Grocery Associate
Position Summary
Agata & Valentina, one of New York City's premier Italian specialty food stores, is seeking a reliable, motivated, and detail-oriented Grocery Associate to join our team. The ideal candidate will have a strong work ethic, excellent customer service skills, and a passion for maintaining a well-organized and fully stocked grocery department. This position is responsible for receiving, stocking, organizing, and replenishing merchandise while ensuring product freshness, accurate pricing, and attractive displays. If you enjoy working in a fast-paced, team-oriented retail environment and take pride in providing customers with an exceptional shopping experience, we have an exciting opportunity for you.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Provide friendly, professional, and attentive customer service, assisting customers with locating products, answering questions, and making product recommendations.
Stock, replenish, and organize grocery shelves, refrigerated cases, freezers, and merchandise displays according to company standards.
Receive and inspect incoming deliveries, verifying product quantities, quality, and condition against invoices and purchase orders.
Unload, unpack, sort, and properly store merchandise in designated stockrooms, refrigerated areas, and sales floor locations.
Ensure products are properly labeled, priced, and displayed, maintaining accurate shelf tags and promotional signage.
Monitor product expiration dates, freshness, and overall quality, following proper stock rotation procedures (FIFO) to minimize waste.
Maintain attractive, clean, organized, and fully stocked grocery displays, ensuring merchandise is easily accessible to customers.
Assist with merchandising seasonal products, promotional items, and specialty Italian grocery selections according to department guidelines.
Monitor inventory levels and communicate low-stock items, damaged merchandise, and product discrepancies to department management.
Follow proper handling and storage procedures for dry goods, refrigerated products, frozen foods, and other grocery merchandise.
Maintain cleanliness and organization throughout grocery aisles, shelving units, refrigerated cases, stockrooms, and storage areas.
Safely operate hand trucks, pallet jacks, carts, and other stocking equipment as authorized and trained.
Assist with inventory counts, product transfers, price changes, and other inventory control activities.
Remove damaged, expired, or unsellable merchandise from the sales floor and report product concerns to management.
Follow company safety procedures, including proper lifting techniques, equipment operation, and maintaining clear aisles and emergency exits.
Collaborate with department managers and team members to ensure efficient daily operations and timely merchandise replenishment.
Assist with opening and closing procedures, including restocking, organizing merchandise, and preparing the department for daily operations.
Adapt to changing department needs and perform additional duties as assigned by management.
Maintain professionalism, punctuality, and a positive attitude in a fast-paced, customer-focused retail environment.
Knowledge, Skills and Competencies
1–2 years of experience in a grocery store, supermarket, specialty food market, or similar retail environment preferred.
Basic knowledge of grocery products, inventory management, merchandising, and stock rotation procedures.
Familiarity with specialty Italian grocery products, imported foods, and gourmet merchandise is a plus.
Strong customer service and interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively with customers and coworkers.
Ability to stock and organize merchandise efficiently while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.
Understanding of proper food storage, product freshness, expiration dates, and safe handling procedures.
Strong organizational skills and the ability to maintain clean, well-stocked shelves and displays.
Basic math skills for counting inventory, verifying quantities, and checking product pricing.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, high-volume retail environment.
Strong time management skills with the ability to prioritize tasks and complete assignments efficiently.
Ability to follow instructions, company procedures, merchandising guidelines, and safety standards.
Dependability, punctuality, and a strong sense of responsibility.
Team-oriented attitude with a willingness to assist coworkers and support store operations.
Flexibility to work mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed.
Qualifications and Experience
Previous experience as a grocery associate, stock associate, retail associate, supermarket clerk, or in a similar role preferred.
Experience working in a high-volume supermarket, specialty food market, gourmet grocery store, or retail environment is a plus.
Familiarity with stocking shelves, organizing merchandise, receiving deliveries, and maintaining product displays is desirable.
Experience handling dry grocery products, refrigerated merchandise, frozen foods, and specialty food items preferred.
Basic understanding of inventory control, product rotation (FIFO), expiration date monitoring, and merchandise organization.
Experience using hand trucks, pallet jacks, and other stocking equipment is a plus.
Strong customer service skills with a friendly, professional, and helpful attitude.
Ability to follow instructions, work efficiently, and maintain accuracy when stocking and organizing merchandise.
Willingness to learn about specialty Italian products, imported grocery items, and department operations.
Ability to stand and walk for extended periods, bend, reach, and perform repetitive stocking and lifting tasks.
Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs and work in refrigerated or freezer environments as needed, with reasonable accommodations where applicable.
Ability to maintain a clean, organized, and safe work environment while following company policies and procedures.
Job Description
Company:J.A.V. Food Corp d/b/a Agata & Valentina
Location:New York, NY 10075
Job Type:Full-Time, In-Person
Compensation:$17.00/hr – $20.00/hr
Reports To:Department Manager
Benefits
Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
401(k) with employer match
Paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, and holidays
Employee discounts
Equal Opportunity Statement
Agata & Valentina is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected status.