Job Requisition ID: 175402 

Established in the 1930s as a trading business, Al-Futtaim Group today is one of the most diversified and progressive, privately held regional businesses headquartered in Dubai, United A”rab Emirates. Structured into five operating divisions; automotive, financial services, real estate, retail and healthcare; employing more than 35,000 employees across more than 20 countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, Al-Futtaim Group partners with over 200 of the world's most admired and innovative brands. Al-Futtaim Group’s entrepreneurship and relentless customer focus enables the organisation to continue to grow and expand; responding to the changing needs of our customers within the societies in which we operate. 

By upholding our values of respect, excellence, collaboration and integrity; Al-Futtaim Group continues to enrich the lives and aspirations of our customers each and every day.

Overview Of The Role:
The IKEA Food Manager is responsible for managing the IKEA Restaurant & Cafe, which functions as a separate profit center within the store. They are accountable for the profit and loss of the business unit and for achieving budget goals established by the store manager. This role includes enhancing the customer satisfaction goals by providing a pleasant dining experience featuring Swedish cuisine. The manager supports co-workers to facilitate a natural break for IKEA visitors, offering meals at competitive prices in a relaxing environment. The role involves leadership in commercial activities, training, sustainability practices, and maintaining compliance standards.

What You Will Do:

Commercial

• Develop and implement a clear IKEA Food action plan, supported by the store and country business plans.
• Execute an annual action plan for the area based on agreed goals.
• Implement the range matrix by ensuring quality and availability.
• Serve high-volume dishes that suit local market tastes.
• Ensure food is prepared according to product sheets and maintain quality standards.
• Train co-workers using product sheets and ensure they taste and learn about new products.
• Communicate top-selling products and promote alternatives when they are unavailable.
• Utilize commercial opportunities to grow sales and profitability.
• Coordinate with Store Kitchen Managers to enhance Swedishness and link the restaurant to the Swedish Food Market.
• Monitor competition to initiate immediate actions as needed to maintain price distance.
• Maximize IKEA Food's potential as a marketing tool for store sales.

People

• Lead and inspire the team in line with IKEA core leadership capabilities.
• Recruit team members based on IKEA values in cooperation with HR.
• Develop team members and ensure they understand the IKEA Concept and guidelines.
• Empower and coach co-workers to improve performance and growth.
• Develop successors to meet the store's succession needs.
• Create an environment valuing IKEA culture and diversity.
• Ensure simple and straightforward internal communication and knowledge sharing.
• Act as a Commercial Management Team member, contributing to store plans and processes.
• Position Food as a driver for growth, customer experience, and brand positioning.
• Accountable for sales, profitability, food quality, safety, compliance, and customer experience.

Operations

• Maximize sales through commercial and operational excellence.
• Maintain local relevance across sales channels to attract visitors.
• Ensure financial results according to unit, national, and global frameworks.
• Contribute to yearly action plan creation and implementation.
• Provide a welcoming customer area with a distinct Swedish profile and style.
• Ensure health and safety standards exceed local and HACCP regulations.
• Offer a pleasant environment in the co-worker restaurant with affordable meals.
• Sell quick and convenient food in the Bistro at low prices to enhance IKEA's low-price profile.
• Offer Swedish dishes in the restaurant and sell ingredients in the Swedish Food Market.
• Maintain knowledge of the local and competitive restaurant market.
• Manage marketing of IKEA Food & Beverages.
• Contribute to store success as a steering group member.
• Secure a diverse and high-performing team through competency building and empowerment.

Sustainability

• Align with stakeholders to integrate sustainability into IKEA Food functions.
• Adapt global and country sustainability directions to fit the market and business agenda.
• Ensure resources and budgets align with sustainability goals.
• Follow-up on sustainability performance based on business plans and tools.
• Support sustainability integration by providing information, solutions, tools, and methods.
• Explore sustainability in local PMA and contribute feedback.
• Document initiatives to capitalize on learning and promote continuous improvement.

Required Skills To Be Successful:

• Proven leadership and team development skills.
• Advanced food production and safety knowledge.
• Strong sales and customer service focus.
• Ability to use KPIs to guide departmental success.

What Qualifies You For The Role:

• 5 to 7 years of experience in a vibrant retail environment.
• Experience leading, managing, and developing a team.
• Advanced knowledge of food production and safety.
• Experience in the food service business.
• Ability to understand KPIs and influence results through departmental actions.
• Proficiency in MS Office applications.
• Sales-driven and passionate about food and people.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proven leadership abilities to motivate and develop teams.
• Ability to embrace IKEA values and diverse co-worker environment.

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Before you click “apply”: Please read the job description carefully to ensure you can confidently demonstrate why this opportunity is right for you and take the time to put together a well-crafted and personalised CV to further boost your visibility. Our global Talent Acquisition team members are all assigned to specific businesses to ensure that we make the best matches between talent and opportunities. We not only consider the requisite compatibility of skills and behaviours, but also how candidates align with our Values of Respect, Integrity, Collaboration, and Excellence.

As part of our candidate experience promise, we also want to make ourselves available to you throughout the application process. We make every effort to review and respond to every application.