Produce Specialist
About the job
- A high school diploma or GED is preferred.
- Strong communication skills, basic math abilities, attention to detail, and a dependable work ethic are required.
- Retail or grocery experience is preferred.
- Must be available for early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays.
- The role requires standing, walking, lifting up to 50 pounds, and working in varying temperatures and environments.
- Must use knives, machinery, and cleaning chemicals.
- Receive and unpack produce deliveries, stock shelves, and create visually appealing displays.
- Clean, cut, and prepare produce for display as needed.
- Rotate stock using the First In, First Out (FIFO) method to minimize waste and ensure freshness.
- Ensure all products have correct signage, including pricing and product information.
- Assist customers with selecting produce and offer recommendations based on their needs.
- Answer questions related to product origins, quality, and uses.
- Inspect produce for freshness, quality, and ripeness; remove and properly dispose of damaged or spoiled produce.
- Monitor product quality to ensure all items meet store standards.
- Maintain cleanliness and organization in the produce department, including shelves and back areas.
- Ensure proper storage temperatures for perishable items.
- Sanitize shelves, counters, and floors.
- Assist in managing inventory levels and placing orders to ensure stock is available.
- Report inventory shortages or delivery issues to the department manager.
- Help meet sales goals by ensuring shelves are stocked, properly priced, and well-organized.
- Retail or grocery experience.
About the company
Mackenthun's Fine Foods is a family-owned regional grocery chain in Minnesota that operates full-service supermarkets in Waconia, Lonsdale, Minnetrista, and Montgomery. Its core offering is a meat department that functions like a traditional butcher shop and smokehouse, producing 40+ varieties of brats, smoked hams, turkeys, summer sausage, and jerky on-site from German recipes. The stores also include scratch bakery, deli with catering, fresh seafood, organic produce, floral, in-store pharmacy, and Caribou Coffee at several locations, emphasizing fresh, homemade, locally sourced products. The company differentiates itself from larger chains through its long family heritage across four generations and a focus on local production, aiming to provide a community-focused shopping experience and sustain the business for future generations.
Company Size
51-200
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
Waconia, Minnesota
Founded
1917
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- The Minnetrista store opened in 2024 and still features active expansion signage.
- Mackenthun's posted 2025 and 2026 awards across seafood, marketing, and social media.
- October 2026 promotions and September 2026 dietitian content show active merchandising and traffic generation.
What critics are saying
- Waconia faces Aldi, Cub Foods, and Hy-Vee competition in 2026.
- Three Minnesota stores expose Mackenthun's to single-market disruptions and family succession strain.
- If meat quality slips, Mackenthun's loses its clearest moat and most loyal shoppers.
What makes Mackenthun's Fine Foods unique
- Since 1917, Mackenthun's built a family butcher brand around homemade sausages.
- 2025 awards prove meat excellence: Gold Minnesota's Best Sausage and Brat.
- Minnetrista's 2024 store bundles groceries, Caribou, wine, and smokehouse under one roof.
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Benefits
- Earned Safe & Sick Time
- 10% discount at any Mackenthun’s locations
- Referral bonuses
- Dietitian services