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- Tasks: Lead and inspire teams to deliver exceptional food service and customer experiences.
- Company: Join a leading retailer committed to inclusivity and employee growth.
- Benefits: Enjoy discounts, bonuses, free food, generous holidays, and wellbeing support.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic environment while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in fast-paced management and a passion for customer service.
- Other info: Opportunities for career progression and a supportive workplace culture.
The predicted salary is between 36450 - 45540 £ per year.
Salary: From £36450
Location: Purley Way Store, Croydon, CR0 4XT
Contract type: Permanent
Business area: Retail
Closing date: 14 February 2026
Requisition ID: 400048045
Leading in our stores:
Our management teams don’t just run stores - they’re the driving force behind our business. With bold leadership, a passion for service and an eye for opportunity, they empower teams to raise the bar every single day for our customers. Whether it’s product availability, safety standards, or delivering seamless daily operations, they’re hands-on, sleeves-rolled-up changemakers. And the impact? Work becomes more rewarding for our colleagues, and shopping becomes a next-level experience for every customer who walks through our doors. This is how we bring our purpose to life, one powerful action at a time.
What you’ll be doing:
- Role modelling and coaching for high standards and efficiency across the whole food hall.
- Managing compliance to processes whilst bringing the passion and flare for great shop keeping and customer service.
- Ensure every single one of our customers gets the food they want when they shop with us to help ensure we are the first choice for food.
- People management is a big part of the role, managing performance and capability, conducting disciplinaries and ensuring scheduling and pay are accurate.
- At times you will assume overall responsibility for running the store, making sure that all colleagues are given direction and support to deliver for the customer.
What makes a great food manager:
- Previous line management responsibilities in a fast-paced, operational environment.
- Provides brilliant customer service and coaches a team to do the same.
- Delivers KPI's or other performance indicators.
- Can manage disciplinaries, performance issues or other similar employee relations issues.
- Leads operations and comfortable doing this alone in the absence of more senior management.
- A track record of delivering exceptional customer experiences, with evidence of coaching others to consistently raise the bar.
- Experience leading teams in a dynamic, customer-facing environment — you’ve inspired others, driven high performance, and created a culture where colleagues thrive.
- Leadership experience in a high-volume, fast-paced operational setting — whether in retail, food service, or hospitality — where you’ve overseen daily operations, solved business problems, and kept teams focused on what matters most: delivering for customers.
- Proven success in delivering against a wide range of KPIs — from sales and stock availability to customer satisfaction and colleague engagement, you’ve made a measurable difference.
- Experience managing complex people matters, including performance, absence, and formal employee relations cases, with confidence and fairness.
Working for us has great rewards:
Salary will be dependent upon your experience as well as the store size, complexity and location. Alongside this, we also offer a great range of benefits for our managers, including:
- Discount card – 10% discount off on your shopping at Sainsbury’s, Argos, Tu and Habitat after four weeks. This increases to 15% discount off at Sainsbury’s every Friday and Saturday and 15% off at Argos every pay day.
- An annual bonus scheme based on our, and your, performance.
- Free food and hot drinks provided for Colleagues in all our stores.
- Generous holiday entitlement, maternity and paternity leave.
- Pension – we’ll match 4-7.5% of your pension contributions.
- Sainsbury’s share scheme – build up an investment at discounted rates.
- Wellbeing support – access to emotional support, counselling, legal and financial advice.
- Colleague networks – link with like-minded people to help fulfil your potential.
- Our Cycle to Work scheme gives you the opportunity to hire a new bike and cycling equipment, whilst saving on tax and NI.
- Special offers on gym memberships, restaurants, holidays, retail vouchers and more.
An inclusive place to work and shop:
We are dedicated to being a truly inclusive retailer, where every colleague can achieve their full potential and every customer feels welcome when they shop with us. To support this commitment, our colleagues may be entitled to a range of enhanced discretionary leave for families, as well as support for carers. We provide our colleagues resources to help them understand and support their role and their team effectively. Our internal colleague networks seek to ensure true representation for everyone, helping us identify and remove barriers that our colleagues may face. We are proud to offer a range of development opportunities, including mentorship, training, and career progression pathways, to help our colleagues grow and succeed. We also celebrate diversity through various initiatives and events, fostering a culture of inclusion and respect. If you would like to learn more about our commitment to inclusivity, please take a look here.
Should you require any reasonable adjustments during the application or interview stages, please let us know, and we will endeavour to support you.
Food Manager in Croydon employer: Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd
Contact Detail:
Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Food Manager in Croydon
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Research their values, mission, and recent news. This way, when you walk into that interview, you can show them you’re not just another candidate but someone who genuinely cares about what they do.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice makes perfect! Grab a mate and do some mock interviews. Focus on common questions for food managers, like how you handle team performance or customer service challenges. The more you rehearse, the more confident you'll feel when it counts.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your leadership skills! Be ready to share specific examples of how you've inspired teams or improved customer experiences in previous roles. Use metrics if you can – numbers speak volumes and show you mean business!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can set you apart from other candidates. It shows your enthusiasm for the role and keeps you fresh in their minds. And remember, apply through our website for the best chance!
We think you need these skills to ace Food Manager in Croydon
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Food Management: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for food management shine through! Share specific examples of how you've led teams and improved customer experiences in previous roles. We want to see that you’re not just looking for a job, but that you genuinely care about delivering top-notch service.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight the skills and experiences that align with the Food Manager role. Use keywords from the job description, like 'leadership', 'customer service', and 'KPI delivery'. This shows us that you understand what we’re looking for and that you’re a great fit!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon and long-winded explanations. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to see your key achievements and qualifications at a glance.
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 makes the whole process smoother for everyone involved. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, make sure you understand the role of a Food Manager inside and out. Familiarise yourself with the key responsibilities like managing compliance, coaching your team, and ensuring top-notch customer service. This will help you answer questions confidently and show that you're genuinely interested in the position.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Be ready to discuss your previous line management experiences. Think of specific examples where you've inspired your team, tackled performance issues, or improved customer satisfaction. Highlighting these experiences will demonstrate that you have what it takes to lead in a fast-paced environment.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect to face scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills. For instance, how would you handle a situation where stock levels are low? Prepare some thoughtful responses that showcase your ability to think on your feet and prioritise customer needs while managing operations.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
At the end of the interview, don’t forget to ask questions! Inquire about the company culture, team dynamics, or how success is measured in the role. This not only shows your enthusiasm but also helps you gauge if the company is the right fit for you.
