WINE STEWARD

Kroger; Irving (IA); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Kroger in Irving, IA seeks a Wine Room Associate to deliver outstanding customer service, answer product questions and support wine sales. You will promote wine samples, explain flavor profiles, and assist with wine pairings while maintaining safe, welcoming store environments.

You should be 21+, have retail experience, strong communication skills, and pass a wine knowledge test upon employment. This role supports department goals and aligns with Kroger’s Customer 1st strategy.

Qualifications

• Must be 21 years of age and able to comply with alcohol service laws.
• High school education or equivalent required.
• Retail experience preferred.
• Knowledge of imported and domestic wine and beer varieties and flavor profiles.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to handle stressful situations.
• Pass wine test once employed.

Responsibilities

• Promote trust and respect among associates.
• Create welcoming environment by answering customer questions about products.
• Gain knowledge of products and respond with recommendations.
• Offer product samples per company guidelines and applicable laws.
• Inform customers of wine specials.
• Provide customers with products they have requested.
• Recommend wine items to ensure customer satisfaction.
• Assist with wine pairings for meat, cheeses and desserts.
• Collaborate with store chef for tastings and wine events.
• Stay current with ads, promotions and seasonal items.
• Ensure proper temperatures in cases and coolers; maintain logs.
• Reinforce safety by following procedures and reporting hazards.
• Inspect equipment and report repairs as needed.
• Notify management of accidents; report safety risks, theft or fraud.
• Perform essential job functions with/without accommodation.

Skills

Second language

Wine knowledge

Industry trends

Wine & beer experience

Retail experience

Stress handling

Communication

Math basics

Wine test

Education

High school education or equivalent

Job description

Create an outstanding customer experience through exceptional service. Establish and maintain a safe and clean environment that encourages our customers to return. Assist the department manager in reaching sales and profit goals established for the department, and monitor all established quality assurance standards. Embrace the Customer 1st strategy and encourage associates to deliver excellent customer service. Demonstrate the company's core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion and safety of others.

• Promote trust and respect among associates
• 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
• Gain and maintain knowledge of products sold within the department and be able to respond to questions and make suggestions about products
• Offer product samples, consistent with company guidelines and applicable laws, to help customers discover new items or products inquire about
• Inform customers of wine specials
• Provide customers with products that they have requested
• Recommend wine items to customers to ensure they get the products they want and need
• Assist customers with pairing of wine and other items such as meat, cheeses, desserts
• Collaborate with store chef for wine tastings and other programs featuring wines
• Stay current with present, future, seasonal and special ads
• Ensure proper temperatures in cases and coolers are maintained and temperature logs are maintained
• Reinforce safety programs by complying with safety procedures and identify unsafe conditions and notify store management
• Practice preventive maintenance by properly inspecting equipment and notify appropriate department or store manager of any items in need of repair
• Notify management of customer or employee accidents
• Report all safety risk, or issues, and illegal activity, including: robbery, theft or fraud
• Must be able to perform the essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation

• Second language (speaking, reading and/or writing)
• Knowledge of imported and domestic varieties, the flavor profiles and how they are made
• Knowledge of industry trends in specialty wines and beers as they relate to the consumer
• Experience working with wine and beer
• Retail experience
• Second language (speaking, reading and/or writing)
• High school education or equivalent
• Must be 21 years of age
• Ability to handle stressful situations
• Effective communication skills
• Knowledge of basic math
• Pass wine test once employed