Kathleen Custode
Food Safety Auditor & Compliance Specialist
Sarasota,FL
Summary
Seasoned Asset Protection & Food Safety Auditor, auditing 50+ stores; improved food safety compliance by 85%. Conduct risk-based store audits aligned to regulatory and company standards (food safety, sanitation, temperature control, and facility conditions); document findings, identify root causes, and partner with store leadership on corrective actions and follow-up verification; and strengthen loss prevention and shrink control through consistent compliance reviews, trend reporting, and coaching. Retail Store Management Professional Lead day-to-day retail store operations and execution, ensuring consistent standards in customer experience, merchandising, labor scheduling, payroll, and safety; drive performance through KPI management (sales, margin, labor, and shrink) with disciplined planning, prioritization, and accountability; and hire, train, coach, and develop teams to deliver results and maintain operational excellence. At ease in environments requiring independent decisions, expertise in “out-of-the-box” problem–solving, and meticulous attention to detail. Recipient of numerous awards and corporate accolades for consistent contributions to growth and profitability despite fiercely competitive markets and woeful economic conditions. Passionate leader, skilled at building top-performing teams focused on impeccable service delivery and accountability for goal achievement.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Asset Protection & Food Safety Auditor
The Winn-Dixie Company
Jacksonville, FL
01.2023 - Current
- Asset Protection & Food Safety Auditor with a track record of improving compliance, audit readiness, and loss prevention performance across multi-site retail operations.
- Execute risk-based food safety compliance audits (sanitation, time/temperature controls, facility conditions, and operational practices) and asset protection reviews, documenting findings, identifying root causes, and partnering with store leadership on corrective action plans and follow-up verification.
- Analyze trends, deliver clear reporting, and provide coaching that strengthens daily execution, reduces risk, and supports consistent adherence to company standards and applicable local food safety codes.
- Recognized for driving measurable improvements in shrink control, inventory accuracy, and operational discipline through consistent audit cadence and accountability.
- Conduct risk-based audits across 50+ stores covering food safety, sanitation, time/temperature controls, and operational practices; document findings, assess severity, and drive timely corrective actions and follow-up verification—improving food safety compliance by 85%.
- Analyze audit trends, deliver clear reporting to leadership, and coach store teams on standards to improve audit readiness, reduce risk, and strengthen shrink and loss prevention controls.
- Managed daily store execution across customer service, merchandising, labor scheduling, and safety; led teams to deliver KPI performance in sales, margin, labor, and shrink.
- Recruited, trained, and coached associates and leaders; improved execution through accountability, process discipline, and customer-focused leadership in high-demand and underperforming environments.
Assistant Store Manager
VF Corporation
Sarasota, FL
01.2005 - 01.2011
- Assistant Store Manager within an apparel and footwear retail environment, supporting day-to-day store operations with a focus on merchandising execution, visual standards, and customer engagement.
- Partnered with the Store Manager to drive sales performance through floor leadership, upselling, and service coaching; ensured accurate cash-handling procedures, opening/closing routines, and operational compliance.
- Managed associate training and development supported scheduling and task delegation, and maintained inventory accuracy through stockroom organization, replenishment, and shrink awareness.
- Drove positive revenue through strong visual merchandising, product placement, and customer-focused upselling to increase conversion and basket size.
- Led associate training and development; ensured correct cash-handling procedures (register controls, safe counts, deposits, and variance resolution) to protect assets and maintain operational accuracy.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Business Marketing
University of Phoenix
01.2015
High School Diploma - General Studies
East Bay Senior High School
01.2007
Skills
- Customer Service Management
- Complaint Handling & Resolution
- Retail Operations Management
- Customer Satisfaction Enhancement
- Front-End Supervision
- Risk-Based Food Safety Compliance
- Teambuilding & Training
- Cost-Reduction Strategies
- Risk Management
Websites
Training
- Completed extensive training through courses and seminars in customer service, sales strategies, visual merchandising, inventory control, and loss prevention, with additional focus on time management, leadership development, coaching, and performance assessment.
- Food safety training includes risk-based food safety compliance, sanitation and hygienic practices, time/temperature controls, allergen awareness, and audit readiness, including documentation standards, corrective action planning, and follow-up verification to sustain compliance and reduce operational risk.
- Food Safety Manager Certification, National Registry
- Food Safety Manager Certification Proctor, National Registry
- CPR/AED Certification, American Red Cross
- Microsoft Office Training (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
Timeline
Asset Protection & Food Safety Auditor
The Winn-Dixie Company
01.2023 - Current
Assistant Store Manager
VF Corporation
01.2005 - 01.2011
Bachelor of Science - Business Marketing
University of Phoenix
High School Diploma - General Studies
East Bay Senior High School