Company description

Local Foods is Chicago’s first wholesale distributor and retailer of strictly local foods from the Midwest’s best farmers. We source and deliver the finest farm foods to consumers, restaurants, grocers, schools and institutions. Through our one-of-a-kind Bucktown distribution center, event space and retail store, we bring the stories of producers to life.  We started Local Foods to make it easy to eat local.

Job description

Job Duties: The Produce Manager’s role is to maintain a clean curated display, in which all products are priced accordingly, labeled properly, and have appropriate educational information about the source and productions methods of the produce. As Produce Manager, you are the departments leader in sales, product knowledge and highly influential in how you engage with customers.. You develop new products and ways to tell the stories of our farmers.  You are the first to learn, share, and inspire your team members through approachability and action. You also know how to turn mild customer curiosity into intense interest.

Primary responsibilities include:

Build upon, refine and inform the produce department experience at Local Foods:

• Maintain signage to ensure it is accurate at point of sale, properly programmed at register and represents proper farm-source identification and growing standards
• Create visually  appealing displays and keep shelves abundantly stocked
• Manage product catalog, communicate new or updated items to the Public Market Team
• Ensure satisfaction of customers’ needs - handle requests, suggestions and complaints

Manage Produce Ordering, Receiving, Stocking and Merchandising for the Public Market

• Purchase Produce from the Wholesale Department and Produce Distributors that meets customer needs and Local Foods standards
• Pick, receive, and stock product. Order through warehouse and through external vendors that you have built relationships with. Ideal relationships are with farmers, other wholesale distributors are backups.
• Set proper pricing for all products and create new products and product categories
• Achieve shrink, margin and customer satisfaction goals
• Manage Invoicing and Billing in Wholesale and Public Market Operating Systems.
• Ensure general grocery staff is trained to particular tasks relevant to the produce department.
• Be available to fill in at register during times scheduled on bar graph and during times store is overly busy.

Requirements:

• Two years relevant experience, preferred
• Thorough knowledge of industry Quality Control standards
• Working knowledge of buying, pricing systems, and other applicable programs for purchasing
• Basic math and spatial reasoning skills and ability to operate warehouse equipment
• Professional verbal and written communication skills
• Proficiency with MS Office Suite, especially Excel; experience with distribution or ERP software a plus
• Strong organizational skills and ability to prioritize
• Must be able to work flexible hours depending on work load
• Must be able to work in a refrigerated cooler for an extended time at 35 degrees

Compensation

this position is: salaried

Application instructions

Deadline

March 15, 2016