TOP CANDIDATES - United Kingdom

Operations Manager - Grab & Go

London/Oxfordshire

£50,000 to £55,000

1 month notice

  • Over 25 years of diverse experience in Retail and Hospitality, excelling in leadership, operational efficiency, and team development.
  • Successfully managed multi-site operations, overseeing up to 19 locations with an annual turnover of £12 million. Skilled in driving sales, implementing process improvements, and achieving business growth.
  • Expert in coaching and mentoring talent, fostering team cohesion, and reducing turnover through strategic recruitment, training, and development.
  • Proven track record of managing P&L, analysing KPIs, and conducting financial forecasting to optimize profitability while maintaining quality and service standards.
  • Hands-on experience with new store openings, from planning and execution to team training and operational setup.
  • Passionate about customer service and quality, with a consistent history of exceeding targets, delivering exceptional guest experiences, and implementing innovative solutions for business improvement.
  • Collaborative leader dedicated to building positive relationships with teams, fostering career growth, and contributing to organizational success.
  • Contact: ben@corecruitment.com

General Manager – High - Volume QSR Operations

London 

£45,000

1 month notice

  • Nearly a decade of experience in Grab & Go operations, progressing from crew member to General Manager, with expertise in managing high-volume locations across London.
  • Proven success in driving store performance, achieving KPIs, and maintaining operational excellence in locations generating weekly sales from £30,000 to £250,000.
  • Skilled in recruiting, mentoring, and developing teams, creating training plans for over 20 managers, and fostering a positive and productive work environment.
  • Extensive experience in P&L management, optimizing profitability, and implementing cost-control measures while ensuring compliance with Health & Safety and Food Safety standards.
  • Successfully supervised multiple new store openings, establishing operational processes, training teams, and driving immediate results in efficiency and sales.
  • Achieved consistent compliance in audits, financial performance, and customer satisfaction programs, with a strong focus on quality and guest experience.
  • Ambitious, results-driven leader with a track record of maximizing sales, developing talent, and identifying growth opportunities to deliver business success.
  • Contact: ben@corecruitment.com

Kitchen Manager - Grab & Go, Fresh-Food led

London 

£35,000

Immediate Start

  • Over 5 years as a Kitchen Manager, successfully managing multiple high-volume locations in London, with weekly average sales ranging from £20,000 to £50,000.
  • Demonstrated expertise in overseeing day-to-day operations, ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations, and maintaining high standards of cleanliness and food hygiene.
  • Skilled in inventory management, ordering, scheduling, and creating team rotas to optimize productivity and efficiency while adhering to company budgets and standards.
  • Proven track record of leading and developing high-performing teams, conducting recruitment and training, and created a motivated and collaborative workplace environment.
  • Actively supported operations by stepping into General Manager responsibilities for extended periods, delivering exceptional results in sales, team performance, and customer satisfaction.
  • Enthusiastic and self-motivated leader with a passion for providing excellent customer service, addressing challenges quickly, and creating positive guest experiences.
  • Contact: ben@corecruitment.com

Sales Manager - FMCG

London & The South East

£50,000

  • Over 8 years in Drinks FMCG, primarily focusing on Spirits and portfolio businesses.
  • Experience covers new business and account management, alongside NPD, product launching, influencer collaborations and marketing.
  • Recently opening 200+ accounts for a spirit’s brand, securing accounts and business well over £500k for one product line.
  • Previously held an account list of over 400 accounts, driving growth for a portfolio brand across On and Off trade with specialist retail.
  • Very personable and approachable, this candidate is connected to TOP 50 bars, wholesalers, and stores such as Harrods and Selfridges. Not on to miss!
  • Recently redundant due to a shift in direction for the brand, so immediately available to step into their next role.
  • Contact: mark@corecruitment.com 

Head of On Trade - FMCG

London based

£70,000

  • Over 10 years in Drinks FMCG, previously for National Brewers and Beer brands, recently for RTD and challenger brand businesses.
  • Experience covers category management, commercial success, new business, and account management at a National level.
  • Recently increasing a breweries customer base by over 25%, this candidate managed a double-digit P&L and a team of over 8 employees.
  • Previously led field sales, drove growth from volume target of over 95% and has supported in the management of a BCORP cert.
  • Tis candidate has a strong black book including Competitive socialising, Regional large scale entertainment venues, Nationals (Stonegate & Fullers) plus RTM (Nectar, LWC to name a few).
  • On the look out for their next challenge, either in a start up or scale up through to a large corporate. Very adaptable!

