Senior Fresh Food Manager Job Cork

Blue Forge Recruitment proudly represents leading, progressive retail and FMCG companies across the country.

Are you an ambitious retail leader who thrives on challenges, excels in high-profile flagship environments, and loves making an impact?

We are delighted to assist a highly successful supermarket chain in Cork City, known for its distinguished stores and commitment to excellence in fresh food retail. Our client is seeking an experienced Deli Department Manager to oversee a large fresh food department, with more than 15 personnel in the department.

This is a rare opportunity to step into a senior leadership role at a pivotal time for the business, with the highly anticipated 2 million revamp due later in the year to enhance their already amazing store.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in fresh food operations ideally in a shop or Cafe Food environment, particularly in a high-volume or big-box store, and demonstrate strong leadership, problem-solving, and performance-driven skills.

Package & Benefits

Contract: Full-time, 43 hours per week

Salary: 40,000 - 45,000 DOE

Key Responsibilities for this Deli Retail Manager Job:

• Lead from the Front: Drive success in a high-volume, flagship store, setting the tone for operational excellence and customer experience.
• Champion Fresh Food Excellence: Take ownership of the large Deli fresh food departments, leading a team of 15+ employees to deliver efficiency, profitability, and standout standards.
• Ensure Compliance & Quality: Maintain top-tier food safety, hygiene, and sanitation standards in full compliance with all health regulations.
• Maximise Freshness & Profitability: Oversee product quality and freshness, implement smart rotation systems, and minimise waste to protect margins.
• Inventory Leadership: Support department heads and chargehands in accurate ordering and inventory management to strike the perfect balance between availability and waste reduction.
• Inspire & Develop Teams: Train, support, and mentor Supervisors and staff to foster a motivated, high-performing team culture.
• Deliver Retail Theatre: Oversee fresh food merchandising, ensuring displays are visually compelling, well-executed, and aligned with brand standards.
• Customer-First Focus: Ensure excellent service by proactively managing customer interactions, responding to queries, and exceeding expectations.
• Drive Sales Through Collaboration: Work closely with the Fresh Food leadership teams to plan and execute strategic promotions and sales-driving initiatives.
• Use Data to Win: Leverage EPOS and sales data to identify trends, optimise stock levels, and sharpen merchandising decisions.
• Build Strong Supplier Relationships: Partner with suppliers and trading teams to secure top-quality produce, equipment, and infrastructure, while ensuring all fresh food areas are fully operational and compliant.

Job Requirements for this Fresh Food Manager Job:

• Fresh Food Leadership Experience: An accomplished retailer with a track record in managing fresh food operations within a premium supermarket, flagship retail store, or high-performing food retail environment.
• Senior-Level Expertise: With at least 5 years in a senior management role, youve successfully led multiple departments and large teams, driving performance and results.
• Food Safety Know-How: You're well-versed in food safety regulations and best practices, ensuring compliance and excellence in every aspect of fresh food handling.
• Strong Communicator & People Leader: Youre a confident communicator with excellent interpersonal skills, capable of building trust and inspiring high-performing teams.
• Thrives Under Pressure: You excel in fast-paced, high-demand environments, consistently delivering on targets, deadlines, and compliance standardseven when the pressures on.
• Organised & Solutions-Focused: You bring a sharp eye for detail, a methodical approach to planning, and a proactive attitude when tackling challenges.
• Flexibility & Commitment: Youre available to work flexible hourswhen the business needs you most.
• Tech-Savvy Retailer: You have a solid grasp of basic computer skills and are confident using retail systems for inventory, ordering, and sales tracking.

Contact Blue Forge Recruitment at 01 4853725 or visit our website Blue Forge Recruitment | Recruitment Agency to learn more on how we can assist you in advancing your career or team. Blue Forge Recruitment is a specialist Recruitment Company, assisting Retail and FMCG companies source Retail, HR, Accountancy and Sales professionals.