Coffee and Retail Development Manager (Fixed Term)

Compass Group; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food service organization in the United Kingdom is seeking a Coffee & Retail Development Manager to lead sales strategies across coffee and retail sectors. This hybrid role requires proven experience in commercial environments, creativity in driving growth, and a solid understanding of market dynamics. The ideal candidate will be responsible for not only developing innovative sales strategies but also ensuring the quality and consistency of offerings. Competitive salary and opportunities for professional growth are included.

Benefits

Competitive Salary

Opportunities for professional growth

Qualifications

• Proven commercial experience in coffee, retail, or beverages.
• Strong commercial acumen with expertise in pricing, margin, and ROI analysis.
• Excellent influencing and stakeholder management skills.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate insight into actionable plans.
• Skilled in project delivery, communication, and customer engagement.
• Full clean driving licence required.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute sales strategies for coffee, café, retail, and vending.
• Champion a strong coffee culture and brand positioning.
• Use market insights to shape pricing and product strategies.
• Curate a compelling beverage and retail range.
• Recommend optimal equipment and format solutions.
• Partner on pricing, costs and margin management.
• Lead ESG initiatives to support net-zero goals.
• Act as subject matter expert for operational teams.
• Collaborate with suppliers and marketing for quality consistency.
• Drive retail innovation including digital ordering solutions.
• Audit and optimise retail and vending ranges.

Skills

Commercial experience in coffee, retail or beverages

Commercial acumen in pricing, margin and ROI analysis

Influencing and stakeholder management skills

Strategic thinking and actionable planning

Project delivery and customer engagement

Passion for coffee, service and market innovation

Job description

Coffee & Retail Development Manager

• Fixed Term (12 months)
• Competitive Salary
• Hybrid role with travel to sites required in line with business needs

Overall Purpose

Lead and optimise non-food sales strategy across coffee, beverages, cafés, retail, and vending. Drive like-for-like volume and sales growth through innovative offers, commercial excellence, and market-leading coffee culture.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the coffee, café, retail and vending strategy to maximise sales, profit, and customer experience.
• Champion a strong coffee culture, positioning us as an expert and leader in the sector.
• Use market and customer insights to shape brand, pricing and product strategies that align with site demographics and client needs.
• Curate a compelling beverage and retail range, balancing high‑street brands, own‑label, and social enterprise offers.
• Recommend optimal equipment and format solutions across barista, self‑serve, hospitality and vending channels.
• Partner with operations and Foodbuy teams on ranging, pricing, costs and margin management to drive commercial performance.
• Lead ESG initiatives in hot beverages and retail, supporting net‑zero and social value goals.
• Act as subject matter expert for operational, sales and retention teams, supporting bids and new business mobilisations.
• Collaborate with suppliers, marketing and L&D to ensure consistent quality, training and promotional activity.
• Drive retail innovation, including frictionless and digital ordering solutions, loyalty and rewards.
• Audit and optimise retail and vending ranges, ensuring the right suppliers, pricing and brand alignment.

Key Skills & Experience

• Proven commercial experience in coffee, retail or beverages
• Strong commercial acumen with expertise in pricing, margin and ROI analysis.
• Excellent influencing and stakeholder management skills.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate insight into actionable plans.
• Skilled in project delivery, communication and customer engagement.
• Passionate about coffee, service and market innovation.
• Full clean driving licence required.

Compass Group UK&I wants everyone in our business to feel able to be themselves at work and to have an equal opportunity to progress their career. We want to create a culture where we respect and embrace everyone's talents, beliefs, backgrounds and abilities. Where our colleagues feel valued, can reach their full potential and thrive – Diversity is Our Strength!