Senior National Account Manager - FMCG

Gloucestershire

£65,000 + Benefits 

Immediately available.

  • 15+ years’ experience working for leading F&B Wholesale businesses.
  • He has extensive experience selling into the Education, Retail, Healthcare, Catering and Buying Groups channels, and has a strong network he can bring with him.
  • Increased sales by £30m in last 3 years, whilst increasing margin YOY.
  • Achieved 130% of annual target within first 12 months.
  • Successfully transformed underperforming (-25%) sales team into a positive, with a sales swing of +25%.
  • Personable approach who happy to travel across the UK and stay over as needed.
  • Contact: mikey@corecruitment.com 

Head of / Senior Purchasing Manager - FMCG

London 

£75,000 + Benefits 

Available at short notice.

  • 15+ years’ experience including 10 years working for a leading casual dining group.
  • Wealth of experience in Food & Non-Food Procurement & Supply Chain, across Hospitality, Retail, and Manufacturing sectors in the UK & EU.
  • Successfully developed, implemented and leads procurement strategies.
  • Responsible for an annual spend of £80m across 300+ sites.
  • Strong but fair negotiator; already responsible for £1.5m of savings in 2025, due to contract and supplier reviews.
  • Extremely personable character who is passionate about F&B and Procurement; comes highly recommended and will be an asset to any business.
  • Contact: mikey@corecruitment.com 

Senior Marketing Leader - QSR & Branded Restaurants London 

  •  
  • Over 17 years of marketing experience specialising in transforming, developing, and growing brands through repositioning, multi-channel campaigns and data driven marketing strategies across hospitality, leisure, and wellbeing sectors.
  • Led a comprehensive rebranding, securing £4 million investment, and expanding operations from 2 to 5 locations with throughput growth of 80% and sales increases of 60%-100%.
  • Spearheaded marketing strategies for multiple brands, achieving 73% online sales growth within 6 months and launching new venues with turnovers exceeding £3 million.
  • Expert in delivering omni-channel marketing campaigns, digital transformation, and localised strategies to drive customer acquisition and retention.
  • Proven track record in overseeing marketing budgets up to £1.5 million, managing end-to-end campaigns, and fostering and developing high-performing teams.
  • Extensive experience in growth and engagement strategy development (on and offline), partnership development, and innovation to drive and build customer engagement to enhance brand visibility, retention and loyalty.
  • Skilled in leveraging data-driven insights to optimise campaigns, ensuring ROI and long-term growth.
  • Hands-on leadership in opening multiple venues, developing marketing playbooks, and achieving substantial growth for SMEs and independent brands.
  • Contact: sonny@corecruitment.com 

Senior Hospitality Leader

  • Proven track record in scaling brands
  • Fundraising, and strategic growth
  • Highly accomplished senior leader and board member in the hospitality sector with over 25 years of experience driving growth and innovation.
  • Expertise in scaling successful brands, fundraising over £20 million, and executing strategic acquisitions.
  • Proven ability to build and lead high-performing teams, delivering operational excellence and business growth.
  • Delivered rapid growth for multiple hospitality businesses with turnovers exceeding £17 million and strong EBITDA margins.
  • Strong network of relationships across property sector having secured over fifty prime retail locations in the UK with both institutional and private landlords.
  • Successfully developed and scaled a fast-food concept from start-up to over 30 outlets, achieving high profitability and national presence via both company owned and franchised locations
  • Designed innovative operating models and led brand positioning, product innovation, and marketing strategies to drive consumer engagement.
  • Navigated challenging economic conditions, leveraging opportunities to secure favourable leases and expand during economic downturns.
  • Comprehensive experience in M&A, brand and product development, and operational strategy, driving results in competitive markets.
  • Contact: sonny@corecruitment.com 

General Manager – Venues & Events 

London

£55,000

  • Experienced General Manager with a background of working across prestigious venues, arenas, universities and B&I sites
  • Led teams of up to 300 staff across multiple units, generating £14M annual turnover and delivering high-traffic events for up to 20,000 guests
  • Delivered strong financial performance by managing KPIs, budgets, and reports, while driving efficiencies and maximizing profitability
  • Introduced innovative menu concepts and led sustainability efforts, including waste reduction and plastic-free initiatives for major events
  • Contact: marlene@corecruitment.com   

