Produce supervisor role: When in ‘Roam’ …
OK, let’s start the day with a riddle: What do you call a roaming caveman? A meanderthal! Hahaha …
All right, with that groaner out of the way, we can delve into a different kind of roaming — this time referring to the produce supervisor role, and why it’s important for a person in this position to constantly be on the move.
First, a common start to the week may be an early competition check or two. Or three. A supervisor is often charged with collecting pricing information first thing. The supervisor also jots down any special ads, commodity or merchandising changes of note. Second, the supervisor heads for home base, meets with counterparts and, of course, the produce director. Here, they may compare notes and compile gathered information into some type of formal report for possible price changes. Any other office time may also include brief, occasional meetings with advertising or other departments, or can serve as a late base to write reports or work on special projects.
Related: The power of ads
Usually, the office is the last place you’ll find a produce supervisor.
Next, another typical early Monday stopping point for any produce supervisor is the distribution center or produce warehouse. A seasoned produce supervisor walks the warehouse with a keen eye, noting commodities or labels they’ll see later in the week when visiting store locations. The warehouse walk will give the supervisor information not necessarily found in reports: What’s in the pick slots? What kind of quality can we expect? Any notable out-of-stocks?
Which items are especially tight on inventory? Any produce items are we long on, which needs pushed? Any new or seasonal items of note? A good hour of walking the warehouse aisles provides a good, hands-on foundation for the rest of the week when speaking to store personnel.
While at the warehouse, the early part of the week is also a great opportunity to meet with the buyers. We made it a point to have a Monday meeting over lunch about how the prior ad wrapped up, how the current ad is winding down and what to expect with the upcoming ads in terms of quality, availability and price points. Buyers (and the quality control inspectors) always offer points that will help the supervisor the rest of the week with calling on the store locations and their produce managers.
Part of Monday and certainly most of the rest of the week, the produce supervisor(s) fan out and visit stores. Their visit schedule (many times unannounced and varying in frequency) should not be construed as “gotcha!” moments or considered the “retail police” — but rather as the “eyes” of the organization. Are produce managers following merchandising direction? Are they following through with all company programs? How are inventory levels, too much or too little? A produce supervisor has a perspective, coming from (most commonly) being a former, accomplished produce manager with the ability to spot numerous nuances and offer suggestions with a single visit.
As one produce director said, “Supervisors are the ‘they’ in the produce managers’ minds. Meaning, I better follow through with this direction, because ‘they’ may be by to check.”
A produce supervisor checks in with the store manager and walks the produce department all right, but also the backroom area, the cooler, the prep areas, even the entire store briefly to see what’s going on. They may look at the labor schedule. Are there enough people scheduled and properly allocated, not only for the morning set, but for the busy evening rush and weekends, as well? How’s the sanitation, the organization? Any morale or safety issues?
More than anything, the supervisor’s role is threefold while sharing thoughts and concerns with the produce and store manager: The first is to observe; the second is to note helpful or positive things going on, so that these efforts or ideas can be shared with other locations to help everyone succeed; and, finally (and most important), a produce supervisor’s role is to act as a conduit between the stores and corporate — a physical resource to help however needed, even by just asking, “How can I help?” Perhaps this means assisting with some overnight remerchandising, or to leave specific direction for the same. Many times, the assistance can mean helping train some of the newer crew members or coaching in terms of product handling or stocking tips. Certainly, all eyes are on maintaining sales, service, gross profit and minimizing shrink. But it begins with sharing knowledge and inspiring others to do their best.
A produce supervisor’s schedule may seem a bit aimless to the occasional people encountered in stores, in warehouses or in the office, but there’s a lot happening, beyond what meets the eye. There’s a method to the madness, and it certainly involves a good deal of roamin’ about.
More from Lobato:
The eight-visit customer challenge
Generics: Will history repeat itself?
