A

Alex Lee

Grocery retail and wholesale distributor

Store Manager

Full-TimeDeadline 8/10/27
No salary listed
Mid
St Stephen, SC, USA
In Person
RetailRetail Store Management

About the job

Requirements
  • Possess the skills and knowledge generally associated with a bachelor's degree.
  • Have 3–4 years of progressive supermarket management experience.
Responsibilities
  • Implement and maintain an in-store sales-building culture through company merchandising programs, weekly sales plans, weekly sales themes, in-stock conditions, and weekly sales meetings.
  • Provide desired levels of customer satisfaction, courtesy, and service throughout the store, with emphasis on the front-end fast-service commitment.
  • Achieve budgeted financial results.
  • Protect company assets, including merchandise, cash, facilities, and equipment.
  • Conduct weekly manager audits on the front end, direct-store-delivery receiving, and pricing.
  • Follow through on all required shrink-management programs.
  • Control store variable expenses, including achieving the budgeted wage percentage.
  • Forecast staffing needs, recruit and train employees, and build a talent-planning bench for the store.
  • Develop and execute development plans for high-potential and promotable individuals.
  • Ensure direct reports understand performance expectations, hold them accountable for budgeted results, and conduct ongoing and annual performance reviews with feedback.
  • Monitor store conditions through frequent and detailed store walks and respond appropriately.
  • Train and develop the store management team, especially co-managers, and act as a resource for these leaders.
  • Ensure sanitation and food-safety standards are maintained throughout the store.
  • Create positive store morale through effective supervisory treatment and recognition.
  • Provide and facilitate effective communication with the District Manager, support staff, and store employees.
  • Ensure the store operates in compliance with company standards as measured by ALI audits.
  • Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local statutes, regulations, and company policies.
  • Maintain a safe facility for customers and employees.

About the company

Alex Lee, Inc. is a privately held grocery group in the southeastern United States that runs both wholesale distribution and retail banners. It owns wholesale subsidiaries Merchants Distributors, Souto Foods, W. Lee Flowers, and Import Mex, and operates retail banners Lowes Foods and Kj’s Market, serving about 2,000 wholesale stores and more than 140 retail locations across 13 states. The company supports both wholesale and retail sales and follows a philosophy that customer and supplier success drives its own success, along with programs for employee development and innovation. Its goal is to grow profitability and reach by helping customers and suppliers succeed, while providing a place where people can build lifelong careers.

Company Size

501-1,000

Company Stage

Debt Financing

Total Funding

$400M

Headquarters

Hickory, North Carolina

Founded

1931

Get referred to Alex Lee

See people who can refer or advise you

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Lowes Foods opened Lyman on August 20, 2026, showing active expansion despite closures.
  • Alex Lee won FMI's 2026 Sidney R. Rabb statesmanship award, reinforcing industry credibility.
  • Revelio shows 1,278 2026 job postings, suggesting hiring momentum after headcount stabilized.

What critics are saying

  • July 2026 closures at Conway IGA and three stores signal portfolio strain and shrinking demand.
  • Rebranding KJ's locations into Lowes Foods risks customer churn and integration costs through 2026.
  • A failed retail turnaround or margin compression could force asset sales and break Alex Lee's empire.

What makes Alex Lee unique

  • Alex Lee spans wholesale, retail, and ethnic distribution across Southeast grocery markets.
  • Lowes Foods and KJ's Market let Alex Lee rebrand stores without losing local reach.
  • Merchants Distributors signed Swiftly in March 2026, modernizing circulars across its network.

Help us improve and share your feedback! Did you find this helpful?

Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Paid Vacation

Tuition Reimbursement

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

20%

1 year growth

20%

2 year growth

20%
PR Newswire
Aug 23rd, 2023
First Citizens Bank Serves As Syndication Agent, Joint Lead Arranger And Joint Bookrunner On $400 Million Financing For Alex Lee Inc.

RALEIGH, N.C., Aug. 23, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- First Citizens Bank today announced that it served as syndication agent, joint lead arranger and joint bookrunner on a $400 million senior credit facility for Alex Lee Inc. The five-year revolving credit facility refinanced existing debt and increased the facility size to support the company's continued business growth.Alex Lee Inc. is a family-owned and operated company based in Hickory, North Carolina whose portfolio of wholesale food distribution and retail grocery store brands includes Merchants Distributors, Souto Foods, Lowes Foods and W. Lee Flowers & Company. The company has completed several acquisitions and expansions in recent years, widening its distribution network and retail footprint."We appreciate the role that First Citizens played in arranging financing to support our continued growth in the grocery wholesale and supermarket industries," said Brian George, president & CEO at Alex Lee Inc

Daily Union
May 13th, 2022
Alex Lee, Inc. recognized as winner in the “Large Employer” category

Alex Lee, Inc. was declared the winner in the “Large Employer” category, and Cleveland County Government in the “Small/Midsize Employer” category.