Specialty Grocery Lead

Lake Geneva Country Meats is looking for a full-time Specialty Grocery Lead to take ownership of the purchasing, assortment, merchandising, and day-to-day operation of our specialty grocery and dry-goods areas.

This position primarily owns our shelf-stable specialty grocery and dry-goods assortment. Produce, cheese/dairy, meat, deli, and other specialty departments are managed separately, although this role works closely with those areas and may assist throughout the store.

This is a hands-on retail position for someone who enjoys good food, stays organized, works efficiently, and likes owning an area of the business.

Job Responsibilities

Manage Specialty Grocery Purchasing & Assortment

• Own the specialty grocery and dry-goods assortment within the direction and standards set by retail management.
• Decide which products to add, keep, replace, or discontinue based on sales, customer demand, quality, profitability, seasonality, and fit with LGCM.
• Manage ordering, inventory levels, vendor relationships, and routine supply issues while keeping important items in stock and backstock under control.

Receiving, Stocking & Merchandising

• Receive, verify, stock, and merchandise products promptly and accurately.
• Maintain clean, organized, and minimal backstock while keeping shelves and displays attractive and well stocked.
• Build seasonal and promotional displays and coordinate additional stocking help when needed.

Pricing, Customer Service & Retail Teamwork

• Monitor costs, margins, pricing, and product performance, and maintain accurate item information in our systems.
• Provide friendly, knowledgeable customer service and help build product knowledge across the retail team.
• Work with the Retail Manager on broader store priorities while maintaining ownership of the specialty grocery and dry-goods department.

Qualifications

Required

• Demonstrated ability to independently manage multiple recurring responsibilities and deadlines.
• Strong organization and attention to detail.
• Ability to work efficiently and maintain a strong pace while balancing ordering, receiving, stocking, and customer service.
• Comfort working with numbers, including costs, margins, pricing, and sales information.
• Ability to learn and effectively use retail point-of-sale, ordering, and inventory systems.
• Strong communication skills with customers, coworkers, and vendors.
• Ability to identify problems, make sound decisions, and take appropriate action independently.
• Willingness and ability to perform the physical stocking and receiving responsibilities of the position, including regularly lifting products weighing up to 40 pounds.
• Availability to work a full-time retail schedule, including early mornings and weekends as required by ordering, delivery, and store needs.

Preferred

• Grocery, specialty-food, or retail merchandising experience.
• Experience purchasing products or managing inventory.
• Experience working directly with wholesalers, distributors, or other vendors.
• Familiarity with specialty foods and an interest in discovering products customers will enjoy.
• Experience using sales information to make inventory, purchasing, or merchandising decisions.

Prior experience is valuable, but we're especially interested in candidates who can demonstrate strong organization, initiative, judgment, productivity, and a willingness to learn.

About Lake Geneva Country Meats

Lake Geneva Country Meats is a family-owned specialty meat market and food store serving the Lake Geneva community since 1965. We combine traditional butcher-shop service with a carefully selected assortment of specialty foods, cheese, deli products, wine, beer, and other items that help our customers put great food on the table.

This position reports to the Retail Manager and does not have direct supervisory responsibility, although the person in this role may coordinate other retail employees assisting with stocking and department tasks.

Benefits

Full-time employees receive paid time off, paid holidays, a SIMPLE IRA plan with employer matching, MEC health insurance, access to supplemental insurance, paid life insurance, and a generous employee discount.