Advert Close date - Friday 15th August 2025
Join The Crown Estate team at the Windsor Farm Shop as the Food Retail Manager, a new role which will be central to delivering our new vision and growth!
About The Crown Estate
The Crown Estate is a prestigious organisation that manages an extensive portfolio of properties across the UK, including historic landmarks, retail spaces, and natural environments. We are committed to excellence, sustainability, and providing exceptional experiences for our visitors. As part of our team, you will contribute to maintaining the high standards and reputation of The Crown Estate.
About Windsor Farm Shop
We are seeking an enthusiastic and dedicated individual to join our team at the Windsor Farm Shop. Windsor Farm Shop offers a wide range of products sourced from British speciality producers, local artisans and the Windsor Farms. Founded by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in 2001, we enjoy a unique position on the edge of the stunning Windsor Estate, housed within converted potting sheds which date back to the reign of Queen Victoria.
The Opportunity
Join The Crown Estate team at the Windsor Farm Shop as the Food Retail Manager, a new role which will be central to delivering our new vision and growth!
You will manage day-to-day operations and lead on the development of our business to reach its full potential in line with our vision. You will be accountable for delivering growth, ensuring exceptional customer service and operational excellence in everything we do.
If you are passionate about delivering the highest quality sustainable produce and exceptional customer service, we would love to hear from you!
Key Responsibilities
* Contribute to the development and delivery of the retail development strategy for food, drink, gifts, plants, and delicatessen.
* Continually review the range of products on offer, benchmark against category best-in-class performers of farm shops and ensure robust category plans are developed and delivered in line with the vision/strategy.
* Develop seasonal themes and product lines and ensure alignment with all Farm Shop operations.
* Lead on improving the provenance and integrity of the product offering, in line with the vision.
* Generate new visual merchandising ideas ensuring that displays are well stocked, maintained, and presented to the highest standards.
* Accountable for stock management end to end.
* Develop strong relationships with suppliers, negotiating best prices and ensuring ethical purchasing practices.
* Lead the team to deliver and sustain high levels of productivity, quality, consistency, and exceptional customer service, and work with colleagues to build cross-functional working/teams.
* Act as Duty Manager for the whole site, working one weekend in two.
* Regularly audit compliance with legal requirements, including HACCP, Sale of Alcohol, Trading Standards, Health and Safety, and Security, and take action to resolve identified issues.
* Develop and maintain risk assessments and ensure all employees are aware of and comply with them.
* Contribute to budget development and business planning processes.
* Review budgets weekly, reviewing performance and identifying actions.
* Optimise product margins, benchmark internally and externally, and monitor PowerBI reports.
* Optimise weekly sales by monitoring PowerBI reports.
* Prepare detailed zero-based budget/forecast by day.
* Understand and report weekly variances (budget/PY).
* Monitor stock performance and remove/add lines.
* Optimise staff rota and understand variances.
* Identify and deliver margin-enhancing gains.
* Ensure adherence to cash process and procedure.
* Manage the retail stock processes ensuring wastage is minimised and stock loss is minimal.
* Act as Fire Marshal.
* Designated key holder, responsible for opening and closing the site in line with operating procedures.
* Ensure expectations and accountabilities are clear and proactively manage performance in line with The Crown Estate’s performance management system.
* Accountable for delivery of induction for new colleagues, including health and safety.
* Work as a member of the management team, contributing to and delivering wider objectives.
* Maintain knowledge of trends and legislation surrounding the domestic food retail industry to identify opportunities.
Knowledge, Experience & Skills
* Previous experience in the premium food retail sector with a track record of delivering results.
* Experience in delicatessen operations is desirable.
* Proven experience in financial management and budgetary control.
* Proven experience in developing and implementing operating policies and procedures.
* Excellent communicator, able to communicate clearly and effectively with the team at all levels and with internal and external stakeholders.
* Strong customer service ethos and ability to engender this in others.
* Ability to motivate and inspire people at all levels.
* Strong delivery capability, with good organisational and project management skills, and the ability to balance workloads and priorities.
* Commercially driven and astute.
* Meticulous attention to detail.
* Personal Licence Holder for Alcohol Sales (training will be provided).
* Food hygiene level 2 desirable (training will be provided).
* Intermediate to advanced Excel skills.
* HACCP LEVEL 3 (training will be provided).
* Fire Marshal trained.
* Adaptable and collaborative style.
How to Apply
If you are passionate about retail management and meet the above criteria, we would love to hear from you. Please submit your application through our website: The Crown Estate Careers .
We are a proud disability confident employer and operate the offer of interview scheme Disability Confident employer scheme - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
We are happy to offer alternative application methods or formats and can be flexible on our process to enable you to have the best opportunity.
If you have any questions about our recruitment process or would like to talk about adjustments, please contact us at careers@thecrownestate.co.uk.