At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and inspire teams to deliver exceptional customer service in a fast-paced food environment.
- Company: Join Sainsbury’s, a leading retailer with a commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.
- Benefits: Enjoy discounts, bonuses, generous holidays, and wellbeing support.
- Other info: Flexible shifts and opportunities for career growth in a supportive environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by enhancing customer experiences and leading a dynamic team.
- Qualifications: Experience in management and a passion for delivering outstanding service.
The predicted salary is between 32700 - 32700 € per year.
Salary: From £32,700
Location: Walton on Thames Store, Walton-On-Thames, KT12 1AD
Contract type: Permanent
Business area: Retail
Closing date: 25 May 2026
Requisition ID: 400060773
Shift hours Fully Flexible
- Early shift: 06:00 - 15:00
- Late shift: 16:00 - 00:00
- Night shift: 22:00 - 08:00
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.
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 Surrey employer: Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd
At Sainsbury's, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that fosters growth and development for our Food Managers. Located in Walton on Thames, our store provides a supportive environment where you can lead a passionate team, enjoy competitive benefits like generous discounts and bonuses, and access wellbeing support to ensure a fulfilling career. Join us to make a meaningful impact in a dynamic retail setting, where your leadership will elevate the customer experience and empower your colleagues.
Contact Detail:
Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Food Manager in Surrey
✨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
Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or attend industry events. Building relationships can give you insider info and even a foot in the door. Plus, it shows you're proactive and serious about landing the job.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us. So, go ahead and hit that apply button!
We think you need these skills to ace Food Manager in Surrey
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:When writing your application, let your passion for food and customer service shine through. We want to see how you can bring that energy to our team and make a difference in our stores.
Highlight Your Experience:Make sure to showcase your previous line management experience and any relevant achievements. We love seeing how you've led teams and delivered exceptional customer experiences in fast-paced environments.
Be Specific with Examples:Use specific examples to demonstrate your skills in managing performance and handling employee relations. This helps us understand how you tackle challenges and support your team effectively.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and get you started on this exciting journey with us at StudySmarter.
How to prepare for a job interview at Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, make sure you’re familiar with the company’s values and how they align with your own. Brush up on their food management practices and be ready to discuss how you can contribute to raising the bar in customer service and operational efficiency.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of your previous leadership experiences, especially in fast-paced environments. Be ready to share specific instances where you’ve inspired your team, managed performance issues, or delivered exceptional customer experiences.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that put you in real-life situations, like handling a difficult customer or managing a team during peak hours. Think through your responses ahead of time, focusing on how you would maintain high standards and compliance while ensuring a great shopping experience.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
At the end of the interview, don’t forget to ask questions that show your interest in the role and the company. Inquire about their approach to team development, how they measure success in the food hall, or what challenges they currently face. This shows you’re engaged and thinking about the bigger picture.
