Underestimate the power of grocery retail at your own peril. Not only does Tesco take one in every three pounds spent on groceries, it takes one in every seven pounds spent in the UK. It's serious business.

Retail is also one of the most visable aspects of food and drink. It's where the business meets the consumer and where all the strategic planning, sourcing, production and design across the supply chain gets the thumbs up or down.

It is probably one of the easier sectors of the industry to get into - chances are you've already cut your teeth stacking tins of tomatoes - but this doesn't mean it won't pay well. Supermarkets are becoming bigger and bigger as their breadth of offer in food and non-food swells. The responsibility of managing Tesco Extra, for example, could easily earn you a six figure salary.

The diversity of the retail environment means that if the idea of working for one of the big supermarket chains does not inspire you, there is a plethora of other avenues to go down.

So if you want to be kept on your feet, lead a team and be well rewarded for success, then hitting the shopfloor is a good place to start.

 

 

FEATURED RECRUITERS:
 

As our record breaking year proves yet again, we’ve got it right when it comes to developing our people.

 

Wherever Britain’s Armed Forces go, NAAFI goes too – providing retail, leisure and catering services and a vital taste of home.

 

 

I'VE GOT THAT JOB:
 
BRANCH MANAGER
RUSSELL CATTELL - WAITROSE
 

Give a quick rundown of your career to date:
I joined Waitrose as an assistant whilst studying point of sale and exhibition design at college. I left college to become a junior trainee, and held various assistant and section manager positions. I was then promoted to assistant branch manager at Berkhamsted then deputy manager at Brent Cross. My first branch manager position was at Hertford when I was 27. Since then I have managed six stores prior to me current role as branch manager, Canary Wharf.

How did you get into your current role?
I had previously run our Food & Home store at Southend, one of our largest stores. There was only one job within Waitrose I wanted, and that was to run our biggest and flagship store, canary Wharf.

What does your role entail
I ensure our staff are highly motivated and that the store adheres to the partnership’s principles.

What has been your career highlight to date?
It is running the companies biggest store.

What is the most challenging aspect of your job?
Ensuring everyone is aware of all aspects of the business.

What do you love most about your job?
Working with people and managing the challenges of a high turnover.

What frustrates you most about your job?
Time-consuming legislation that diverts staff from key elements of your business.

What are the perks?
Working in a business that keeps the balance between making profits and satisfying employees.

What is the biggest issue you have dealt with in the past 12 months?
Managing our store through the credit crunch.

Who do you most admire in the industry?
The founder, John Spedan Lewis, with his vision of how we should operate as a co-owned business. And our current chairman, Charlie Mayfield who has ensured that this vision continues as reality