Job Title: Deli Manager (Expansion & New Department Launch)
Location: Knowle, Solihull
Hours: Full-Time, 42.5 Hours per Week (5 Days Including One Weekend Day)
Salary: £30,000.00 - £32,500.00 per year (Dependent on Experience)
About Eric Lyons
Eric Lyons is an award-winning, family-run butcher and fine food retailer in Knowle with over 120 years of heritage, a reputation for exceptional quality, and a genuine passion for great food.
We are currently embarking on a major investment and expansion at our flagship Knowle store, including a full shop refurbishment that will introduce a brand-new, state-of-the-art deli section.
The Opportunity & Commercial Freedom
We are looking for an ambitious, food-passionate, and hands-on Deli Manager to join us at this exciting stage.
This is a active, front-of-house role. You will be on the counter every day serving customers side-by-side with your team of Deli Assistants, building customer loyalty through great service, expert product recommendations, and enthusiasm for fine food.
Working directly alongside the Knowle Store Manager (your Line Manager) and Nick Lyons (Retail Director), you will have genuine authority and creative freedom to shape, develop, and continually improve the entire deli offer.
Beyond cooked meats, you will lead the expansion into a wider, premium range of products including artisan cheeses, specialty breads, patisserie, olives, fresh fish/seafood lines, gourmet salads, and an elevated sandwich menu. A major part of your role will also involve taking ownership of our Fresh Fruit and Veg section, ensuring stunning visual displays and maximum freshness.
The Journey:
- Phase 1 (The First Few Months): You will start within our current shop setup to get comfortable with our team, customers, and core operations. Your initial focus will be hands-on: serving customers, slicing cooked meats, managing deli grab-and-go fridges, managing daily ordering (breads, pastries, external deli lines), and mastering company standards.
- Phase 2 (Post-Refurbishment Launch): Following our store upgrade, you will take full operational ownership of the brand-new deli department. This includes two dedicated deli counters, hot and cold food stations, handmade food-to-go, an artisan cheese and patisserie section, fresh fruit and veg display, and managing the deli team, including a dedicated Deli Chef.
Key Responsibilities:
Department Innovation & Range Expansion
- Hold full authority to change, refine, and improve the deli range alongside the Knowle Store Manager and Retail Director (Nick Lyons).
- Develop and launch expanded product categories, including an artisan cheese counter, patisserie, specialty breads, olives, fresh fish/seafood, gourmet salads, and an upgraded sandwich and baguette offer.
- Take direct operational responsibility for the Fresh Fruit and Veg section, ensuring high-impact merchandising, peak freshness, and strong visual appeal.
- Identify, test, and introduce new seasonal lines and specialty food items that drive sales and delight our customer base.
Hands-On Service & Counter Management
- Lead from the front by actively serving customers on the counter alongside Deli Assistants during peak and daily trading hours.
- Oversee and execute cooked meat slicing, including whole hams, roasts, and specialty charcuterie to exact standards.
- Maintain excellent display standards, availability, and stock rotation across all deli counters, hot food units, fruit and veg displays, and grab-and-go fridges.
Sustainable Stock Management & Chef Leadership
- Directly manage the Deli Chef to turn tired or excess fresh stock into high-value prepared products (e.g. converting surplus tomatoes, vegetables, or fresh produce into homemade soups, pasta sauces, chutneys, stocks, or sandwich fillings).
- Implement smart waste-reduction strategies that protect gross profit margins while maintaining zero compromise on quality.
Purchasing & Supplier Management
- Take charge of daily ordering for fresh artisan breads, pastries, and baked goods.
- Manage stock ordering and supplier relationships for all specialist deli items not made on site (continental meats, cheeses, olives, seafood, fine foods).
- Monitor shelf life, lead times, and stock levels to maintain high availability while protecting product freshness.
Team Leadership & Supervision
- Direct, coach, and support Deli Assistants, till staff, and the Deli Chef.
- Delegate daily tasks, manage break schedules, and maintain smooth, friendly service during busy trading hours.
- Foster a customer-focused team culture centered around food passion and product knowledge.
Food Safety & Compliance
- Ensure full compliance with food safety legislation, HACCP guidelines, COSHH, and allergen controls across all deli prep areas and counters.
- Complete daily due diligence logging, including temperature records and cleaning schedules.
- Maintain impeccably high standards of cleanliness to ensure a 5-star EHO rating at all times.
Requirements Essential (training is provided if weakness in some areas)
- Proven supervisory or management experience within a deli, fine food retail, farm shop, high-end bakery, or fresh food environment.
- Passion for hands-on, front-of-house customer service and working directly on the counter alongside your team.
- Hands-on skills in whole meat slicing, deli counter setup, and fresh food preparation.
- Strong interest or experience in fresh fruit and veg management, visual merchandising, and stock rotation.
- Leadership experience managing a small team, including kitchen/prep staff or chefs.
- Experience with stock ordering, supplier communication, and managing bought-in food ranges (e.g. breads, pastries, deli lines).
- Commercial awareness with an understanding of waste reduction, recipe creation, and stock upcycling.
- Thorough understanding of food safety regulations, HACCP, allergen control, and due diligence logging.
- Ability to work one weekend day per week.
- Full UK Driving Licence.
Desirable
- Background or knowledge across multiple food categories: specialty cheeses, patisserie, bakery, fish/seafood, or charcuterie.
- Level 2 or Level 3 Food Hygiene qualification.
- Butchery or kitchen experience.
- Experience launching a new department, counter, or store refurbishment.
Why Join Eric Lyons?
Benefits
- 50% Staff Discount (up to £60 per week on full-priced items)
- Company Pension Scheme
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- Free Uniform
- Free On-Site / Local Parking
- 28 Days Paid Holiday Including Bank Holidays
- Your Birthday Off Every Year
- Christmas Bonus (Subject to Company Performance)
- Additional Long Service Holiday Entitlement
- Quarterly Staff Outings & Events
- Free Wisdom Wellness App Subscription
- Ongoing Training & Career Progression
Career Progression
At Eric Lyons, we believe in developing talent from within. This role offers genuine scope for progression into:
- Store Management
- Multi-Site Management
- Retail Operations Management
- Senior Fresh Food & Buying Roles
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £30,000.00-£32,500.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company events
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
- Free parking
Application question(s):
- What is your favourite meal?
- Are you foodie and Why?
Experience:
- Food industry: 3 years (preferred)
- Organisational skills: 2 years (preferred)
Licence/Certification:
- Driving Licence (required)
Work Location: In person