Head of Operations

Competitive socialising

  • Lead operations for 14 sites including Premium restaurants, bars, pubs and clubs
  • Drive company-wide compliance, health & safety and licensing standards
  • Manged teams of 100+ Staff including General Managers
  • Full P&L and budget responsibility for £28 million+ annual turnover
  • Added £100,000 to top line sales through corporate events
  • Improved turnover by 5% through retention strategies
  • Enhanced guests experience scores
  • Set strategic direction and manage project rollouts
  • Delivered £1.4 million profit growth
  • Increased internal promotions by 45%
  • Implemented succession planning and mentoring programs
  • Contact: david@corecruitment.com 

HR & Recruitment Manager

London

£50,000 to £55,000

3 months’ notice (negotiable to 1)

  • Over 5 years of extensive experience in HR and recruitment, specializing in talent acquisition, employee relations, and organizational culture within fast-paced, high-growth businesses.
  • Proven success in reducing turnover from 70% to 15% in three months, driving employee retention, and improving overall engagement.
  • Expertise in developing and implementing recruitment strategies for multi-site operations, ensuring rapid team growth and seamless new store openings.
  • Skilled in managing employee relations, conducting investigations, and advising senior leaders on best practices for handling grievances, disciplinaries, and performance management.
  • Strong background in payroll systems, HR compliance, and visa sponsorship management, providing vital support for teams and business operations
  • Experience in performance management, creating training programs for leaders, and supporting succession planning to align with business goals.
  • Passionate about fostering a positive company culture, streamlining recruitment processes, and enhancing employee wellness through tailored initiatives.
  • Results-oriented leader with the ability to work cross-functionally, collaborating with senior management to deliver impactful HR solutions.
  • Contact: giulia@corecruitment.com 

Director of Sales – Luxury & Lifestyle Hotels

£90,000

  • I am working with a fantastic Sales candidate who is looking for his next move.
  • He has experience working for some top hotels in London, the UK, and the USA.
  • Talented Head of Sales who is actively looking for a new challenge.
  • Experience with luxury and lifestyle hotel brands across the UK & Globally.Overseeing a portfolio of 4 hotels with a sales budget of £16 million
  • Managed Sales team of up to 25 managers
  • Created a corporate strategy which increased market share to 15%
  • Launched several new hotels and brought in sales for the pre-openings
  • Corporate, M&E, Consortia and Groups experience
  • Based in London but would be open to relocating
  • Contact: ed@corecruitment.com 

Senior National Account Manager – FMCG

Gloucestershire 

£65,000 + Benefits 

  • Immediately available.
  • 15+ years’ experience working for leading F&B Wholesale businesses.
  • He has extensive experience selling into the Education, Retail, Healthcare, Catering and Buying Groups channels, and has a strong network he can bring with him.
  • Increased sales by £30m in last 3 years, whilst increasing margin YOY.
  • Achieved 130% of annual target within first 12 months.
  • Successfully transformed underperforming (-25%) sales team into a positive, with a sales swing of +25%.
  • Personable approach who happy to travel across the UK and stay over as needed.
  • Contact: mikey@corecruitment.com 

Head of / Senior Purchasing Manager - FMCG

London - £75,000 + Benefits 

Available at short notice

  • 15+ years’ experience including 10 years working for a leading casual dining group.
  • Wealth of experience in Food & Non-Food Procurement & Supply Chain, across Hospitality, Retail, and Manufacturing sectors in the UK & EU.
  • Successfully developed, implemented and leads procurement strategies.
  • Responsible for an annual spend of £80m across 300+ sites.
  • Strong but fair negotiator; already responsible for £1.5m of savings in 2025, due to contract and supplier reviews.
  • Extremely personable character who is passionate about F&B and Procurement; comes highly recommended and will be an asset to any business
  • Contact: mikey@corecruitment.com 

Sales Manager – FMCG

London & The South East

£50,000 

  • Over 8 years in Drinks FMCG, primarily focusing on Spirits and portfolio businesses.
  • Experience covers new business and account management, alongside NPD, product launching, influencer collaborations and marketing.
  • Recently opening 200+ accounts for a spirit’s brand, securing accounts and business well over £500k for one product line.
  • Previously held an account list of over 400 accounts, driving growth for a portfolio brand across On and Off trade with specialist retail.
  • Very personable and approachable, this candidate is connected to TOP 50 bars, wholesalers, and stores such as Harrods and Selfridges. Not on to miss!
  • Recently redundant due to a shift in direction for the brand, so immediately available to step into their next role.
  • Contact: mark@corecruitment.com 

