Fresh Merchandise colleague

Fresh Produce Associate

To efficiently manage the stocking, organization, and presentation of fresh produce and perishable products on the sales floor, ensuring a clean and welcoming environment for customers while maintaining product availability, food safety standards, and store appearance.

Key Responsibilities

Opening Procedures

Arrive on time for shift and participate in pre-shift meetings.

Review daily tasks and priorities with the supervisor.

Ensure assigned fresh areas are clean and ready for customers.

Replace damaged or missing shelf labels in produce section.

Confirm signage is accurate and up-to-date for fresh merchandise.

Fresh Produce Culling and Quality Control

Conduct visual inspections of all produce for quality, freshness, and presentation standards.

Cull damaged, overripe, or substandard produce items throughout shift.

Remove expired or compromised products from displays immediately.

Maintain attractive and appealing produce presentations.

Stocking and Inventory Management

Replenish fresh merchandise from the backroom to the sales floor.

Follow planograms to place products correctly in produce displays.

Use FIFO (First-In, First-Out) method to rotate all fresh stock.

Weigh cryo-vac items during case break procedures for accurate inventory.

Report low inventory levels to the supervisor.

Cold Chain Compliance

Maintain strict adherence to cold chain compliance standards for all perishable items.

Monitor and record temperatures as required for produce, dairy, freezer, and meat sections.

Ensure proper handling and storage procedures for temperature-sensitive products.

Report any cold chain breaks or temperature concerns immediately.

Backroom Coordination Support

Assist the backroom coordinator with all cold chain items including dairy, freezer, meat, and produce.

Support receiving, organizing, and rotating backroom fresh inventory.

Help maintain proper storage conditions and organization in cold storage areas.

Zoning and Presentation

Keep fresh merchandise neat and organized in designated areas.

Face products for a uniform appearance in produce displays.

Remove damaged or misplaced items from fresh sections.

Ensure all price tags and labels are visible and correctly positioned.

Sign Maintenance

Check for and replace outdated, damaged, or missing signs in fresh areas.

Ensure all promotional materials are current and displayed correctly.

Remove expired promotional signage from produce and fresh sections.

Area Maintenance

Keep assigned fresh areas clean and free of debris.

Report any safety or maintenance issues affecting fresh merchandise areas.

Assist in cleaning fresh produce displays, refrigerated cases, and related equipment.

Closing Procedures

Conduct final quality checks and culling 30 minutes before closing.

Ensure all fresh merchandise is organized and properly stored.

Remove misplaced items and return them to their proper locations.

Assist in cleaning and sanitizing fresh merchandise areas.

Customer Service

Greet customers in fresh areas and assist with product locations and selections.

Answer basic customer inquiries about produce quality and freshness.

Direct customers to appropriate staff for complex fresh merchandise questions.

Continuous Improvement

Stay updated on fresh product knowledge, seasonal items, and promotions.

Actively seek feedback for personal improvement in fresh merchandise handling.

Participate in additional training as required for food safety and handling.

Additional Duties

Assist with regular inventory counts for fresh merchandise.

Support fresh merchandising, including setting up seasonal displays and promotional areas.

Participate in curbside pickup for fresh items and store marketing initiatives.

Help train new team members on fresh merchandise procedures.

Perform other tasks as assigned by supervisors to ensure smooth fresh operations.

Qualifications

Strong attention to detail and organizational skills, particularly for quality assessment.

Ability to work in a fast-paced, temperature-controlled environment.

Excellent communication and customer service skills.

Ability to follow food safety directions and work independently or as part of a team.

Physical ability to handle fresh merchandise and work in cold environments.

Definitions

Culling : Removing damaged, overripe, or substandard produce from displays.

Stocking : Replenishing fresh merchandise from backroom to the sales floor.

Zoning : Organizing and straightening fresh merchandise to create a neat, appealing shopping environment.

Planogram : Visual layout guide for product placement in fresh merchandise areas.

FIFO : First-In, First-Out method for rotating perishable stock.

Cold Chain Compliance : Maintaining proper temperature control throughout the handling and storage of perishable products.

Cryo-Vac : Vacuum-sealed packaging method for extending product freshness.

Case Break : Process of opening cases and preparing individual items for sale.

Facing : Aligning fresh products to the front edge of displays for attractive presentation.

Go-backs : Fresh items returned to their designated location on the sales floor.

Benefits Information

For information on Sysco's Benefits, please visit SyscoBenefits.com

Sysco is the global leader in foodservice distribution. With over 71,000 colleagues and a fleet of over 13,000 vehicles, Sysco operates approximately 333 distribution facilities worldwide and serves more than 700,000 customer locations.

We offer our colleagues the opportunity to grow personally and professionally, to contribute to the success of a dynamic organization, and to serve others in a manner that exceeds their expectations. We're looking for talented, hard-working individuals to join our team. Come grow with us and let us show you why Sysco is at the heart of food and service.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer, and consider qualified applicants without regard to