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What does a Supermarket Manager do?

D. Jeffress
D. Jeffress

In order to properly cater to the needs of customers, a supermarket must staff an expert, attentive management team. A supermarket manager may assume many different duties, such as supervising employees and store operations, taking inventory and ordering products, performing administrative and human resources work, or engaging in safety inspections and loss prevention. Most managers are very skilled at organizing merchandise, communicating with employees, and providing excellent customer service.

A supermarket manager in a large store might be in charge of supervising a specific department, such as produce or housewares. A manager typically monitors the inventory and appearance of his or her department. He or she usually determines the prices on items, directs employees in stocking shelves, and orders new products when quantities are low. A manager may design store displays and actively engage with customers to inform them of deals and help them find products. Supermarket delis and bakeries are commonly managed by professionals with experience in food service and safety.

A supermarket manager supervises store employees and operations.
A supermarket manager supervises store employees and operations.

Human resources managers might be in charge of hiring and training new employees, facilitating accounts receivable and payable, managing payroll, or handling employee concerns. A store may staff several people to fulfill human resources needs and an executive supermarket manager to oversee the entire the department. Human resources managers often address the questions and concerns of employees and bring them to the attention of executive management when necessary. They commonly assess the overall quality of the store and its workers, and suggest ways to improve operations when necessary.

Supermarket managers have many responsibilities, including ensuring that food displays are well stocked and neatly arranged.
Supermarket managers have many responsibilities, including ensuring that food displays are well stocked and neatly arranged.

Loss prevention and occupational health managers ensure the safety of employees, customers, store property, and merchandise. They may inspect the supermarket floor, stockrooms, and offices to make sure that health and safety guidelines are being followed at all times. Loss prevention managers protect against theft, vandalism, and fraud by monitoring security cameras and walking around the store. They often make detailed reports about safety infractions or incidents of theft, and communicate with the proper authorities about a corrective plan of action.

A supermarket manager may supervisor the quality of items made at the store's bakery.
A supermarket manager may supervisor the quality of items made at the store's bakery.

To become a supermarket manager, a person must typically have at least a high school diploma and extensive supervisory experience in retail or customer service. Some positions, such as those found in human resources, often require candidates to hold college degrees in business management or accounting. There is generally ample room for advancement for experienced managers, as store owners usually prefer to promote existing employees to higher positions rather than bring in outside personnel.

Discussion Comments

anon964016

Thanks for the information, but one question: what is the average supermarket manager's salary?

anon224825

Seven a.m. until 11 p.m.? 55 hours? Absolutely barbaric! I've worked in several supermarkets and managers tend not to work more than 40-44 hours per week.

cupcake15

Oasis11-A supermarket manager salary is dependent on the volume of the store. The busier the store the higher the salary and bonus potential.

Many store managers of high volume grocery stores earn six figure salaries. Being a supermarket store manager is not easy because they tend to work long hours often in excess of fifty-five hours.

For example, when a manager is scheduled to close they usually work from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM. Most managers work this schedule at least twice to three times a week.

A supermarket manager job description is not glamorous, but it does allow hard working people an opportunity to earn a good salary.

If you are interested in supermarket manager jobs, it is best to spend time working for a supermarket. These jobs exclude retail sales and really allow you to see how a supermarket functions from the inside.

oasis11

Suntan12-They also have to be experienced with signing sales and measuring revenue. Once they get promoted to the first level of management, they will work directly under the Assistant Manager as well as the Store Manager.

They will create schedules for the stock personnel as well as handle any customer complaints throughout the day.

They also have to manage the front end and office staff to make sure that the lines are manageable. If they are assigned to close they have to balance the safe and perform necessary reports before going home for the day.

suntan12

Supermarket management jobs really are offered to those people who have worked for the supermarket for a while.

For example, Publix Supermarkets requires its potential managers to work every grocery stock department in order to go into to store management.

The reason for this is that they need for the manager to have experience ordering from the entire aisle and be familiar with the vendors as well in order to help the stock personnel with their ordering especially during promotional sales.

They also have to be experienced with signing sales and measuring revenue. Once they get promoted to the first level of management, they will work directly under the Assistant Manager as well as the Store Manager. They will create schedules for the stock personnel as well as handle any customer complaints throughout the day. The also have to manage the front end and office staff to make sure that the lines are manageable. If they are assigned to close they have to balance the safe and perform necessary reports before going home for the day.

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    • A supermarket manager supervises store employees and operations.
      By: Minerva Studio
      A supermarket manager supervises store employees and operations.
    • Supermarket managers have many responsibilities, including ensuring that food displays are well stocked and neatly arranged.
      By: Art Allianz
      Supermarket managers have many responsibilities, including ensuring that food displays are well stocked and neatly arranged.
    • A supermarket manager may supervisor the quality of items made at the store's bakery.
      By: Michalis Palis
      A supermarket manager may supervisor the quality of items made at the store's bakery.
    • Loss prevention is one duty undertaken by managers.
      By: Steve Lovegrove
      Loss prevention is one duty undertaken by managers.
    • Supermarket managers may arrange catering services for local events.
      By: Aleksey Kondratyuk
      Supermarket managers may arrange catering services for local events.