Store Manager – Connings Food Market (Nelson)

Connings Food Market is a family-owned Nelson business with a simple focus: real food, grown and sold with care. We believe in freshness without fuss, great value without compromise, and genuine service that keeps customers coming back.

Our store is busy, energetic, and food-led — much like a great hospitality venue — and we’re now looking for a hands-on Store Manager to lead our Nelson team and take ownership of a thriving, high-volume fresh food environment.

If you’ve managed large teams in fast-paced and dynamic operations (such as Hospitality, Food and Beverage, Fresh Food / Produce, Operations) and care deeply about ingredients, people, and standards, this could be the role you’ve been waiting for.

About the Role As Store Manager, you’ll be responsible for the day-to-day heartbeat of the store. You’ll lead from the floor, set the tone, and ensure every part of the operation reflects Connings’ values — freshness, quality, value, and authenticity.

This is a full-on, visible leadership role. You’ll balance people leadership with strong operational control, keeping the store running smoothly from open to close while maintaining the high standards our customers expect.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate, and develop a team of 30+ across produce, grocery, and retail
• Plan each day so the right people, stock, and energy are in place
• Manage rostering, timesheets, and workforce planning to match trading demand
• Be actively involved in onboarding and training, setting people up for success
• Build a positive, accountable culture aligned with Connings’ values
• Oversee ordering, stock control, rotation, and presentation — protecting freshness and quality
• Ensure health & safety, store presentation, and building maintenance standards are met
• Contribute to business performance through practical planning, problem-solving, and smart decision-making

About You

You’re a confident, grounded leader who thrives in busy, people-facing environments. You enjoy being on the floor, setting standards through action, and supporting your team in real time — not managing from the sidelines.

You’ll also bring:

• Proven experience leading large teams in fast-paced, dynamic operations
• A genuine passion for fresh food and produce — the heart of Connings
• Strong capability in rostering, workflow planning, and daily operations
• A natural ability to build trust, develop people, and create strong team culture
• Clear communication skills and practical problem-solving ability
• Flexibility to work one weekend day as part of your regular roster

What You’ll Love About Connings

• A family-owned business built on honesty, teamwork, and pride in what we do
• A premium fresh food offer that’s real, local, and value-driven — no gimmicks
• The chance to make a visible impact in a high-profile community store
• Autonomy and trust to lead your store your way, with strong support behind you
• A passionate team who genuinely care about quality, people, and customers

If you’re ready to take ownership of a busy, food-first store, lead a great team, and grow with a business that values people and produce equally — we’d love to hear from you.

Applications close 1 February 2026, but we’re reviewing as they come in, so apply early.

Applicants must have NZ residency or a valid NZ work visa.

Apply now and be part of something fresh, real, and proudly local.