Farmfoods - GradJobs Live! & PostGrad Study Live!

Company Profile

Farmfoods are a family business with ambition. Originating in Aberdeen in 1955, we now have over 320 shops throughout the UK.

We aim to offer sensational value to our customers on a great range of everyday family goods. We back up our sensational value with a focus on delivering an ‘old fashioned’, genuine and friendly customer experience.

Working in our fast paced environment is extremely challenging and it is not for the faint hearted, the days can be long and demanding. We operate 7 days a week, 363 days a year and you will often be required to work early in the morning, late in the evening and at weekends. Retail is exciting and great fun but it is not for everyone and you should decide before applying if it is right for you.

The Farmfoods Management Development programme is your opportunity to join our growing business. We are looking for our leaders of the future and this could be the start to an exciting and challenging career in retail with great opportunities for people who demonstrate the qualities we are looking for.

For more information visit our website

More about Farmfoods

FARMFOODS – CASE STUDY 3

Lorna

I applied for the MDP whilst I was in my last year of University; however, I was unsuccessful at the assessment centre and told that I would benefit from some more teamwork and retail experience. I then applied again after working in retail for a year and here I am today.

Moving from a betting shop to a supermarket was a big change for me and I really had to pick up my speed. The team in my first branch trained me to become a great Retail Assistant. Here I also began my Duty Manager training ready for my next store.

The second branch I worked in was much bigger and I was thrown straight into my Duty Manager role which was very scary but also exciting. I would definitely say this branch developed my managerial skills and the pace at which people work in the shop is impressive. The team showed me exactly how to run a store efficiently.

My next step was taking on my own branch. Going into this store I was very nervous as this would be my first position as manager; however, the team and my Area Manager calmed my nerves as they really are a great bunch of hardworking people who love their jobs.

Over the year I have also found the placements really helpful with my development. Spending time with different parts of the company really does make you look at things from a different point of view and you know exactly what is expected from you within store. I am looking forward to the opportunities and development Farmfoods has to offer.

My advice to anybody on the programme is to stay calm when you are stressed and do not hold back with questions. Remember you are responsible for your development and how far you want to go.

Farmfoods – Case study 2

Louise

Tell me a bit about you?

I’m Louise I live in Durham and graduated with a 2:1 degree in business management. I spend my spare time with my horse and socialising with my family and friends.

Why did you choose a career in retail?

Retail was completely new to me and seemed a challenging and exciting industry to be a part of with a wide range of roles and opportunities.

Why Farmfoods?

It’s a family owned business with values that make it a friendly and professional place to work. The structured programme really appealed and has given me many opportunities to learn different aspects of the business to support me develop into my role as Branch Manager.

Describe a typical working day?

Every day is a different at Farmfoods, although the same routines and daily tasks are carried out, there is always something new that comes up and challenges my skills. This is all part of the process though and allows me to learn and grow as a manager.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far?

Stepping up from Duty Manager to Branch Manager and knowing that the branch was now my responsibility. With my experience and knowledge gained on the programme and the support I had available I made it through and I’m really proud of what I have achieved.

What are your future development and career plans?

I plan to continue developing my skills as Branch Manager by managing different branches to build the confidence and experience to pursue an Area Manager role with the company.

Farmfoods – Case study 1

Emily

Why did you want to become a Branch Manager at Farmfoods?

For me it really was the career I never considered. I hadn’t heard of the Farmfoods Management Development Programme before but I was looking to pursue a career in retail and after learning about the programme and the company I felt that Farmfoods, as a family run business with values similar to my own, was the right place for me.

What has been your favourite part of the programme?

I enjoyed it all but if I had to pick, it would have to be the time spent at the depot. I even liked the time spent in the freezer at minus 22 degrees! Spending time with the distribution team allowed me to see things from a different perspective and now I understand how my team in branch can work better together with our colleagues in distribution. Everyone was friendly and always on hand to help.

What has been the most challenging part of the programme?

When I ran my first branch as Branch Manager. I was nervous and I knew it would be daunting but it was a challenge and I wanted to do it. I had all of the support I needed and was able to find my feet as a new manager. Overall my time there was really rewarding and it was great to see that our hard work paid off as the audit score improved during my time there.

If you had to go through the process again, what advice would you have for yourself?

One thing for sure is to be less nervous; at Farmfoods you really do have the support you need so don’t be afraid to make mistakes; they happen and you can learn from them. Don’t dwell on the negatives and be proud of the things you achieve.