What are the responsibilities and job description for the Produce Manager position at Tom Thumb Supermarket?
Produce Manager – Job Description POSITION PURPOSE
The Produce Manager oversees all operations of the Produce Department, ensuring high‑quality product standards, exceptional customer service, effective merchandising execution, and strict compliance with food safety and sanitation requirements. This role is accountable for sales performance, labor management, shrink control, ordering, inventory accuracy, and the training and leadership of produce associates.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES Customer Service & Department Leadership
The Produce Manager oversees all operations of the Produce Department, ensuring high‑quality product standards, exceptional customer service, effective merchandising execution, and strict compliance with food safety and sanitation requirements. This role is accountable for sales performance, labor management, shrink control, ordering, inventory accuracy, and the training and leadership of produce associates.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES Customer Service & Department Leadership
- Maintain an enthusiastic, customer‑focused environment with fast, friendly, and knowledgeable service.
- Resolve customer concerns, quality issues, and special requests promptly and professionally.
- Provide daily leadership, direction, and coaching to produce associates to ensure consistent standards.
- Lead by example in customer engagement, cleanliness, and food safety practices.
- Execute all Company and Division produce merchandising plans, planograms, ad sets, and seasonal programs.
- Ensure displays are full, fresh, rotated, and visually appealing at all times.
- Maintain high standards for product quality, freshness, and presentation on sales floor and backroom.
- Prepare department for promotional events, seasonal transitions, and peak sales periods.
- Order produce accurately to maintain in‑stock conditions while minimizing shrink and waste.
- Ensure proper receiving, storage, rotation (FIFO), and culling of all produce items.
- Monitor shrink, markdowns, and waste logs and take corrective action as needed.
- Oversee inventory counts and maintain organized, compliant backroom storage.
- Ensure strict compliance with food safety, sanitation, temperature control, and health regulations.
- Maintain accurate and up‑to‑date documentation including temperature logs, cleaning schedules, and code‑date checks.
- Conduct frequent department inspections to ensure safety, cleanliness, and compliance standards are met.
- Enforce proper handling of perishable and organic products.
- Create and manage weekly schedules that align with sales volume, labor targets, and operational needs.
- Assign daily tasks and verify completion of department responsibilities.
- Complete required administrative documentation including orders, inventories, waste logs, and sales reports.
- Ensure compliance with time‑clock policies, labor laws, grooming standards, and attendance expectations.
- Interview, hire, onboard, and train produce associates.
- Provide ongoing coaching, performance feedback, and corrective action as needed.
- Promote cross‑training and development to ensure department coverage and flexibility.
- Foster a positive, respectful, and accountable department culture.
- Full responsibility for Produce Department sales, labor, shrink, quality, and merchandising.
- Leads 5–12 associates depending on store volume.
- Ensures department readiness for audits, inspections, and leadership visits.
- High school diploma or equivalent required.
- 1–3 years produce or perishable retail experience preferred.
- Prior supervisory or department leadership experience strongly preferred.
- Strong knowledge of produce quality, ripeness, handling, and seasonal trends.
- Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
- Ability to analyze sales, shrink, and labor data to drive results.
- Proficiency with ordering systems, store technology, and basic Microsoft Office tools.
- Frequent standing, walking, bending, lifting up to 50 lbs.
- Ability to work in cooler and refrigerated environments.
- Manual dexterity for stocking, trimming, rotating, and lifting produce cases.
- Flexible availability including mornings, weekends, and holidays.
- Reliable attendance required.
- Must follow company safety policies, food safety standards, and Code of Business Conduct.
- Must comply with all sanitation, labeling, and regulatory requirements.