Food Manager

Food Manager

Solihull 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 while making a real impact on customer experience.
  • Qualifications: Previous supervisory experience in a fast-paced environment is preferred.
  • Other info: Clear career progression opportunities within Sainsbury's management structure.

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 tailored to your needs, alongside a supportive management structure that encourages career progression within our diverse family of brands. With generous employee 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 current or former employees of Sainsbury's, especially those in management roles. They can provide valuable insights into the company culture and expectations, which can be beneficial when preparing for your interview.

✨Tip Number 3

Demonstrate your leadership skills by volunteering for team projects or initiatives in your current role. Highlighting your ability to manage and motivate a team will show that you're ready for the responsibilities of a Food Manager.

✨Tip Number 4

Prepare specific examples of how you've improved customer service or operational efficiency in previous roles. Being able to discuss tangible results will make a strong impression on the hiring team.

We think you need these skills to ace Food Manager

Leadership Skills
Team Management
Customer Service Orientation
Operational Management
Performance Management
Task Delegation
Effective Communication
Conflict Resolution
Training and Development
Time Management
Adaptability
Problem-Solving Skills
Recruitment Skills
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: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for food and customer service. Mention specific examples of how you've developed teams or improved customer experiences in previous roles.

Highlight Relevant Skills: In your application, focus on skills that align with the job description, such as team management, operational efficiency, and customer service excellence. Use keywords from the job posting to make your application stand out.

Show Enthusiasm for Technology: Since the role requires a love for technology, mention any experience you have with digital tools related to stock management or scheduling. This will show that you are aligned with the company's forward-thinking approach.

How to prepare for a job interview at Sainsbury's

✨Show Your Leadership Skills

As a Food Manager, you'll be expected to lead a team effectively. Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed teams in the past, focusing on your ability to motivate and develop others.

✨Understand the Importance of Customer Service

Demonstrate your passion for customer service during the interview. Be ready to discuss how you would ensure that your team delivers an exceptional experience for customers, as this is crucial for the role.

✨Familiarise Yourself with Technology

Since the company values technology in operations, brush up on any relevant digital tools or systems you've used in previous roles. Be prepared to discuss how you can leverage technology to improve efficiency in the store.

✨Prepare for Situational Questions

Expect questions that assess your problem-solving abilities and how you handle challenges. Think of specific situations where you've had to make quick decisions or resolve conflicts within a team.

Food Manager
Sainsbury's
S
  • Food Manager

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

    Application deadline: 2027-04-20

  • S

    Sainsbury's

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