Job Summary

At Festival Foods, we are always looking for great leaders. Those who will lead and inspire others to consistently deliver the best shopping experience to our guests. We don’t just believe in looking for great leaders though, we believe in developing them. That’s what our GOLD program is all about.

Training Opportunities at La Crosse Village include the following departments: Grocery, Meat, Frozen Food and Dairy.

Job Description

What’s the GOLD Program? The Festival Foods GOLD Program stands for Grocery Operations Leadership Development, and is an 8-month accelerated development plan for future leaders.

Upon successful completion of the program, GOLD participants will become department leaders for one of the following: Deli, Bakery, Meat, Guest Services, Produce, Frozen Food/Dairy, Grocery, or Wine & Spirits.

Training Opportunities at La Crosse Village include the following departments: Grocery, Meat, Frozen Food and Dairy. 

What you’ll learn: The GOLD Program will provide the practical, hands-on experience needed to successfully lead and manage a department at Festival Foods. Each participant will complete a leadership curriculum as well as a technical curriculum to ensure they know their departments, and even more importantly, how to lead. • Leadership Curriculum: Learn components of leadership; building a presence on the sales floor, conducting coaching and feedback conversations, and hiring procedures.• Store and Department Standards: Review overall store organization and standards.• Department Specifics: Participate in tasks for department so you’ll be able to lead from within. • Ad Planning/Merchandising: Review display standards, ad schedules, ad production and communication plans.• Financial Reporting: Prepare to speak to the data for your department and store (shrink, contribution to overhead, gross profit, labor, etc). Interpret financial results, know department financials and read weekly and monthly reports to celebrate success and recognize gaps. • Schedules: Understand Festival’s Labor optimization tool, how to write schedules, manage projections & requests off.

Qualifications:• Great attitude and the ability to lead and inspire others• 2-year or 4-year college degree or equivalent experience• Supervisor, team leader, or mentor level experience preferred • Experience in retail, restaurant or grocery environment • Proven conflict management skills • Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in all situations with great interpersonal skills • Flexible work schedule including holidays, some nights and weekends • Strong cognitive skills, including problem analysis, decision making, financial and quantitative analysis • Ability to relocate; regionally or to any Festival Foods location throughout Wisconsin is preferred.

• Regular, timely attendance in compliance with the work schedule, and adequate notice to find a replacement for occasional absences.

• Associates must work at least 40 hours a week to complete this intensive training program.

• This position is a temporary position that typically lasts 6 months.

Benefits:• Comprehensive benefits package (Medical, Dental, Life Insurance & Disability, etc.)• 401(k) with Employer Match• Employee Stock Ownership Plan• Paid Time Off • Tuition Assistance Plan through Dollars for Students Program

Company Overview

Founded in 1946 as Skogen's IGA, Festival Foods is a Wisconsin family- and employee-owned grocer that is committed to giving back to the communities it serves and to providing guests with exceptional service and value. The company, which began operating as Festival Foods in 1990, employs more than 8,000 full- and part-time associates and operates 40 full-service supermarkets across the state of Wisconsin. At Festival Foods we are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We are dedicated to building a top-notch team of skilled, experienced and service-oriented associates who represent a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and talents. Festival Foods believes that diversity and inclusion among our teammates, products, and our community strengthen our ability to serve our guests, as we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people.