Head of Retail

We have an exciting opportunity for a new Head of Retail to join our team.

Our current Head of Retail is leaving us after many years with the business. We are looking for the right person to join our family bakery and help us build on the strong foundations already in place, leading the next stage of growth across our four retail shops.

This is a hands-on leadership role with a strong strategic and commercial focus, where you'll have the opportunity to influence the customer experience, shape our retail and cafe offering and develop high-performing teams. You'll work closely with colleagues across the business to drive sales growth, bring our brand to life in our shops and ensure our customers receive an exceptional experience every time they visit.

We are looking for someone who is passionate about people, food and retail, with the ability to inspire others and identify opportunities for continuous improvement. If you have experience leading multi-site retail or hospitality teams, enjoy developing people and are excited by the opportunity to help shape the future of a fifth-generation family bakery, we would love to hear from you.

Reporting to: Managing Director

Responsible for: All Hobbs House Bakery's Retail Team

Applicants to submit the following:

• A current CV 
• A covering letter (maximum two pages) outlining: 

-  Why you are interested in joining Hobbs House Bakery.

- What attracts you to this Head of Retail opportunity.

- Examples of how you have delivered sales growth, developed teams, and improved customer experience in previous roles.

- What you believe makes a great retail experience.

Purpose of the Role

To lead the Hobbs House Bakery retail estate (4 shops), delivering profitable growth, exceptional customer experiences, and high-performing teams.

The Head of Retail will shape the customer offering, develop our people, drive sales performance, and ensure our shops remain a true reflection of the Hobbs House Bakery brand and values.

Everyone’s Responsibilities

• Aspire to be the best we can in everything we do
• To communicate appropriately, openly and effectively with colleagues and customers at all times
• Demonstrate Hobbs House bakery values in everything you do and always contributing towards our Purpose of ‘Nourishing people and communities for generations to come’
• Have a positive attitude to change, contributing to new ideas and improved ways of working
• Lead and motivate others to continually improve performance. Be approachable, supportive, and demonstrate integrity, fairness, and high personal and professional standards
• Ensure decisions are made in line with the Hobbs House Bakery Values and ethical and sustainable principles are used to make a positive impact.
• Be conscious of our social and environmental responsibilities to our people and communities. Strive to improve our commitment to embedding them into our culture.

Specific Responsibilities:

Commercial Performance

• Deliver sales, profit and labour targets across all retail locations.
• Use data and insight to identify opportunities for growth and improvement.
• Work with Finance and the Managing Director to continue development of successful shop models.

Customer Experience & Brand

• Create a consistently outstanding customer experience across all shops.
• Ensure shops reflect the Hobbs House Bakery brand, standards and values.
• Work with Marketing to deliver promotions, campaigns and community engagement.

Product & Range Development

• Lead the retail product offer, ensuring it remains relevant, innovative and commercially successful.
• The range includes breads, pastries, confectionary, cakes, coffee, drinks and eat in and out breakfast & lunch offerings.
• Oversee seasonal planning, pricing, merchandising and new product launches.
• Work closely with bakery teams to improve quality, consistency and customer appeal.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, coach and develop Shop Managers and retail teams.
• Ensuring excellence in our customer offerings e.g. coffee, shop produced items, counter displays and service.
• Create a culture of accountability, support and continuous improvement.
• Identify and develop future talent within the retail function.

Retail Leadership

• Work collaboratively with the Retail Operations Manager to ensure excellent execution across all sites.
• Build strong relationships across bakery, people, marketing and support functions.
• Act as the voice of retail within the wider business, meeting with the SMT weekly and providing information for the Board.

What Success Looks Like

• Growing retail sales and profitability
• Engaged, well-trained retail teams
• Excellent customer feedback and loyalty
• Strong shop standards and brand execution
• Successful product launches and seasonal promotions
• A clear pipeline of future retail leaders

We're Looking For Someone Who

• Has experience leading multi-site retail, hospitality or food businesses.
• Is commercially minded and customer focused.
• Enjoys developing people and building high-performing teams.
• Has a passion for food, retail and customer experience.
• Can balance strategic thinking with practical delivery.
• Has a full UK driving licence and ability to travel regularly between our retail locations.