A nationally recognised, award-winning farm shop, Ludlow Farmshop is located just outside the market town of Ludlow, in the beautiful Shropshire countryside.
Part of the Earl of Plymouth Estate, Ludlow Farmshop supports traditional production methods, with departments making great tasting products, such as cheese, pastries, cakes, biscuits, jams and pickles, as well as a famous butchery department. Using as much produce from our own estate, we also support other local suppliers who have the same ethos as us. Coupled with the focus on reducing the impact of what we do on the environment, Ludlow Farmshop has an excellent reputation for quality products, which you cannot buy elsewhere.
Role Description
A fantastic opportunity has arisen for a General Manager, who will oversee the retail operation at Ludlow Farmshop and the hospitality operations at Ludlow Kitchen and Ludlow Pantry.
This will include:
- Overseeing purchasing, merchandising and customer service
- Being responsible for the management of the four production units and packaging facility based on site - to include the scheduling of all production for these units and oversee a programme of new product development
- Liaising with the Marketing Manager to develop innovative promotions and visual merchandising
- Overseeing the hospitality operation at Ludlow Kitchen to include menu development
- Liaise with HR, in regard to recruitment, HR admin, performance management and the disciplinary structure
- Deputising for the Managing Director
- Managing budgets for payroll across allocated departments
- Reviewing the profitability of all Ludlow Farmshop products and implementing cost saving initiatives
- Be proactive in sourcing new products for retail
- Responding to customer queries for both Ludlow Farmshop and Ludlow Kitchen
- Liaise with the Health and Safety Manager to ensure HACCP records are maintained and regularly updated
Qualifications
- Proven experience in managing multi-faceted retail, hospitality, or food-focused operations, preferably in farmshop, deli, or artisan food environments.
- Strong leadership skills, including team management, coaching, performance review, and conflict resolution in a workforce.
- Solid commercial acumen with experience in budgeting, forecasting, sales analysis, stock control, and cost management.
- Knowledge of food safety, hygiene regulations, and quality standards within fresh, prepared, and artisan food production.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for collaborating with staff, customers, suppliers, and local partners.
- Ability to organise and prioritise multiple activities, maintain operational efficiency, and solve problems in a fast-paced environment.
- Knowledge of basic IT systems and point-of-sale technologies; experience with inventory or scheduling software is an advantage.
- Understanding of local sourcing, sustainability, and community-focused business practices, or a strong interest in developing this knowledge.
- Flexibility to work across weekdays and weekends
The salary for this role will be based on experience.
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