Food Manager

Food Manager

Gravesend Full-Time 28800 - 42000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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Sainsburys

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead and inspire a team to deliver exceptional customer service in a vibrant food hall.
  • Company: Join Sainsbury’s, a leading retailer committed to inclusivity and customer satisfaction.
  • Benefits: Enjoy discounts, bonuses, free food, generous holidays, and wellbeing support.
  • Why this job: Be a changemaker in a dynamic environment where your leadership makes a real impact.
  • Qualifications: Previous management experience in fast-paced settings and a passion for customer service required.
  • Other info: Opportunities for mentorship, training, and career progression await you.

The predicted salary is between 28800 - 42000 £ per year.

Responsibilities

  • 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.

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.

Qualifications

  • 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.

Essential Criteria

  • 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.

Benefits

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.

Inclusion and development

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.

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Food Manager employer: Sainsburys

As a Food Manager at our vibrant store, you will be part of a dynamic team that prioritises exceptional customer service and operational excellence. We offer a supportive work culture with numerous benefits, including generous discounts, an annual bonus scheme, and extensive development opportunities to help you thrive in your career. Join us in creating a welcoming environment where every colleague can reach their full potential while delivering outstanding experiences for our customers.
Sainsburys

Contact Detail:

Sainsburys Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Food Manager

✨Tip Number 1

Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in food management and customer service. Being knowledgeable about current best practices will not only help you stand out but also show your passion for the role.

✨Tip Number 2

Network with professionals in the food retail industry. Attend local events or join online forums to connect with others who can provide insights or even refer you to opportunities at StudySmarter.

✨Tip Number 3

Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've led teams and improved customer experiences in previous roles. This will demonstrate your capability and readiness to take on the responsibilities outlined in the job description.

✨Tip Number 4

Research our company culture and values. Understanding what we stand for at StudySmarter will help you align your answers during interviews and show that you're a great fit for our team.

We think you need these skills to ace Food Manager

Leadership Skills
Customer Service Excellence
Team Management
Performance Coaching
Operational Efficiency
Conflict Resolution
Compliance Management
Scheduling and Payroll Accuracy
KPI Achievement
Problem-Solving Skills
Communication Skills
Adaptability in Fast-Paced Environments
Employee Relations Management
Passion for Food Retail

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your previous line management experience in fast-paced environments. Emphasise your ability to deliver exceptional customer service and coach teams effectively.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, showcase your passion for food management and customer service. Provide specific examples of how you've inspired teams and improved performance in previous roles.

Highlight Relevant Achievements: When detailing your experience, focus on quantifiable achievements related to KPIs, such as sales growth or customer satisfaction improvements. This will demonstrate your impact in previous positions.

Prepare for the Interview: Anticipate questions about your leadership style and how you handle performance issues. Be ready to discuss specific scenarios where you've successfully managed teams and improved operations.

How to prepare for a job interview at Sainsburys

✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills

As a Food Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to lead and inspire a team. Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed teams in the past, focusing on how you motivated colleagues and improved performance.

✨Emphasise Customer Service Excellence

Highlight your commitment to delivering exceptional customer experiences. Be ready to discuss specific instances where you went above and beyond for customers and how you coached your team to do the same.

✨Prepare for People Management Questions

Expect questions about handling performance issues and conducting disciplinaries. Think of scenarios where you managed complex people matters effectively, ensuring fairness and compliance with company policies.

✨Demonstrate Your Operational Expertise

Be prepared to discuss your experience in managing daily operations in a fast-paced environment. Share examples of how you've solved business problems and maintained high standards in product availability and safety.

Food Manager
Sainsburys
Location: Gravesend
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