Produce Department Lead: Elevate Customer Experience & Sales

Kroger Family of Companies; Fond du Lac (WI); On-site; USD 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Kroger Family of Companies in Wisconsin is seeking a Produce Department leader to drive outstanding customer service, maintain safe and clean operations, and achieve department goals. You will oversee scheduling, training, promotions, budgeting, and product quality across the produce area.

The role emphasizes teamwork, communication with associates, and adherence to safety and quality standards while delivering value to customers and supporting store management.

Qualifications

• Excellent oral/written communication skills.
• Knowledge of basic math.
• Ability to handle stressful situations.
• Current food handlers permit once employed.

Responsibilities

• Promote trust and respect among associates, with a positive attitude.
• Communicate company, department, and job specific information to associates.
• Establish department performance goals and empower associates to meet or exceed targets through teamwork.
• Develop adequate scheduling to manage customer volume.
• Train and develop associates on their job performance and participate in the performance appraisal process.
• Create an environment that enables customers to feel welcome, important and appreciated by answering questions regarding products sold within the department and throughout the store; respond to questions, make suggestions, and locate products.
• Inform customers of produce specials and offer product samples to help customers discover new items
• Review/inspect products for quality and freshness and take appropriate action
• Develop and implement a department business plan to achieve desired results
• Create and execute sales promotions in partnership with store management
• Inform and educate department associates about current, upcoming and special in-store promotions, especially promotions that affect the department
• Prepare and submit seasonal critiques for the sales and merchandising supervisor
• Implement the period promotional plan for the department
• Assist management in preparing the store/department budget, expense control, profit and loss reviews, and take appropriate action on all financial reports
• Schedule daily, weekly and monthly price changes by updating shelf tags and promotional signs
• Plan and organize the inventory process, maintain an awareness of inventory/stocking conditions, note any discrepancies, train department associates on inventory/stocking and Computer Assisted Ordering (CAO)
• Ensure proper temperatures in cases and coolers are maintained and temperature logs are maintained
• Reinforce safety programs by complying with safety procedures, identifying unsafe conditions, practicing preventive maintenance by properly inspecting equipment, notifying store management of any items in need of repair and of customer or employee accidents
• Report all safety risk, or issues, and illegal activity, including robbery, theft or fraud
• Adhere to all local, state and federal laws, and company guidelines
• Ability to work cooperatively in high paced and sometimes stressful environment
• Ability to manage conflict in a reasonable, nonconfrontational and cooperative manner
• Ability to act with honesty and integrity regarding customer and business information
• Ability to follow directions and seek assistance when necessary to resolve customer and business issues
• Provide support and assistance through direct interaction with minors, individuals with special needs, and/or older adults
• Must be able to perform the essential job functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation

Skills

Communication

Math skills

Stress resilience

Food handler permit

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Management experience

Produce/retail experience

Second language

Job description

Kroger Family of Companies in Wisconsin is seeking a Produce Department leader to drive outstanding customer service, maintain safe and clean operations, and achieve department goals. You will oversee scheduling, training, promotions, budgeting, and product quality across the produce area.

The role emphasizes teamwork, communication with associates, and adherence to safety and quality standards while delivering value to customers and supporting store management.