Associated Grocers of New England
Retail Fresh Specialist- New York
Associated Grocers of New England, Ithaca, New York, United States, 14850
Retail Fresh Specialist
Serve as the subject matter expert for all Fresh Departments (Produce, Meat, Deli, Bakery, Seafood) to support independent retailers. Provide coaching and training to store managers and department leads on best practices in ordering, handling, merchandising, and display execution. Conduct purposeful store visits focused on driving sales, gross margin, quality, and shrink improvement. Partner with retailers on new item introductions, seasonal sets, and differentiated offerings to strengthen competitive position. Support store resets, remodels, and new store openings to ensure Fresh Departments are impactful and consistent. Utilize reporting tools (Power BI, internal dashboards) to identify opportunities and provide actionable feedback. Communicate market and product trends, seasonal opportunities, and best practices to retailers. Maintain regular contact with retailers between site visits to ensure follow-up and continuity of support. Collaborate with internal teams (Sales Counselors, Procurement, Warehouse, Marketing) to resolve issues and deliver coordinated retailer support. Document findings and recommendations from retailer visits and ensure timely follow-up. Embrace and model cooperative culture and values by being accountable, collaborative, and focused on retailer success. Perform additional responsibilities as needed to support retailer success. Essential Skills & Experience: High school diploma or GED required; 35 years of experience in Fresh/Perishable departments (Produce, Meat, Deli, Bakery, Seafood). Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to coach, train, and build relationships; effective in both oral and written communication. Proficiency in related software applications; experience with reporting/dashboard tools (e.g., Power BI) preferred. Knowledge of retail operations, merchandising standards, and sales principles specific to Fresh Departments. Ability to interpret trends, and prepare clear, actionable insights to drive retailer success. Valid driver's license and willingness to travel regularly within assigned territory. Non Essential Skills & Experience: Business degree (Associate or Bachelor) Physical Demands & Work Environment: Frequent travel within assigned territory is required. Work environment involves some exposure to hazards or physical risks, which require following basic safety precautions. Work involves some exposure to unusual elements, such as extreme temperatures, dirt, dust, fumes, smoke, unpleasant odors, and/or loud noises. Ability to lift 25 lbs.
Serve as the subject matter expert for all Fresh Departments (Produce, Meat, Deli, Bakery, Seafood) to support independent retailers. Provide coaching and training to store managers and department leads on best practices in ordering, handling, merchandising, and display execution. Conduct purposeful store visits focused on driving sales, gross margin, quality, and shrink improvement. Partner with retailers on new item introductions, seasonal sets, and differentiated offerings to strengthen competitive position. Support store resets, remodels, and new store openings to ensure Fresh Departments are impactful and consistent. Utilize reporting tools (Power BI, internal dashboards) to identify opportunities and provide actionable feedback. Communicate market and product trends, seasonal opportunities, and best practices to retailers. Maintain regular contact with retailers between site visits to ensure follow-up and continuity of support. Collaborate with internal teams (Sales Counselors, Procurement, Warehouse, Marketing) to resolve issues and deliver coordinated retailer support. Document findings and recommendations from retailer visits and ensure timely follow-up. Embrace and model cooperative culture and values by being accountable, collaborative, and focused on retailer success. Perform additional responsibilities as needed to support retailer success. Essential Skills & Experience: High school diploma or GED required; 35 years of experience in Fresh/Perishable departments (Produce, Meat, Deli, Bakery, Seafood). Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to coach, train, and build relationships; effective in both oral and written communication. Proficiency in related software applications; experience with reporting/dashboard tools (e.g., Power BI) preferred. Knowledge of retail operations, merchandising standards, and sales principles specific to Fresh Departments. Ability to interpret trends, and prepare clear, actionable insights to drive retailer success. Valid driver's license and willingness to travel regularly within assigned territory. Non Essential Skills & Experience: Business degree (Associate or Bachelor) Physical Demands & Work Environment: Frequent travel within assigned territory is required. Work environment involves some exposure to hazards or physical risks, which require following basic safety precautions. Work involves some exposure to unusual elements, such as extreme temperatures, dirt, dust, fumes, smoke, unpleasant odors, and/or loud noises. Ability to lift 25 lbs.