At a Glance
- Tasks: Serve delicious food, build customer relationships, and showcase your passion for ethically sourced ingredients.
- Company: Join the UK's largest employee-owned business, Waitrose & Partners.
- Benefits: Earn £13.00 per hour, with a Night Premium of £3.75 for late shifts.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive team that values diversity and personal growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a friendly environment while enjoying flexible working hours.
- Qualifications: Great communication skills and a passion for food are essential.
The predicted salary is between 27120 - 36400 € per year.
As a Partner on our service counters, you'll have the perfect opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge and passion for food while feeling proud of how it is ethically sourced and recommend recipes for customers to try. You'll actively be bringing our ethos - passionate Partners serving food lovers - to life. You'll use your enthusiasm and friendliness to build lasting relationships with your customers. You'll make all the difference to the impression they have about the Waitrose brand and keep them returning again and again by earning their trust and loyalty for a lifetime, all the while helping to maximise on sales and profit.
In addition to your contractual pay, any time worked between 22:00 - 06:00 will attract Night Premium at a rate of £3.75 per hour. This will also apply to existing Partners who have enrolled onto Enhanced Hours Premium arrangements.
Key Responsibilities:
- You'll take responsibility for your own food counter ensuring the highest presentation and hygiene standards at all times.
- Staying on top of stock levels, ensuring the products our customers love are there when needed.
- Taking great care while working with open food and ensure all due diligence and health & safety protocols are followed, helping to reduce food wastage.
- Maintaining your knowledge of new products and have a good understanding of Waitrose's food values (e.g. animal welfare).
- Supporting the wider shop team when required with general shopkeeping tasks.
Essential skills/experience you'll need:
- Communication skills to enable you to work effectively as part of a team and with our customers.
Desirable skills/experience you may have:
- Experience of working in a customer facing role is welcomed.
- Experience of working in a catering / hospitality environment.
- Up to date knowledge and strong interest in food and drink trends.
- Flexible approach to ensure the support of the whole branch.
Closing Date: May 18, 2026
Pay: £13.00 (£13.25 After 90 days)
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours of Work: Varied hours of part time work (19.5- 24.25 hours per week) across seven days to include early starts, late finishes, evenings and weekends between the hours of 07:00 - 22:00.
Job Level: Partnership Level 10
Where You'll Be Working: York (Waitrose & Partners), Foss Islands Road, York, North Yorkshire, YO31 7UL
We’re the largest employee owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. We’re not just employees, we’re Partners, driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As we look to our future, there’s never been a more exciting time to join us. We’re ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail. We continue to innovate, adapt and diversify. Never Knowingly Undersold on price, quality and service in John Lewis and passionately serving food-lovers in Waitrose. As Partners we all share the responsibility of ownership and in its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through the good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours and treating everyone with kindness and respect. We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong. Embracing our differences and creating an environment where we’re free to be ourselves and can THRIVE. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective. As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it.
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.
Hospitality, Supermarket Assistant in York employer: John Lewis
At Waitrose & Partners, we pride ourselves on being the largest employee-owned business in the UK, fostering a culture where every Partner is valued and empowered. Our commitment to ethical sourcing and exceptional customer service creates a rewarding environment for those passionate about food and community. With flexible working options and opportunities for personal growth, joining our team in York means becoming part of a supportive family dedicated to making a positive impact.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Hospitality, Supermarket Assistant in York
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company! Before your interview, dive into Waitrose's values and ethos. Show us that you’re not just another candidate but someone who genuinely cares about ethical sourcing and customer service.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your people skills! Since this role is all about building relationships with customers, think of some examples where you've gone above and beyond for someone. We want to see your enthusiasm shine through!
✨Tip Number 3
Dress the part! When you come in for your interview, make sure you look presentable and professional. It shows us that you take pride in your appearance, just like we do at our food counters.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows us that you’re keen on joining the Waitrose family. Don’t wait too long; we might close the applications early if we get a lot of interest!
We think you need these skills to ace Hospitality, Supermarket Assistant in York
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Food:When writing your application, let your love for food shine through! Share any experiences or knowledge you have about ethically sourced ingredients and food trends. This will show us that you're not just looking for a job, but that you're genuinely excited about being part of our team.
Highlight Your Customer Service Skills:Since this role is all about building relationships with customers, make sure to mention any previous experience in customer-facing roles. We want to see how you've made a difference in past jobs and how you can bring that same enthusiasm to Waitrose.
Be Yourself:We value authenticity, so don’t be afraid to let your personality come through in your application. Share what makes you unique and how you can contribute to our friendly and inclusive environment. Remember, we’re looking for Partners who can thrive together!
Apply Early:Don’t wait until the last minute to submit your application! We recommend applying as soon as possible since vacancies can close early if we get a lot of interest. Plus, it gives you more time to perfect your application and stand out from the crowd.
How to prepare for a job interview at John Lewis
✨Know Your Food
Brush up on your knowledge of food sourcing and trends. Be ready to discuss your favourite recipes and how you can recommend them to customers. Showing genuine enthusiasm for food will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
Since this role involves building relationships with customers, practice articulating your thoughts clearly. Think of examples from past experiences where you successfully engaged with customers or worked as part of a team.
✨Demonstrate Your Attention to Detail
Highlight your understanding of hygiene standards and food safety protocols. You might be asked about how you would handle specific situations, so prepare to share your approach to maintaining high standards in a food environment.
✨Embrace Flexibility
Be open about your availability and willingness to work varied hours. The interviewers will appreciate your flexibility, especially since the role requires working evenings and weekends. Share any previous experiences that showcase your adaptability.
