Food Manager

TN United Kingdom; Cockermouth; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the food retail sector seeks a Food Manager to oversee in-store operations and team management. This role emphasizes customer service, team development, and operational excellence. With a focus on leadership, you will ensure that food standards are met and foster a positive work environment. The position offers clear progression paths and a range of employee benefits, including discounts and wellbeing support.

Benefits

10% discount at Sainsbury’s, Argos, Tu, and Habitat

Free food and hot drinks in all stores

Generous holiday entitlement

Pension scheme with employer matching contributions

Wellbeing support including emotional, legal, and financial assistance

Cycle to Work scheme

Qualifications

• Experience managing or supervising teams in a fast-paced setting.
• Motivated to develop and nurture others' potential.

Responsibilities

• Manage a medium to large in-store team, assigning tasks and planning breaks.
• Ensure grocery, fresh, and produce are always available and looking their best.
• Support the Lead Food Manager to deliver improved customer outcomes.

Skills

Leadership

Customer Service

Team Development

Tools

Digital Tools

Job description

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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. It’s critical that grocery, fresh, and produce are always available and looking their best. Your leadership will ensure this throughout the day, every day. Reporting to our Lead Food Manager, your role focuses on operational in-store management, ensuring your area runs smoothly daily.

Responsibilities include managing a medium to large in-store team – assigning tasks, planning breaks, creating rotas, addressing performance issues sensitively and effectively, and assisting with recruitment. You’ll be a visible leader on the shop floor, a role model who drives training and fosters a welcoming environment where colleagues feel safe to challenge existing practices.

What success looks like

Here’s how you’ll know you’re developing:

• You support the Lead Food Manager to deliver improved customer and retail outcomes in your area.
• You collaborate closely with another Food Manager, sharing ideas and identifying improvements, ensuring a smooth shift handover.
• You communicate directly with your team, providing honest feedback regularly.
• You help your team empathize with customers, taking pride in delivering excellent service.
• You make decisions confidently and at pace, even when all answers aren’t immediately available.

About you

We’re open-minded about your career path. You’re likely managing or supervising people in a fast-paced setting and confident handling daily challenges – your team depends on you!

You should share Sainsbury’s enthusiasm for technology, as we leverage digital tools extensively, from stock management to rotas.

Most importantly, you’re motivated to develop, dedicated to nurturing others’ potential, and passionate about customer service – that’s what our stores are all about.

Where next?

Our in-store management structure is designed to support your progression, offering clear induction, orientation, and tailored training plans developed with your manager. They will support and coach you to achieve great performance while you develop your skills.

As a Food Manager, you could advance into roles such as Lead Manager in Food, In-store Customer Experience, Clothing, or General Merchandise. Looking further ahead, this experience prepares you for Store Management or leadership roles across Sainsbury’s family of brands, including Habitat, Tu, Argos, Sainsbury’s Bank, and Nectar 360. We’re committed to helping you reach your potential.

Added benefits

Salary depends on your experience, store size, complexity, and location. We also offer a comprehensive range of benefits, including:

• 10% discount at Sainsbury’s, Argos, Tu, and Habitat after four weeks, increasing to 15% at Sainsbury’s on Fridays and Saturdays, and 15% at Argos every pay day.
• Free food and hot drinks in all stores.
• Generous holiday entitlement, maternity, and paternity leave.
• Pension scheme with 4-7.5% employer matching contributions.
• Sainsbury’s share scheme for discounted investment opportunities.
• Wellbeing support including emotional, legal, and financial assistance.
• Colleague networks for professional growth.
• Cycle to Work scheme for bike and equipment hire, with tax and NI savings.
• Special offers on gym memberships, holidays, retail vouchers, and more.

Click ‘apply’ to start your Sainsbury’s journey.