the UK's largest employee-owned business, Waitrose & Partners.
- Benefits: Earn £13.39 per hour with night premium pay and flexible working hours.
- Why this job: Be part of a team that values food passion and customer service.
- Qualifications: Experience in cooking and a love for serving great food.
- Other info: Enjoy a supportive workplace where you can thrive and grow.
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.
- 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: February 1, 2026
Pay: £13.39 Hourly
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours of Work: Various shifts between the hours of 06:00-22:00 throughout the week including Saturdays and Sundays.
Job Level: Partnership Level 10
Where You'll Be Working: Swindon (Waitrose & Partners), Middle Wichel, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN1 7BX
Branch Cook, Supermarket Assistant in Swindon 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 Swindon
✨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 cooking expertise and customer service skills. This is your time to shine!
✨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 serious about joining the team at Waitrose.
We think you need these skills to ace Branch Cook, Supermarket Assistant in Swindon
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 know their way around a kitchen and can keep things running smoothly, so don’t hold back on those details!
Demonstrate Customer Focus: Since you'll be interacting with our Partners, it’s key to show that you understand the importance of great customer service. Include examples of how you've engaged with customers in the past and made their experience memorable.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for the best chance of success. It’s super easy, and you’ll get all the latest updates about your application. Plus, we love seeing applications come in through our own platform!
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 how you maintain a clean and safe kitchen. This shows you're serious about the role and understand the importance of food safety.
✨Show Your Passion for Food
During the interview, express your love for food and serving others. Share examples of how you've created varied and nutritious menus in the past. This will help demonstrate that you’re not just looking for any job, but that you genuinely care about the quality of food you serve.
✨Be Customer-Focused
Prepare to talk about your customer service experience. Think of specific instances where you engaged with customers or partners, and how you ensured they had a great experience. This is crucial as the role involves supporting the shop floor team and providing excellent service.
✨Flexibility is Key
Highlight your adaptability during the interview. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully balanced multiple roles in previous jobs, especially between kitchen duties and shop floor tasks. This will show that you can handle the dynamic nature of the position and are willing to step in wherever needed.