Christopher Loar
Abita Springs,LA
Summary
Results-driven Produce Manager with expertise in inventory management, quality control, and team leadership. Proven ability to enhance operational efficiency and maintain strong vendor relations while ensuring customer satisfaction.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
Work History
Produce Manager
Rouses Supermarket
Mandeville, Louisiana
04.2004 - 01.2018
- Supported daily produce department operations.
- Monitored product quality and freshness standards.
- Trained staff on proper handling and storage methods.
- Assisted with inventory tracking and restocking activities.
- Created promotional displays to improve product visibility.
- Followed health and safety regulations across department tasks.
- Worked with suppliers to source high-quality produce.
- Helped customers with product selection and questions.
- Replenished, rotated, and culled displays throughout day.
- Coached new team members during onboarding.
- Received produce deliveries and unloaded shipments.
- Answered customer produce questions and special requests.
- Resolved customer complaints quickly while keeping positive service attitude.
- Worked with other departments to support merchandising of produce items across store locations.
- Helped coordinate efficient restocking of grocery merchandise to meet customer needs and support steady sales.
- Built promotional displays for seasonal and special occasions to support sales growth through marketing efforts.
- Prepared weekly schedules to confirm proper floor coverage within fiscal guidelines.
- Led by example and accepted responsibility for actions to support culture of performance excellence.
- Kept records of purchases, storage temperatures, deliveries, and invoices for accurate financial reporting.
- Supervised produce department staff, delegated tasks, and trained new employees.
- Built vendor relationships through frequent communication regarding orders and shipments.
- Built systems to improve inventory management and maintain accurate produce stock levels.
- Improved profit through efficient team workflows, reduced waste, and tighter shrink control.
- Priced produce to support margin and sales goals while keeping competitive pricing profile.
- Monitored quality standards for all produce items to support freshness and safety compliance.
- Reviewed sales data to identify customer buying trends and refine product selection.
- Helped maintain clear communication between customers and associates to support positive team atmosphere.
- Led weekly meetings with team members to review goals and job priorities.
- Recommended project plan changes when needed.
- Reviewed business performance data and forecasted results for upper management.
- Planned team activities to build camaraderie and support positive workplace culture.
- Resolved employee conflicts and guided discussions toward practical solutions.
- Reviewed individual and team performance to identify improvement opportunities.
- Provided ongoing feedback and coaching to strengthen employee performance.
- Built relationships with local farmers and suppliers to secure high-quality organic fruits and vegetables at reasonable prices.
- Maintained department equipment and reported repair needs to general manager.
- Reviewed daily sales reports to identify low-performing areas and support quick corrective action.
Sales Associate
Helm Paint & Supply
Covington , Louisiana
01.2001 - 05.2004
- Assisted customers with paint selection and color matching.
- Maintained organized inventory of paint supplies and tools.
- Operated cash register and processed customer transactions efficiently.
- Provided product knowledge to enhance customer purchasing decisions.
- Collaborated with team members to ensure store cleanliness and organization.
- Helped customers find specific products, answered questions, and offered product advice.
- Greeted customers and provided exceptional customer service.
- Handled customer complaints in a professional manner.
- Answered incoming telephone calls to provide store, products and services information.
- Worked with fellow sales team members to achieve group targets.
- Restocked shelves as needed to ensure sufficient inventory levels.
- Maintained cleanliness of store environment including floors, windows, displays.
Co store Director
Winn-Dixie Stores Inc.
Ponchatoula, Louisiana
06.1987 - 01.2001
- Supported daily operations and maintained compliance with company policies.
- Managed staff schedules and assigned tasks to improve workflow.
- Trained new hires on store procedures and customer service standards.
- Monitored inventory levels and coordinated product restocking.
- Applied merchandising strategies to improve product visibility and sales.
- Resolved customer complaints quickly to support satisfaction.
- Worked with team members to improve store layout and organization.
- Completed regular safety inspections to uphold workplace standards.
- Handled daily opening and closing procedures by company guidelines.
- Resolved customer complaints in timely manner.
- Tracked inventory levels and restocked shelves as needed.
- Built customer relationships through strong service.
- Helped develop store policies and procedures to support customer satisfaction.
- Maintained accurate records for employee attendance and performance reviews.
- Followed all safety regulations in workplace.
- Reviewed financial data to find improvement areas in store operations.
- Partnered with other departments to coordinate promotional activities across multiple stores.
- Organized promotional events to increase sales volume and brand awareness within community.
- Used cost-control strategies to reduce labor and utility expenses.
- Joined professional development workshops to stay current with industry trends.
- Used POS system to process transactions accurately and efficiently.
- Managed daily operations, including opening and closing duties, shift scheduling, and task assignments.
- Determined staffing needs based on seasonal demand and budget limits.
- Led weekly staff meetings to review sales goals, store promotions, and customer feedback.
- Fixed technical problems with equipment and software used throughout store.
- Recruited qualified candidates for open positions within store.
- Handled personnel issues, including discipline and performance evaluations, in timely manner.
- Managed inventory tracking and physical counts to reduce loss.
- Balanced sales, reconciled cash, and prepared bank deposits for opening and closing duties.
- Built store tactics and strategies to reach operational performance and sales goals.
- Identified operational issues and applied process improvements to support safety and productivity.
- Created visually appealing displays and signs to encourage purchase of featured products.
- Monitored storewide merchandising benchmarks to support operational excellence.
- Prepared weekly schedules to confirm proper floor coverage within fiscal limits.
- Assigned work to staff and set priorities and goals.
- Prepared staff work schedules and assigned team members to specific duties.
- Used strong verbal skills to engage customers and identify needs.
- Provided guidance and mentoring to newly hired employees on company programs.
- Forecasted customer demand to set prices or credit terms for goods or services.
Education
High School Diploma -
Southeastern Louisiana University
Hammond, LASkills
- Inventory management and quality control
- Vendor relations and purchasing
- Sales forecasting and pricing strategy
- Customer relationship management
- Team leadership and oversight
- Performance evaluation and training
- Visual merchandising and retail management
- Communication skills and conflict resolution
- Problem solving and time management
- Budget adherence
- Project management
- Schedule oversight
- Profit and loss management
- Team collaboration
Additional Experience
- While my duties mainly focused on my department,I was successful enough to also be on special teams activities. These included traveling to many new locations to facilitate grand opening conditions and training of new managers and staff. Often this would require running my own store department and assisting in as many as three to four additional locations at the same time. This was necessary to insure quality controls , inventory best practices,employee training and top customer service were all at or above company standards.
Timeline
Produce Manager
Rouses Supermarket
04.2004 - 01.2018
Sales Associate
Helm Paint & Supply
01.2001 - 05.2004
Co store Director
Winn-Dixie Stores Inc.
06.1987 - 01.2001
High School Diploma -
Southeastern Louisiana University