Head of On Trade - FMCG

London based

£70,000

  • Over 10 years in Drinks FMCG, previously for National Brewers and Beer brands, recently for RTD and challenger brand businesses.
  • Experience covers category management, commercial success, new business, and account management at a National level.
  • Recently increasing a breweries customer base by over 25%, this candidate managed a double-digit P&L and a team of over 8 employees.
  • Previously led field sales, drove growth from volume target of over 95% and has supported in the management of a BCORP cert.
  • Tis candidate has a strong black book including Competitive socialising, Regional large scale entertainment venues, Nationals (Stonegate & Fullers) plus RTM (Nectar, LWC to name a few).
  • On the lookout for their next challenge, either in a startup or scale up through to a large corporate. Very adaptable!
  • Contact: mark@corecruitment.com 

Head Chef

London

£60,000

Available immediately 

  • This exceptional Head Chef has spent the past three years leading an award-winning gastropub in London, securing accolades such as a spot in the Top 100 Gastropubs and multiple Rosettes.
  • Now ready for his next opportunity, he’s immediately available and seeks a role in a gastropub or fine-dining restaurant with a Rosette-standard offering.
  • 4 AA rosette and classically fresh trained.
  • Strong background in managing refined gastropubs.
  • Full ownership of creating and executing seasonal British menus.
  • Proven experience leading a team of 10 and managing up to 300 covers.
  • Contact: yasmin@corecruitment.com

Head of Food 

London 

£85,000 

  • This person has been absolutely smashing it at a top Restaurant & Bar Group, making a real impact with their positivity, hard work, and hands-on approach.
  • Over the past few years, they’ve helped drive the group forward in a big way
  • Before that, they played a key role in the success of leading Gastro Pub Groups, proving their incredible value!
  • Leading the operations for a large portfolio of 50+ locations, with direct oversight of multiple senior culinary leaders.
  • Driving substantial weekly food revenue across the business, exceeding £150,000 in net sales.
  • Contributed to the group's success in earning prestigious industry awards.
  • Developed and executed a business plan to launch a food production facility, achieving profitability within a year and generating a huge profit!
  • Contact: yasmin@corecruitment.com

Sales Director

London

£80,000 +

  • Led and developed award-winning sales teams, driving significant revenue growth and earning industry recognition.
  • Delivered £67M in annual sales, personally securing £10M through strategic account management and business development.
  • Strengthened market position by expanding and maintaining a resilient, multi-sector client base through innovative marketing and engagement strategies.
  • Implemented dynamic pricing strategies, improved sales processes, and leveraged revenue management tools to maximise business opportunities.
  • Secured high-value contracts and long-term client relationships by fostering collaboration with key stakeholders and industry partners.
  • Contact: marlene@corecruitment.com 

Events Manager

London

£50,000

  • Successfully planned and executed conferences, awards, and exhibitions for up to 8,000 attendees, managing budgets of up to £200,000
  • Developed commercial event strategies, securing sponsorships, ticket sales, and fundraising initiatives
  • Produced high-impact event programmes, including 50+ hour conferences with industry-leading keynote speakers across global markets
  • Expanded flagship industry awards by 200% in three years and introduced rigorous judging processes to enhance credibility and engagement
  • Delivered diverse events, from black-tie awards and large exhibitions to webinars and corporate roundtables, leveraging digital and hybrid event solutions
  • Contact: marlene@corecruitment.com 

Head of Events

London

£70,000

Available Immediately

  • Over 15 years in luxury fashion, beauty, hospitality, retail, and advertising, specializing in strategy, event design, partnerships, and revenue generation
  • Delivered large-scale experiential and immersive events, including launches, live podcasts, art exhibitions, and VIP celebrations for high-net-worth clients
  • Developed new event strategies, launched in-house offerings, and led teams to secure high-profile business opportunities
  • Drove revenue through partnerships, experiential events, and initiatives achieving multi-million-pound turnover
  • Recognized for transforming events into profitable experiences, and organizing impactful brand collaborations
  • Contact: marlene@corecruitment.com 

Author

Date Published: 30th January 2025