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Job description: Food Retail
In food retailing, you could be selling foods through individual shops, supermarkets or local markets.
Depending on the level you're employed at, your work will include: buying, ordering and controlling stock, receiving deliveries and checking their content and hygiene, preparing product displays, serving customers at the counter and advising customers on how to prepare and cook food.
You may also drive to markets, wholesalers and customers' premises.
Depending on the demands of your local community, you could specialise in certain types of food, such as organic, halal or kosher.
Hours and Environment
You will work around a 40 hour week, which may include early mornings. In supermarkets this will usually include Saturdays and Sundays, with time off during the week.
You'll spend much of the day on your feet and you may need to lift and carry heavy loads at times. You may need to wear protective clothing to comply with hygiene standards, for example when handling meat.
Skills and Interests
To succeed in food retailing you will need:
- Good practical skills
- A high standard of personal cleanliness
- The ability to work well in a team
- Good communication and customer service skills
- In-depth product knowledge
- Good visual sense for counter and window displays
- Maths skills for handling payments.
Entry
Usually, you start as a trainee or assistant and train on the job.
Some employers will prefer you to have a Foundation/Basic Food Hygiene Certificate, which can be taken as a one day course. See the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health website for details.
You may also be able to get into food retailing through an apprenticeship scheme. The range of apprenticeships available in your area depends on the local jobs market and skills employers need.
For more information, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk.
Training
Areas such as meat and fish may need specialist training, which will normally be provided. Your training will usually be on the job, with assessors from local colleges or training providers coming in to assess your skills, knowledge and competencies.
Your training may include a Food Hygiene Certificate or a short Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) course. The HACCP system covers food safety to the standard of new EU regulations.
Opportunities
You can work in independent shops, retail chains and supermarkets. Setting up your own shop is also an option.
In supermarkets and retail chains, you are likely to have good opportunities for progression to supervisory and managerial posts.
You could also use your skills to move into catering or wholesaling.
Annual Income
This annual income section is intended as a guideline only.
- Starting salaries are usually between £14,000 and £20,000 a year.
- With experience, typical earnings can rise to between £21,000 and £28,000.
You may also earn extra bonuses and commission for meeting sales targets.
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