Midwest District Manager

Ampersand Brands is a growing portfolio of beloved confectionery brands, including Hammond’s Candies, the iconic hand‑crafted candy maker, and Lolli & Pops, a premium retail and gifting brand with a national presence. The company is backed by strong growth ambitions, combining innovation, brand storytelling, and operational excellence to expand its reach and solidify its position as a leading player in the U.S. confections industry.

Champion our Mission and Core Values, ensuring that all store leaders and teams demonstrate a passion to create a WOW experience for our staff and guests.

• Provide daily sales leadership to annually achieve district‑wide financial, operational, strategic and people‑related targets.
• Challenge and coach on store operations, sales volume, COGS and labor to maximize profits.
• Recruit, continuously develop and maintain a winning team.
• Consistently achieve plan in the District.
• Champion team recognition and motivation throughout the District.
• Directly supervise 10‑12 store managers.

• Determine the cause for store‑specific challenges and find solutions. Share best practices across their District and the company.
• Conduct phone and video check‑ins with all store managers to better understand and problem‑solve around daily store‑level performance.
• Conduct biweekly store visits and store management discussions, including some unannounced, to improve productivity, personnel management and development and facilitate communication between stores and headquarters.
• Analyze financial data to recognize trends, build on strengths, support weak areas and note any unusual occurrences.
• Train store managers to recognize and influence their business by understanding financial reports, and acting on the knowledge. Ensure that all productivity numbers, sales, and budgets are consistently met.

• Participate in strategic planning and merchandising planning discussions.
• Execute uncompromising execution at the store level, including financial results, superior customer service, appropriate merchandising and stocking, cleanliness, OSHA compliance and positive team working environment.
• Maintain consistency across store locations utilizing company approved SOPs.
• Coordinate sales promotion activities and pricing of merchandise.
• Administer company policies to individual stores.