From Kitchen Team Member to Retail Business Manager and beyond

Think a chef job means staying in the kitchen forever? Think again. At M&B, your kitchen career could take you from cooking behind the scenes to leading an entire district. 

Just ask Anthony, who started as a Kitchen Team Member and is now a Retail Business Manager, and loving every minute of it.

With M&B, the opportunities are endless. We support you every step of the way, whether you want to grow within the kitchen, move into management, or explore new roles. Anthony’s story proves that head chef jobs can be the start of a career journey that goes far beyond the kitchen.

What made you decide to join M&B?

Back in 2006, Anthony was working as a chef at another restaurant chain when a friend moved to The Round Oak Toby Carvery. He decided to join too, while still studying for his maths A-levels, and didn’t expect to progress beyond Kitchen Team Member.

A few weeks in, the General Manager offered him a Kitchen Team Leader role, and he jumped at the chance. His aptitude for numbers and attention to detail soon led to promotion to Kitchen Manager. When he wanted to explore life outside the kitchen, moving into an Assistant Manager role was the obvious next step.

How did you find the switch from back of house to front of house?

‘You quickly see things from the other side, it’s not all rumbling spuds and loading meat. As Assistant Manager, I focused on improving stock and wastage systems and made multiple support visits to other sites, building relationships with General Managers. 

After two years, the opportunity to step up to General Manager opened the door, and I was ready.’

Was the General Manager job everything you dreamt of?

‘Taking on General Manager was my first big career challenge. I’d proven myself with the district visits, and when I got the job, I celebrated with Finding Nemo and my newborn son Blake! Nine months in, the business was thriving, profit and loss reports were excellent, guest scores were high, and the team was happy and stable.’

When did you know you were ready for the next career move?

‘After proving myself as a General Manager, my Retail Business Manager (RBM) approached me to discuss the next step.

The RBM development programme was both exciting and nerve-wracking, it took me out of my comfort zone, overseeing multiple businesses in a district. With plenty of support and freedom to drive results, I was able to grow my skills and help the district succeed.’

Today, Anthony is a thriving RBM, proving that career progression in hospitality isn’t limited to one path, your skills, determination, and curiosity can take you far.

Where do you see your career going from here?

Who knows! Operations Manager, Head of Compliance, or maybe even Prime Minister? Anthony jokes, but he’s serious about continuing to grow. 

He’s focused on leading his team passionately, achieving district performance goals, keeping every business safe and legal, and ensuring every guest has a great experience.

Start a successful and rewarding career with M&B

At M&B, your kitchen career or Head Chef job can be the start of something bigger. From back of house roles to front of house management, there’s no set path, just endless opportunities to grow, learn, and take on new challenges.

Explore our latest kitchen jobs, management jobs, or bar and waiting roles to find the position that’s perfect for you.

Want more inspiration? Check out our career progression stories to see how others have cooked up amazing careers at M&B.