Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Retail Operations, Store Manager, District Manager, Director of Produce

Pensacola, Florida, United States

Family-owned local chain now operating independently with 14 stores and 1000+ employees.; Challenged to transform operations and restore profitability for underperforming Produce and Floral departments. Additionally conferred administrative responsibilities usually reserved for District Manager, including hiring, training, and hands-on development of up to 100 employees accountable for $24M budgeted annual sales. Formulate and administer department budgets. Conceive and deploy innovative marketing and merchandising strategies.Overhauled department operations from merchandising through pricing, scheduling, and labor relations, resulting in a 10% increase to 33.5% gross profit - the greatest increase of any department company-wide. Refreshed and successfully maintained weekly "Hot Buy" print advertising program by soliciting best prices from vendors and strategically positioning items in front-of-department rack extension displays. Routinely sold out entire inventory within six days, realizing 100% product turn in advance of weekly bills. Reduced shrink to 7% by resetting department seasonally to align with demographic and product turn data.

Minyard Food Stores

Regional  Director

20-store subsidiary of A&P with $300M annual revenue.; Presided over all operations of multiple store sites, each producing more than $225K weekly revenue. Personally hired, trained, and mentored all store managers and directly managed more than 45 employees, including union workers in multiple departments. Ensured compliance with strict local, state, federal, and industry regulations. Elevated sales by as much as $10K per week by imparting a committed customer service focus. Dramatically reduced shrink from $120K per quarter at 4.5% to $25K per quarter at just .95%. Initiated strategic staffing measures that relieved major overtime conflict for $300K per week store without cutting employee hours, ultimately guaranteeing positive ongoing labor relations.

Sav-A-Center

Store Manager

Independently owned grocery chain that at one time controlled more than 60% of the market share in Mississippi.; Handpicked by company CEO to maintain full operating, sales, and financial autonomy for 13 managed store locations with 1300+ in Mississippi and Louisiana. Instrumental leader of growth and transition after Jitney Jungle purchased Delchamps, expanded from 100 to 200 stores in six states, and relocated entire warehouse operation. Directed all sales processes, labor relations, shrink control, inventory management, and P&L oversight. Restored and streamlined operational efficiency following chaotic expansion and realignment through open communication, highly adept labor relations, and inventive cross-merchandising strategies. Designed, developed, and implemented a new program to successfully cut supply costs by 20 basis points.

Randy Crocker