Garden Centre Foodhall Manager

Hillier Nurseries; Pevensey; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life assurance at 4 x annual salary

Enhanced pension plan

Sociable hours

Full training

Online Learning Hub

Employee discount 20%

50% discount on restaurant menu on-shi

31 days annual leave

Free onsite parking

Employee Assistance Programme

Company Christmas gifts

Exclusive retail discounts & cashback

Job summary

Hillier Nurseries is seeking an experienced Garden Centre Foodhall Manager for our Eastbourne (Pevensey) location. You will lead daily foodhall operations, ensuring top customer service, stock control and high standards, with a salary of £30,000 per year and a 37.5 hour week on a two-week pattern.

Join a long-established family business and drive sales, profitability and a safe, welcoming environment for colleagues and customers alike.

Qualifications

• Previous retail management experience.
• Proven ability to lead a team, manage performance and create a positive working environment.
• Commercial awareness with budgets, sales targets and profitability.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organisational skills for stock, operations and staffing.
• Calm, proactive approach to day-to-day operational challenges.
• Attention to detail and commitment to safety and standards.
• Willingness to work flexibly, including weekends and Bank Holidays.
• Interest in sustainability and environmentally responsible practices.

Responsibilities

• Deliver a high-quality customer experience with friendly, knowledgeable service.
• Oversee day-to-day foodhall operations for performance and standards.
• Manage stock, availability, wastage and margins; liaise with central ordering.
• Maintain merchandising, pricing and product display to maximise sales.
• Coordinate promotions and seasonal activity to keep the department focused.
• Lead, motivate and manage the foodhall team, including rota planning and appraisals.
• Ensure staffing levels meet business needs and controls are in place.
• Oversee till operations, cash handling and banking per policy.
• Maintain cleanliness, food safety and health & safety standards.
• Complete compliance checks and keep documentation up to date.
• Support risk assessments and wider garden centre safety requirements.
• Support duty manager responsibilities as required.

Skills

Retail management

Team leadership

Budget awareness

Customer service

Communication

Organisational skills

Problem solving

Attention to detail

Flexibility

Sustainability

Job description

• Location: Pevensey, East Sussex, United Kingdom
• Salary:

We are looking for an experienced and customer-focused Garden Centre Foodhall Manager to lead the day-to-day operation of our foodhall at our Hillier Garden Centre at Eastbourne (Pevensey).

As Foodhall Manager, you will be responsible for overseeing the foodhall operation, ensuring high standards of customer service, product presentation, stock management, food safety and team performance. You will work closely with the Garden Centre Manager and wider centre team to maximise sales opportunities, control costs and create a welcoming and well-run department for our customers.

This is a full-time, permanent position working 37.5 hours per week over a two-week work pattern, with a salary of £30,000 per annum, depending on experience. This is an exciting opportunity for someone with strong retail management experience who can deliver excellent standards, support and develop a team, and help drive sales and profitability within a busy garden centre environment.

Key responsibilities include:

• Delivering a high-quality customer experience, ensuring customers receive friendly, knowledgeable and helpful service.
• Managing the smooth day-to-day running of the foodhall to optimise performance, profitability and standards.
• Overseeing stock management, availability, wastage and margin performance, liaising with the central ordering team where required.
• Maintaining excellent merchandising, pricing and product display standards to maximise sales.
• Coordinating promotions and seasonal activity across the foodhall to ensure the department remains commercially focused and well presented.
• Leading, motivating and managing the foodhall team, including rota planning, training, appraisals and performance management.
• Ensuring staffing levels are appropriate to meet the needs of the business.
• Ensuring till operations, cash handling and banking procedures are completed in line with company policy.
• Maintaining high standards of cleanliness, food safety, health and safety, and safe working practices for colleagues and customers.
• Completing compliance checks and ensuring relevant documentation is completed, retained and kept up to date.
• Supporting risk assessments and ensuring the foodhall operates in line with food safety and workplace safety requirements.
• Supporting the wider garden centre team by undertaking duty manager and key holder responsibilities as required.

About you:

• Previous retail management experience.
• Proven ability to lead a team, manage performance and create a positive working environment.
• Commercial awareness, with confidence managing budgets, sales targets, costs and profitability.
• Strong leadership skills, with the ability to inspire, motivate and develop a diverse team.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a genuine passion for customer service.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage stock, operations, staffing and standards effectively.
• A calm, proactive approach to problem solving and day-to-day operational challenges.
• High attention to detail and pride in maintaining a safe, welcoming and well-presented foodhall.
• Ability to adapt to seasonal demands, changing priorities and customer preferences.
• Willingness to work flexibly, including weekends and Bank Holidays.
• An interest in sustainability and environmentally responsible working practices.

What we offer:

• Life assurance at 4 x annual salary.
• Option to join enhanced group pension plan.
• Sociable hours.
• Full training.
• Online Learning Hub.
• Employee discount of 20%.
• Discount of 50% on the restaurant menu whilst on shift.
• 31 days annual leave.
• Free onsite parking.
• Enhanced Employee Assistance Programme for both you and your immediate family, including free counselling on health, financial, legal and personal/family matters.
• Company Christmas gifts, with eligibility based on start date with the Company.
• Free access to exclusive retail discounts, deals and coupons, plus extra cashback on your Amazon and food shop.
• Free solo entry to the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Romsey and deals at other gardens nationally.

You will be joining a renowned and established family business of over 150 years, working in a fun and friendly environment with an amazing bunch of people. We also place great value on all our team members and how they contribute to the ongoing success and growth of our Company.

Please note that we will only consider candidates who are already located in the UK and have right to work status.

We are an equal opportunity employer.

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age.