At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a brand-new café, creating a welcoming space and building a strong team.
- Company: Join Compass Group UK & Ireland, a leader in the food service industry.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, career growth, healthcare perks, and exclusive discounts.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team that values your unique talents and ideas.
- Why this job: Shape a new café culture and create memorable experiences for customers.
- Qualifications: Experience in café management or fast-paced food environments is essential.
The predicted salary is between 34000 - 34000 £ per year.
Location: Sainsburys Barnstaple
Contract: Full-time
Employer: Compass Group UK & Ireland
£34,000 per annum • 5 out of 7 days • 40 hours per week
A brand-new café. A blank canvas. An opportunity to build something special from day one. Simple moments, made special. Great coffee. Freshly baked pastries. Proper food done well. Taste Café is about creating the small, everyday moments people genuinely look forward to - a quick coffee that turns into a catch-up, a bite to eat that hits the spot, and a space that feels easy, comfortable, and just right.
This is a new café opening within a busy retail environment - fast-paced, full of energy, and with huge potential. From day one, it's a place designed to feel local, welcoming, and worth coming back to.
The Role
This is a start-up opportunity within an established business. As Café Manager, you'll play a key role in bringing a brand-new site to life - setting standards, building a team, and shaping how the café looks, feels, and operates from the very beginning. If you've managed a café, retail unit, or fast-paced food operation before, this is your chance to truly make it your own. You'll lead from the front, set the tone, and turn a brand-new café into a space people love - from the first morning coffee rush to the final close-down of the day.
What You'll Be Doing
- Leading the day-to-day running of a newly opened café, keeping everything smooth, organised and on point
- Recruiting, training and developing a strong team that delivers great service (and enjoys doing it)
- Setting and maintaining high standards across food, coffee and presentation
- Managing stock, performance and operational processes
- Creating a space that feels warm, relaxed and welcoming from day one
- Embedding consistency - because the little details matter
- Ensuring Health & Safety standards are always met and maintained
About You
If you've run a café, retail unit, or fast-paced food environment, you're well-suited to this role - especially if you enjoy building teams and shaping operations. You'll also be:
- A hands-on leader who sets the pace and leads by example
- People-focused - great with both your team and your customers
- Organised, proactive and calm under pressure
- Passionate about good food, great coffee and doing things properly
- Comfortable taking ownership and continuously improving performance
Why This Role?
This isn't just another café management role. It's a chance to open a new site, shape the culture, and create a destination - somewhere customers return to for the coffee, the food, and the atmosphere. You'll have real ownership, support from a wider business, and the opportunity to build something that genuinely feels like yours from the ground up.
We ensure you're rewarded for all your hard work, which is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes but is not limited to:
- Contributory pension scheme
- Grow your career with our Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes
- Quick access for you and your immediate family to a Digital GP, and wider healthcare benefits
- Exclusive travel discounts with TUI, Expedia, Booking.com and many more
- Save money on your food shop with discounts on Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and many more
- Up to 44% off cinema tickets to enjoy your favourite blockbuster
- Receive cash rewards every time you spend and use them on a wide range of brands
- Un-wind with us with free wellness, mindfulness and exercise classes
About Us
As part of Compass you'll help to feed people, fuel progress and forge connections in around 6,000 venues. Join us to grow your career with the industry leader, and get competitive pay, great perks and unrivalled opportunities for learning and development, at one of the UK's biggest businesses.
Compass Group UK&I is committed to fostering an environment where every individual can truly be themselves at work and has equal opportunities to advance in their careers. We strive to build a culture that respects and celebrates the unique talents, beliefs, backgrounds, and abilities of all our team members. We want our colleagues to feel valued, empowered to reach their full potential, and to thrive - because diversity is our strength!
Cafe Manager in Exeter employer: One Retail
Compass Group UK & Ireland is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to manage a brand-new café in Barnstaple, where you can shape the culture and create a welcoming space for customers. With a strong focus on employee growth through comprehensive training programmes and a supportive work environment, you'll enjoy competitive pay and a range of benefits including discounts on groceries and travel, as well as wellness classes. Join us to be part of a dynamic team that values diversity and empowers you to thrive in your career.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Cafe Manager in Exeter
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the café and hospitality scene. Attend local events, join online groups, or even pop into cafés to chat with managers. You never know who might have a lead on that perfect Café Manager role!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your personality! When you get the chance for an interview or a casual meet-up, let your passion for coffee and great service shine through. Share your ideas on how you'd make the new café a hit – they want to see your vision!
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! If you spot a café that’s hiring, don’t wait for them to post a job ad. Reach out directly through our website, express your interest, and share what you can bring to the table. A little initiative goes a long way!
✨Tip Number 4
Follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can keep you fresh in their minds. Mention something specific from your chat to show you were engaged and are genuinely interested in the role. It’s all about making that personal connection!
We think you need these skills to ace Cafe Manager in Exeter
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:When writing your application, let your love for coffee and good food shine through! We want to see how excited you are about creating a welcoming café atmosphere that people will love.
Be Specific About Your Experience:Share specific examples from your past café or retail management roles. We’re looking for hands-on leaders who can set the tone and build a great team, so highlight those experiences that showcase your skills!
Keep It Organised:Make sure your application is well-structured and easy to read. Use clear headings and bullet points where necessary. We appreciate clarity and organisation, just like we do in our cafés!
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 get you started on this exciting journey with us at Compass Group.
How to prepare for a job interview at One Retail
✨Know Your Café Vision
Before the interview, think about how you would bring the café's vision to life. Be ready to share your ideas on creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere, and how you would set high standards for food and service. This shows you're not just interested in the role, but passionate about making it special.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
As a Café Manager, you'll need to lead by example. Prepare examples of how you've successfully built and motivated teams in the past. Discuss your hands-on approach and how you handle pressure, as this will resonate well with the interviewers looking for a proactive leader.
✨Emphasise Customer Experience
The café is all about creating memorable moments for customers. Be ready to discuss how you would enhance customer experience, from the first coffee of the day to the last pastry sold. Share any innovative ideas you have for engaging with customers and making them feel valued.
✨Understand Operational Excellence
Familiarise yourself with the operational processes that keep a café running smoothly. Be prepared to talk about stock management, health and safety standards, and how you ensure consistency in service. This knowledge will demonstrate your readiness to take ownership of the café's operations.
