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Deli & Prepared Food Department Associate

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Who We Are: 

Food is the foundation of good health. Forty Acres Fresh Market (FAFM) is an independent, Black woman-owned grocery business offering high-quality, fresh food to people across Chicagoland. We are working to restore healthy food access so that people across Chicago neighborhoods can have a worthwhile grocery experience regardless of zip code.

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Forty Acres Fresh Market is preparing to open its first brick and mortar store in Chicago's Austin neighborhood in 2025 and is currently building the store opening team. 

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Who You Are:

​Do you want to be part of building a business that is a catalyst for community change? Do you believe that everyone should be able to access affordable fresh food in their neighborhood? Are you interested in rebuilding neighborhoods that have endured years of divestment? If so then this is the company for you.

We are seeking an energetic, detail and results oriented Deli/Prepared Foods Department Associate who is eager to play a significant part in launching a new store. This individual must have food service experience that includes utilizing kitchen appliances, sharp knives, slicers, and other tools and techniques for preparing hot and cold meal solutions. Experience servicing customers in a fast paced retail environment is needed as well. 

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The Job:

Are you an up and coming food service professional looking for growth with your creative culinary skills and to make your mark on Chicago’s food scene? Forty Acres Fresh Market (FAFM) is hiring part-time Associates in our Deli/Prepared Foods (Mabel's Meals) department. We are looking for enthusiastic individuals with a strong work ethic and a passion for creating amazing meals, and who are dedicated to food safety and customer service. Associates will join a dynamic team to help ensure the highest standards of product quality, while providing best in class customer service. The part-time Associate's responsibilities include assembling customer orders, operating registers, basic food prep, ensuring proper food handling for safety regulations, and maintaining a clean and organized kitchen area. Maintaining exceptional food quality and safety will be essential to ensure proper presentation of Mabel’s Meals, which will offer both hot and cold meal solutions for customers. This onsite position is an exciting opportunity within the grocery industry to be part of building a best in class Deli & Prepared Foods (Mabel’s Meals) department. As a FAFM team member, the part-time Associate  will exemplify Forty Acres’ Values of Quality, Sustainability, Community Engagement, and Integrity.

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Must be 18 years of age or older

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Duties include but are not limited to:​

  • Follow the leadership and direction of the department manager to perform assigned functions and activities of the Deli & Prepared Foods (Mabel’s Meals) Department.

  • Check out customers using POS systems according to Standard Operating Procedures. Includes cash handling and processing various payment types.

  • Provides excellent customer service in greeting customers and serving, addresses needs of customers in a timely and effective manner.

  • Daily packaging, dating, and rotations of hot and cold meals and items, including hot food, salads, sandwiches, soups, and cold packaged meals. 

  • Fulfill customer orders according to FAFM menu guidelines

  • Contribute to department profitability by maintaining correct portion sizes to prevent shrink.

  • Prepare foods according to cooking instructions and food temperature guidelines

  • Maintains a clean and sanitary working and shopping environment; maintains equipment in accordance with FAFM cleanliness and safety standards; ensures walk-ins and freezers are clean and organized. 

  • Ability to work in wet and dry conditions.

  • Adhere to all quality control and food safety standards and ensure dated products are stocked and rotated properly. Makes fine judgements about aroma, flavor, taste, texture, and color to inspect prepared foods for quality and freshness.

  • Proper use of a wide variety of kitchen equipment and appliances to include, but not limited to, mixer, slicers, ovens, dish area, sharp knives, fryers.

  • Regularly and effectively communicate department inventory and supply needs to the department manager.

  •  Assists in upholding of all Health Department requirements, department cleanliness and sanitation including 1) preparing and logging all food temperatures in cases and during production 2) Maintaining a clean department and store 3) safe use of cleaning equipment and chemicals

  • Report all safety risks and reinforce safety programs by identifying and notifying department management of unsafe conditions, illegal activity which may include robbery, theft, or mis-suse of company property.

  • Must be able to perform the essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation

  • Other duties related to general store operations as assigned by management

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Requirements

  • Minimum 6 months  experience working with food

  • Ability to stand for duration of shift

  • Must be capable of providing exceptional customer service

  • Basic math skills and ability to learn POS, scale systems, and measuring increments

  • Must have a means of communication via personal email and phone

  • Must be detail oriented, self-motivated, and able to work independently or in groups

  • Available to work three to four shifts per week (20-25 hours/week) including weekends and holidays

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Preferred Qualifications 

  • At least 1 year of relevant retail experience​

  • A background in cooking, professionally or at home, would help in communicating proper cooking techniques to customers

  • Experienced in various POS and transaction devices such as kiosks, printers, tickets, and touch screens

  • Bilingual in English and Spanish is a plus

 

Other Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities​

  • Ability to manage time effectively, and prioritize tasks

  • Must be detail oriented, self-motivated, and able to work independently or in groups.​​

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Work Environment/ Physical Demands

  • Must have the physical ability to stand for extended periods of time, bend, climb, balance, stoop to grasp objects, kneel, crouch, crawl, frequently push/pull up to 75 lbs., frequently lift and/or move loads up to 50 lbs.

  • Ability to enter the coolers and freezers thereby being subjected to and withstanding frequent temperature changes for extended periods of time.

  • Occasional high stress when dealing with systems/customers/staff.

  • Able to work a flexible schedule with various shifts, including weekends and holidays, as determined by the store/business needs and as required to ensure adequate store staffing.

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The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.

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Job Type: Part-time 

This position is Chicago-based

Salary: $17.00 per hour

Benefits:​

  • Up to 40 hours paid sick time annually

  • Up to 40 hours paid vacation time annually

  • 10% in-store employee discount (excludes alcohol and Mabel's Meals)​​​

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Forty Acres Fresh Market is an equal opportunity employer. We will not discriminate and will take affirmative action measures to ensure against discrimination in employment, recruitment, advertisements for employment, compensation, termination, upgrading, promotions, and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant on the bases of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

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