Industrial Engineer (Intern)

At K-VA-T Food Stores, Inc., we are on a mission to “run the best store in town!” and we know our associates are our greatest asset. Kickstart your career with Food City with on-the-job experience through our Summer Internship Program!

Food City Interns work on meaningful projects spanning all solutions and services throughout the company. Created for upcoming Junior and Senior college students, our full-time (40 hours / week), 12-week programs are designed to provide hands-on experience within your area of interest. As an Intern, you will join over 19,000 talented individuals across five states who are leaders, critical thinkers, accountable, innovative, flexible, and results-minded with the same goal – to better serve our communities.

Location :           1 Food City Circle, Abingdon, VA (Corporate Departments)

• Housing options are available through partnership with Emory & Henry University in Emory, VA

Description :  We are seeking a highly motivated and analytical intern to join our Industrial Engineering team, supporting key initiatives that enhance operational efficiency and customer experience across our retail locations.

This internship offers hands-on exposure to process improvement, labor optimization, and performance analysis within a fast-paced, real-world retail environment. As an Industrial Engineering Intern, you will assist in developing and maintaining labor standards using time studies, work sampling, and predetermined time measurement systems such as MTM and MOST. You will work closely with experienced engineers and operations leaders to analyze workflows, identify inefficiencies, and support the implementation of best practices that drive productivity and reduce waste. In this role, you will also support the rollout and training of new processes at the store level, helping ensure that field teams are equipped to execute operational improvements effectively. You will gain experience in labor planning applications, process mapping, and continuous improvement methodologies, including Lean Six Sigma. Additionally, you will assist in generating reports and statistical analyses that evaluate labor models, highlight performance trends, and inform strategic decisions. The internship will involve collaboration with various departments, including Retail Operations, Training, and Executive Leadership, providing a well-rounded understanding of how engineering principles are applied in a retail setting. You may also travel to store locations to observe operations firsthand and support on-site improvement initiatives. This opportunity is ideal for students pursuing degrees in Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, or related fields. Successful candidates will be detail-oriented, data-driven, and eager to apply classroom knowledge to real-world challenges. Strong communication skills, a collaborative mindset, and a passion for continuous improvement are essential. This internship provides a valuable foundation for a future career in industrial engineering, process improvement, or retail operations leadership. In addition, interns are assigned a project and expected to complete a final presentation summarizing their work and share their insights with company leaders at the conclusion of the internship.

Program Requirements :

Not Required, but Encouraged :

Documentation Requirements :

About Food City :

Food City is a privately held, family-owned company with a driving mission to "run the best store in town." Dedicated to giving back to the communities we serve, we encourage our associates to get involved with their local civic organizations. We consider our associates to be our greatest asset. Over 13% of the company is currently owned by our associates through our employee stock ownership plan, promoting tremendous pride in the services and products we provide. Whether your passion is baking, accounting, or trucking, Food City has a promising career opportunity for you. We offer flexible schedules to ensure our associates have ample time to spend with family and friends. If you're looking for a great career or the opportunity to try something different, consider becoming part of the Food City family.