Graham Agnew

Store Manager

Tesco Newry (2022-2024)

• Developed 9 colleagues overseeing promotions of 7 colleagues to team manager, one colleague to lead manager and one colleague to Store Manager. In the process continued my reputation for having a strong talent pipeline supplying the region with talent
• Continuous review the range offered in the store taking time to maximise the benefit of Cross Border Trade. Impulse sales and BWS sales during my time grew by in excess of 25% and made us a top 3 store for these areas in particular
• Working in Partnership with Newry BID I negotiated a seasonal increase store trading hours, improved the store delivery restriction window, and worked effortlessly on enhancing the stores reputation working in the local community store score for community increased by 8% points
• For Tesco finance year 2023 we delivered the best availability performance for home shopping in Northern Ireland alongside sales growth of 10.6% and volume growth of 2%
• Overachieved store sales budget for 2023 by £1.9m
• For Tesco half year 2023 the store was ranked no.1 in Northern Ireland for combined KPI performance and on track to complete the year in a similar position
• Top performing store in both 2022 and 2023 for delivering payroll to budget and one of the only stores to finish 2023 on a lower contracted base
• Top performing night replenishment store on evening availability both 2022/2023 with a 1.1% increase YoY
• Raised £45k for the National Charity Partnership with my country spanning Tesco Colleague events 2022s Mourne wall challenge and 2023s 'Viking Paddle Boat' challenge where over 100 colleagues took part in each event
• Nominated and recognised by the Women in Leadership community on International mens day for my Charity work

Store Manager

Tesco Dungannon (2016-2022)

• Delivered sales growth of 35% in 5 years, and consistently a top 5 sales to budget performer during my time in the store
• Tapped into market share for Eastern European and Eastern Timor customers through tailoring the store range and space to product.
• Achieved lifetime membership of the Dungannon Rotary Club for initiating, supporting and sustaining an annual Tree of Remembrance which to date has raised well in excess of £100k for the local club to spend on charitable causes
• Acquired extra Chilled cases through my own negotiation with UK space to enhance the offering of Fresh Foods
• Oversaw a very successful store refresh in 2017
• Built my reputation for developing talent by promoting over 20 colleagues, including 2 to large Store Manager, 3 to lead team and 15 to Team Manager
• Led the store successfully through the COVID pandemic
• Post pandemic I initiated and oversaw the first of my colleague fundraising events '7 Peaks' and '3 peaks' challenge where 80 colleagues from across NI undertook the challenge in the Mournes and in the process raised £40k

Store Manager

Lisburn Bentrim Road (2013-2016)

• Oversaw a shift in culture where the store 'Colleague Recommends' score moved from one of the lowest in NI at 61% to one of the top stores at 84% when I left
• Oversaw the implementation of the 2nd busiest Scan As You Shop operations in the UK through ensuring the highest customer service levels
• Won a National Charity award for a community event we ran following the death of one of our colleagues

Store Manager

Newtownbreda (2012 - safe hands)

• My first appointment was to run our largest store in NI in 2012
• Delivered all KPIs to budget and achieved my appointment to Lisburn Bentrim as a result
• I won a National Charity award as the 'Most inspiring leader' as I led the store to raise £27k in the year representing an increase of £23k on 2011

Store Manager General Accountabilities across all roles

• Led finance transformation projects to reach company growth goals.
• Established clear budgets with sound controls to keep business operating with optimum finances.
• Optimised store performance through continuous evaluation of existing processes and identifying improvement opportunities.
• Maintained strong partnership with Operations Manager to keep alignment and timely communication.
• Set SMART goals for store team, developing staff abilities and increasing sales performance.
• Kept awareness of competitor activity and developed ideas to promote store.
• Upheld positive and proactive approach to challenges, using initiative and demonstrating commitment and flexibility.
• Assisted in recruiting, hiring and onboarding store staff.
• Analysed daily and weekly sales results and maintained ongoing, productive dialogue with area manager and peers on sales performance.
• Monitored stock levels and wrote timely order supply requests to replenish merchandise.
• Evaluated products to select mix meeting current customer demand.
• Created seasonal sales plans with varying stock and promotional strategies.
• Collaborated with cross-company departments, developing new strategies to capitalise on emerging customer trends.
• Solicited customer feedback to understand customer needs and constantly improve product offerings.
• Challenged and inspired team members to achieve business results.
• Kept business in compliance with internal controls, industry regulations and health and safety requirements.
• Oversaw business staffing and training, building successful, customer-focused team.
• Enforced service standards to maintain establishment reputation for excellence.
• Provided excellent customer care through prompt complaint resolution and quality of service.
• Maximised profitability through efficient budgeting and identified opportunities for growth.
• Monitored competitor activities, responding creatively to maintain relevancy and competitive edge.
• Oversaw daily store cleaning and general store maintenance to keep high company standards.
• Managed stock within set minimum and maximum levels to serve customers without over-extending finances.
• Pursued new business opportunities by forging strong networks both across the business channels and within my community
• Led regular staff performance reviews to provide guidance and support for individual development.
• Understood what drives overall business success and prioritised and delivered quality results.
• Built brand loyalty by promoting company loyalty schemes, hosting events and engaging with repeat customers.
• Enforced licensing laws, health and safety regulations and all regulatory guidelines and legislation at all events.
• Worked flexible hours, covering nights, weekends and bank holidays.
• Carried out day-to-day duties accurately and efficiently.
• Offered friendly, efficient customer service and handled challenging situations with ease.
• Conducted intensive safety audits and investigated reported issues, accidents and near-misses.
• Used critical thinking to break down problems, evaluate solutions and make decisions.
• Promoted continuous improvement by problem-solving and sharing suggestions to optimise team operations.

• Acting as a buffer between store manager and the management team it was my job to manage and monitor the management team, providing coaching to consistently exceed KPI targets
• I consistently overachieved in the role leading to a number of moves into higher graded stores ultimately overseeing Newtownbreda in 2008 where we saw the store rocket past all other stores during my time and cementing itself as the No.1 performing store in Northern Ireland where it remains today

• Night Manager, where my main duty was to oversee the night team to deliver the replenishment of the store for opening
• Dotcom Manager, I oversaw the introduction of home shopping to NI in 2000
• Twilight Manager, in a non nightshift store my responsibility was to oversee the replenishment team and safely lock the store at the end of the night
• Stock Control Manager, to ensure the correct stock routines were undertook to maximise availability and minimise waste and account for any losses and gains
• Fresh foods, to oversee my team deliver great standards on all fresh areas to enhance the company brand for 'Fresh First'

• To deliver the shopping trip, oversee all H&S policies, carry out all HR functions and cash and stock routines for a small team in a retail franchised filling station/supermarket

• Covered extra shifts and maintained flexible schedule to achieve store goals.
• Helped customers with large items, transporting safely from store to vehicle.
• Guaranteed high levels of customer satisfaction through product knowledge and attentive service.
• Boosted product sales by offering selection guidance to customers.