Food Manager

Food Manager

Full-Time 28800 - 43200 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead a team to ensure food quality and customer satisfaction in-store.
  • Company: Join Sainsbury's, a leading retailer passionate about food and customer service.
  • Benefits: Enjoy discounts, free food, generous holidays, and wellbeing support.
  • Why this job: Develop your leadership skills in a supportive environment with clear career progression.
  • Qualifications: Experience in managing or supervising in a fast-paced setting is preferred.
  • Other info: Opportunity to progress into various management roles within the Sainsbury's family.

The predicted salary is between 28800 - 43200 £ per year.

You're ambitious for more leadership responsibility. Maybe one day, you'd like to run your own store or take on a bigger role in the future. First, you want to focus on your people development skills - crafting a team that delivers what you need, when you need it.

This is a well-balanced management role with clear accountability - you'll understand exactly what's expected of you and who to turn to for support. Whether you already have some supervisory experience or you're looking to make the step up, it's the perfect chance to get close to your team and grow your skills.

What you'll be doing

Our purpose is driven by our passion for food; together we serve and help every customer. Food sets the standard for the rest of the store - getting it right means our customers choose to return again and again, so it's critical that grocery, fresh and produce are always available and looking their best. Your leadership will deliver throughout the day, every day. Reporting into our Lead Food Manager, your job is focused on operational in-store management, ensuring that your area is running smoothly, day in, day out.

There's an emphasis on managing a medium to large in-store team - assigning tasks and planning breaks, creating rotas, addressing performance issues both sensitively and effectively, and helping with recruitment. You'll be a visible leader on the shop floor, a role model who drives training and creates a team where everyone feels welcome, and colleagues feel safe to challenge the way things are done.

What success looks like

There's lots to achieve. Here's how you'll know you're developing:

  • You're supporting the Lead Food Manager to deliver improved customer and retail outcomes in your area.
  • You'll work closely with another Food Manager, sharing ideas and identifying ways to improve things, and provide a brilliant handover from each shift to the next.
  • You're confident being direct with your team - you're giving honest feedback, early and often.
  • You've learned how to help your team to put themselves in the customers' shoes, taking genuine pride in how we deliver a better service.
  • You're increasingly making decisions at pace and comfortable not knowing all the answers.

About you

We're open-minded about your career trajectory. You're probably already managing or supervising people in a similarly fast-paced setting and confident to deal with the many different challenges each day throws up - your team are depending on you!

You'll need to share Sainsbury's love of technology. We're ahead of the curve here - we do as much as we can digitally - from stock management to rotas. What matters most is you - you're motivated to develop, dedicated to bringing out the best in others and, like all of us, passionate about customer service. After all, that's what our stores are all about.

Where next?

The Sainsbury's in-store management structure is designed precisely to help people like you to progress, and where everyone has the support and the opportunity to deliver excellence. When joining us you will receive a clear induction and orientation alongside a training plan specific to your needs that you'll build alongside your manager. They will support and coach you to deliver great performance, whilst having plenty of time to develop.

As a Food Manager you could move into a Lead Manager role in Food, In-store Customer Experience, Clothing or General Merchandise. Looking further ahead, it's great preparation for a Store Management role or a leadership challenge across the Sainsbury's family: Habitat, Tu, Argos, Sainsbury's Bank and Nectar 360. Trust us - we know how to make the most of your potential.

Added 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.
  • 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.

Click 'apply' to start your Sainsbury's journey.

Food Manager employer: Sainsbury's

At Sainsbury's, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that fosters personal and professional growth. As a Food Manager, you'll benefit from comprehensive training, a supportive management structure, and a clear pathway to advance your career within our diverse family of brands. With generous benefits including discounts, wellbeing support, and a focus on team development, you'll find a rewarding environment where your passion for food and customer service can truly thrive.
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Contact Detail:

Sainsbury's 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 practices will help you stand out during interviews and discussions with potential colleagues.

✨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 and possibly refer you to opportunities at Sainsbury's.

✨Tip Number 3

Demonstrate your leadership skills by volunteering for team projects or initiatives in your current role. This experience will showcase your ability to manage and develop a team effectively, which is crucial for the Food Manager position.

✨Tip Number 4

Research Sainsbury's values and culture thoroughly. Understanding their commitment to customer service and technology will allow you to align your responses and show that you're a great fit for their team.

We think you need these skills to ace Food Manager

Leadership Skills
Team Management
Customer Service Excellence
Operational Management
Performance Management
Task Delegation
Effective Communication
Conflict Resolution
Training and Development
Time Management
Adaptability in Fast-Paced Environments
Problem-Solving Skills
Recruitment and Selection
Digital Literacy
Inventory Management

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in food management or supervisory roles. Emphasise your leadership skills and any achievements that demonstrate your ability to manage a team effectively.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for food and customer service. Mention specific examples of how you've developed teams or improved customer experiences in previous roles.

Showcase Your People Skills: Since the role focuses on people development, include examples of how you've successfully managed team dynamics, addressed performance issues, and fostered a positive work environment.

Highlight Your Adaptability: Discuss your ability to handle fast-paced environments and make decisions under pressure. Provide examples of challenges you've faced and how you overcame them, showcasing your problem-solving skills.

How to prepare for a job interview at Sainsbury's

✨Show Your Leadership Skills

As a Food Manager, demonstrating your leadership abilities is crucial. Be prepared to discuss your past experiences in managing teams, how you motivate others, and any specific examples of how you've successfully handled challenges in a fast-paced environment.

✨Understand the Importance of Customer Service

Since customer service is at the heart of this role, be ready to share your thoughts on what excellent customer service looks like. Discuss how you would ensure your team delivers a great experience for customers and how you can help them understand the importance of putting themselves in the customers' shoes.

✨Familiarise Yourself with Technology

Sainsbury's values technology in their operations, so make sure you are up to date with relevant tools and systems. Mention any experience you have with digital stock management or scheduling software, as this will show that you are ready to embrace the technological aspects of the role.

✨Prepare for Team Development Questions

Expect questions about how you would develop your team and handle performance issues. Think of examples where you've provided feedback, created training opportunities, or resolved conflicts within a team. This will demonstrate your commitment to people development and creating a positive work environment.

Food Manager
Sainsbury's
S
  • Food Manager

    Full-Time
    28800 - 43200 £ / year (est.)

    Application deadline: 2027-04-16

  • S

    Sainsbury's

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