Food Manager

Salary and Position Details

From £31,450

Location:

Sunderland Store, Sunderland, SR3 1PD

Contract type:
Permanent
Business area:
Retail
Closing date: 29 January 2026
Requisition :

Our management teams don’t just run stores – they’re the driving force behind our business. With bold leadership, a passion for service and an eye for opportunity, they empower teams to raise the bar every single day for our customers. Whether it’s product availability, safety standards, or delivering seamless daily operations, they’re hands‑on, sleeves‑rolled‑up changemakers. And the impact? Work becomes more rewarding for our colleagues and shopping becomes a next‑level experience for every customer who walks through our doors.

This is how we bring our purpose to life, one powerful action at a time.

• Role‑modeling and coaching for high standards and efficiency across the food hall.
• Managing compliance to processes while bringing passion and flair for excellent shop‑keeping and customer service.
• Ensuring every customer gets the food they want, helping to make us the first choice for food.
• Managing performance and capability, conducting disciplinaries and ensuring accurate scheduling and pay.
• Assuming overall responsibility for running the store, providing direction and support to deliver for the customer.

• Previous line‑management responsibilities in a fast‑paced, operational environment.
• Provides brilliant customer service and coaches a team to do the same.
• Delivers KPIs or other performance indicators.
• Can manage disciplinaries and performance issues or other employee‑relations issues.
• Leads operations and is comfortable doing this alone in the absence of more senior management.

• A track record of delivering exceptional customer experiences, with evidence of coaching others to consistently raise the bar.
• Experience leading teams in a dynamic, customer‑facing environment – inspiring high performance and creating a culture where colleagues thrive.
• Leadership experience in a high‑volume, fast‑paced operational setting – retail, food service or hospitality – overseeing daily operations, solving business problems and keeping teams focused on delivering for customers.
• Proven success in delivering against a wide range of KPIs – sales, stock availability, customer satisfaction and colleague engagement.
• Experience managing complex people matters – performance, absence, formal employee‑relations cases – with confidence and fairness.

Salary will be dependent upon your experience as well as the store size, complexity and location. Alongside this, we provide a great range of benefits for our managers, including:

• Discount card – 10 % off at Sainsbury’s, Argos, Tu and Habitat after four weeks, increasing to 15 % off at Sainsbury’s every Friday and Saturday and 15 % off at Argos every payday.
• An annual bonus scheme based on performance.
• Free food and hot drinks for colleagues in all stores.
• Generous holiday entitlement, maternity and paternity leave.
• Pension – we’ll match 4‑7.5 % of your contributions.
• Sainsbury’s share scheme – build‑up 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 – hire a new bike and cycling equipment while saving on tax and NI.
• Special offers on gym memberships, restaurants, holidays, retail vouchers and more.

We are dedicated to being a truly inclusive retailer, where every colleague can achieve their full potential and every customer feels welcome when they shop with us. To support this commitment, our colleagues may be entitled to a range of enhanced discretionary leave for families, as well as support for carers. We provide resources to help them understand and support their role and team effectively.

Our internal colleague networks seek to ensure true representation for everyone, helping us identify and remove barriers. We proudly offer development opportunities, including mentorship, training and career progression pathways, to help colleagues grow and succeed. We celebrate diversity through various initiatives and events, fostering a culture of inclusion and respect. If you would like to learn more about our commitment to inclusivity, please take a look here.

Should you require any reasonable adjustments during the application or interview stages, please let us know and we will endeavour to support you.