UK Retail Ops Manager

The Wonderfield Group has recently been purchased by Zensho Holdings, the leading food service company in Japan with a market cap of $5.5b and whose aim is to become the worlds largest food company, a position from which we can eradicate hunger and poverty from around the globe. We operate restaurants, factories, and thousands of sushi kiosks and have recently built a successful cut fruit business, Snowfruit. Combining this with the three businesses previously owned by Zensho, AFC, Sushi Circle and Sushi Take, results in annual sales of $2.5b and Ebitda in excess of $140m a year with an ambitious growth trajectory.

What You’ll Need
• 3–5+ years in multi-site food retail or food service operations
• Proven experience in business transitions, turnarounds, or interim site leadership
• Strong commercial skills, including full P&L ownership
• Experience with TUPE processes and employment transitions
• Hands-on leadership style with a passion for team development
• Understanding of concession-based or supermarket operations preferred
• Flexibility to travel across the UK regularly

 

The Role
We are creating an exciting new UK Retail Operations Manager role to oversee a portfolio of corporate-operated kiosks within major UK supermarkets. These sites will have transitioned from former franchise partners and will be operated by Wonderfield on an interim basis until they are commercially ready for resale.
In your team you will also have direct line management for three Corporate Skill Trainers who will help support the transition process of the kiosks back to franchised.
This field-based position is ideal for a commercially-minded operator who thrives in dynamic, fast-paced environments. You'll lead site performance, build engaged teams, stabilise operations post-transition, and ensure these locations are fully aligned with our brand and commercial expectations before re-entering the franchise estate.
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Key Responsibilities
• Operational Leadership: Drive daily operational standards, food quality, safety, and customer experience across your estate of corporate-operated kiosks.
• Transition & Turnaround: Take responsibility for kiosks transitioning from franchise to corporate ownership. Stabilise operations and lead recovery efforts post-transition.
• Commercial Readiness: Ensure each site is commercially optimised, brand-aligned, and positioned for successful resale back into the franchise network.
• Team Leadership: Recruit, train, and support kiosk teams, embedding performance culture and brand behaviours. Line-manage three field-based Skills Trainers.
• Financial Delivery: Own performance KPIs including sales, labour, cost of goods, profit, and compliance. Drive efficiencies and improvements to maximise EBIT.
• Food Safety & Standards: Enforce brand SOPs on food safety, hygiene, allergen control, and presentation. Maintain consistent audit readiness and legal compliance.
• Retail Partner Management: Build strong working relationships with supermarket partners at site and regional level. Address issues swiftly and collaboratively.
• Customer Experience: Ensure every kiosk delivers an exceptional guest experience. Coach teams on service behaviours and respond to feedback with care.
• Reporting & Insights: Track site performance and provide clear, actionable updates to the Head of Retail Operations. Use data to drive continuous improvement.
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Measures of Success
• Rapid stabilisation and improved performance of transition kiosks
• Commercial and operational readiness of kiosks for resale
• Employee engagement, retention, and development
• Strong, proactive relationships with retail partners
• Compliance with food safety and operational standards


3 Best Things About the Job
1. Lead meaningful change at a pivotal moment in our business
2. Apply your operational expertise to turn around and re-energise transitioning sites
3. Be part of a purpose-led, values-driven organisation shaping the future of fresh food retail

We're proud to offer:

• Field based role covering UK .
• Opportunity to grow your career alongside with us with available apprentice program
• Brilliant support services designed to enhance your physical, mental and financial wellbeing.
• Annual discretionary bonus subject to business and overall performance
• Discretionary Life Assurance
• Discretionary Income Protection
• Group Personal Pension
• Private Medical Cash Plan
• Bespoke reward platform including access to retail, cinema & gym discounts.
• 50% off your food every time you dine with us for you and 3 friends.
• Contribute towards our award-winning sustainability initiatives that delivers progress against 9 UN sustainability goals. We're committed to responsibly sourcing and all our seafood, therefore we only use source sustainable fish. All our packaging is recyclable and 80% of our packaging is already made from recycled plastic.
• Annual Awards ceremony celebrating our success and offering winning Managers free trips to Japan.

About us:

Come roll with us and be part of something big. Celebrate global success across:

• Over 1500 retail kiosks globally (YO!, Panku, Mai Taiko Snowfox & Bento)
• Our Taiko manufacturing and distribution centre
• 63 YO! restaurants
• 50 major retail partners
• 3700 locations globally From Hawaii to Aberdeen

Our Values

• Own it, Care About it, Make it Exceptional, Win Together

Ready to Roll?

Come roll with us and play a key role by bringing people together to celebrate better food for everyone the Japanese way...