Company description

Food is the foundation of good health. Forty Acres Fresh Market (FAFM) is an independent, Black woman-owned grocery business offering high-quality, fresh food to people across Chicagoland. We are working to restore healthy food access so that people across Chicago neighborhoods can have a worthwhile grocery experience regardless of zip code.

Job Overview

Are you a dedicated grocery professional who loves fruits and veggies, has enthusiasm for people, and believes that high-quality produce should be easily accessible for everyone? Forty Acres Fresh Market is looking for a manager to play a pivotal role in the success of our new grocery store by overseeing the daily operations of our Produce & Floral Department, including the preparation of packaged cut fruit, juices, and smoothies. We are looking for an enthusiastic manager who embodies a people first management style that will drive store sales and profitability.  This detailed oriented person will help ensure the highest standards of product quality, while providing best in class customer service.  This role requires strong merchandising skills, creativity, leadership, and a passion for excellence. This onsite position promotes advancement within the grocery industry by allowing the Produce & Floral Department to become your own piece of the store. 

Forty Acres Fresh Market is preparing to open its first brick and mortar store in Chicago's Austin neighborhood in 2025 and is currently building the foundational management team. 

Job description

Duties include but are not limited to:​

• Direct and manage all functions and activities of the Produce & Floral Department. Achieve budgeted financial goals and ensure profitability through tracking labor costs, inventory and sales, and reducing losses due to shrink, damage, and pilferage
• Oversee Produce/Floral personnel, including interviewing, hiring, training, and developing team members; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance, rewarding and disciplining team members as necessary; scheduling, addressing complaints and resolving problems
• Create an environment that makes customers feel welcome, important, and appreciated
• Assist with store promotional, advertising, and sales event planning
• Manage and track inventory daily to have the freshest and highest quality products, keep stock levels in the back room to a minimum, and avoid product damage or waste
• Closely collaborate with store and other department managers to repurpose and process department inventory for ready-to-eat recipes or specials, and have a cohesive store product mix that promotes the profitability of the store
• Consistently review competitive pricing for key performance items in the market and report changes to store management and pricing coordinator.
• Regularly communicate and report department pricing changes to pricing coordinator
• Oversee and perform produce duties such as safely cutting, packaging, wrapping, juicing, bottling/packaging (dated/labeled) and clean-up of product and equipment used to maximize the quality and quantity of the products being produced
• Enforces quality control and food safety standards. Rotate and monitor for the expiration dates on product and signs, stocking and facing products in the department, build product displays, and handle product damages and credits according to company policy
• Responsible for ordering and maintaining Plant/Floral department  to ensure fresh, high quality offerings from authorized vendors
• Manage the receiving process including: 1) checking the load for quality/shortage/overage and code dating the case; 2) proper storage of product following food safety and inventory controls; 3) verify costs on invoices to find any changes; 4) call in all credits and ensure credit is received.
• Adhere to all food safety regulations and guidelines: Prepare foods according to food temperature logs and follow cooking instructions; Ensure proper temperatures in cases and coolers are maintained and recorded.
• Oversee the upholding of all Health Department requirements, department cleanliness and sanitation including 1) preparing and logging all food temperatures in cases and during production 2) Maintaining a clean department and store 3) safe use of cleaning equipment and chemicals
• Report all safety risks and reinforce safety programs by notifying and identifying store management with unsafe conditions, illegal activity which may include robbery, theft, or mis-suse of company property.
• Other duties related to general store operations as assigned by management

Requirements:

• Must be at least 18 years of age
• HS Diploma or equivalent
• Minimum 5 years relevant experience in grocery retail, including at least 3 years in Perishables (Meat/Seafood, Dairy, and Produce).
• Minimum 12+ months of team leadership experience in grocery retail
• Must be capable of providing and modeling exceptional customer service
• Proficiency in completing cost analysis and reviewing invoices
• City of Chicago Food Service Sanitation Certificate, or ability to acquire within 30 days of employment
• Proficient skill level in Microsoft Office or Google Productivity Suite, including email and Excel/Sheets
• Knowledge of basic math, particularly fractions and margin formulas
• Effective communication skills (written and verbal)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with processing fresh ingredients and recipe creation (including cost calculation) 

Other Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to manage time effectively and prioritize tasks
• Must be detail oriented, self-motivated, and able to work independently or in groups.

​Machines and Equipment Operated:

Sharp knives, wrappers, scales, compactors, garbage disposals, hand trucks, pallet jacks; etc.

Work Environment/ Physical Demands

• Must have the physical ability to stand for extended periods of time, bend, climb, balance, stoop to grasp objects, kneel, crouch, crawl, frequently push/pull up to 100 lbs., frequently lift and/or move loads up to 50 lbs., and occasionally lift 75 lbs.
• Ability to enter the coolers and freezers thereby being subjected to and withstanding frequent temperature changes for extended periods of time.
• Occasional high stress when dealing with systems/customers/staff.
• Able to work a flexible schedule with various shifts, including weekends and holidays, as determined by the store/business needs and as required to ensure adequate store staffing, and ability to be reached as needed after hours.
• Must have a reliable source of transportation, as this role requires timeliness in overseeing the entire deli department.
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The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. 

Compensation

this position is: salaried, 50k-75k

Application instructions

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Deadline

no deadline