F&B Operations Manager | IKEA | Regional Service Office, Dubai

You are responsible for the IKEA Restaurant sales areas, guest areas (including the co-worker restaurant), dish washing facility and IKEA Cafés (where applicable). Working together with the stores Food team and other colleagues in the IKEA Food management team, you lead and manage this area to fulfil the purpose of the function by building business and people together. You strive to make people smile while providing irresistible food offers in a welcoming atmosphere that gives our guests a good reason to return again and again.

Key Specific Accountabilities:

Customers

• Ensure our guests are always in focus and strive to make them smile. Meet and serve our guests showing empathy and care. Willing to listen and support them with an attitude based on the IKEA values.
• Lead by example and is a good ambassador for the IKEA store in all contact with our guests and give them a good reason to return again and again.
• Always look at the Restaurants through the eyes of our customers and walk the stores regularly. Have a frequent dialogue with our guests to get continuous feedback about their experiences and to learn more about their needs and wants, then act based on their input.
• Empower and encourage our Food Co-workers to take immediate action to meet the needs of guests and give input on how to continuously improve our meeting with them.
• Know about the services offered in our store and use this knowledge to help guests.

Commercial

• Together with colleagues and manager, you contribute actively in the development and implementation of a clear IKEA Food action plan for the stores using the country business plan. These are supported by input from Growing IKEA together and the IKEA Food Direction & Strategy. You also develop and execute an annual action plan for his area based on agreed goals.
• Implement the range matrix (global and national) in co-operation with the Kitchen Production Manager to secure a strong IKEA Food range identity to distinguish ourselves from competitors on the market.
• Co-operate with the Communication & Interior Design (Com&In) department and the Commercial Activity Leader/Local Marketing by actively contributing to/and supporting all marketing and in-store activities. Always integrating the Swedish celebrations and yearly focus area into the store’s Commercial Calendar, including the activity range and communication packages.
• Together with the Kitchen Production Manager, plan and implement range changes in a simple and cost-conscious way. Ensure all co-workers taste and learn about new products before they are launched.
• Work to maximise commerciality to grow sales as well as the conversion rate and average cheque. By doing this. you increase the profitability according to the goals in his area. Use other appropriate tools such as the Functional Commercial Review, customer flow and the 10 Most Frequent Questions (MFQ) to assist in achieving his goals.
• Utilise everyday commercial opportunities to attract visitors and keep the chairs warm by maximizing our activities calendar.
• Use the IKEA Restaurant & Café to initiate various activities that inspire and surprise our guests through engagement, learning and participation.
• Secure an irresistible food offer by ensuring the presentation and communication of the food and beverage range is attractive, e.g. through story-telling, live cooking, and using the IKEA Restaurant & Café as a showroom and co-operating with Com&In.
• Use relevant communication to strengthen low price, quality and sustainability to secure low price with a meaning.
• Have appropriate routines for all communication, from parking area into the IKEA Food areas, showing relevant offers throughout the day.
• Co-operate with the Commercial SFM Manager to enhance the link between the IKEA Restaurant & Café and the Swedish Food Market. When appropriate take actions to promote cross merchandising/communication.
• Have relevant knowledge of the competition on our market and use this information to initiate immediate action as needed, e.g. secure a substantial price distance.
• Secure that the commercial areas are always in shape as new across our stores.
• In co-operation with Com&In secure the commercial calendar’s red thread by providing an attractive and inviting atmosphere that demonstrates clearly IKEA home furnishing competence.
• Create awareness of IKEA Food as the most importa