Supermarket Perimeter - June 2024 - 15

E
mployee retention, labor shortages and workplace
efficiency continue to be top concerns for managers
in the grocery industry.
Hobart Food Equipment, based in Troy, Ohio, offers
many automated equipment solutions to increase
efficiency for instore delis and bakeries.
The company's marketing director of Hobart Food Prep
Equipment, Carolyn Bilger, offered insight on some of
the biggest labor challenges affecting retailers right now.
" Finding and retaining skilled employees continues to
be a challenge for the retail deli space, " Bilger said. " High
turnover places a burden on employees who maintain
their employment, bringing the potential for burnout
from longer hours and additional work. It is harder to
introduce efficiencies into deli operations when there
are fewer and overworked employees. It also makes it
difficult for managers who are tasked with hiring and
training on a repeated basis. "
Labor saving technology also boosts
convenience for consumers
At the National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago
on May 20, the association's president and CEO Michelle
Korsmo delivered a keynote address that largely applied to
the current issues in the retail foodservice space as well.
Korsmo emphasized the importance of operations being
efficient, convenient, and personalized for consumers,
while still being attentive and customer focused.
" Thinking about technology starts with understanding
the value proposition you offer your customers,
determining their needs, wants, preferences, and
behaviors and then tailoring your technology and
service accordingly, " Korsmo said. " It can build loyalty
and ultimately lead to growth. Now, each of you are at
the crossroads where you must figure out, what is that
high tech/high touch balance for your business. "
Korsmo added that the goal with added technology is
not to replace workers but to enhance their job functions.
Some consumer-focused technology options for retail
foodservice that can also lift some of the burdens placed
on workers amidst labor shortages are online ordering,
along with more advanced in-store shopping tools like
self-ordering kiosks and smart grocery carts.
Korsmo emphasized that technology should be
implemented purposefully to ensure it actually adds to a
store's value for consumers.
" Ultimately, the experience you provide in real life is
what keeps your customers coming back, " Korsmo said.
" How you use technology to interact with them is what
converts new customers into regulars and regulars into
high frequency guests. But remember, you can't have a
technology strategy that is separated from your value
proposition. Ultimately, it is your value proposition that
sets you apart and makes you successful. "
Island Pacific Supermarket
among best retail workplaces
Filipino American entrepreneur Niño Lim founded the Walnut,
Calif.-based Island Pacific Supermarket 24 years ago, and since
then it has grown into a grocery chain with 19 locations. In 2023,
the company was the only supermarket recognized in Fortune
Magazine's list of " Top 20 Best Large Workplaces in Retail. "
" There is a lot of communication between the C-Suite and the
staff, " an employee said in a survey. " Our CEO makes every effort
to put the employees first and fosters a family environment. "
" Being part of Island Pacific is like being part of a big, supportive
family, " said Javier Bravo, a long-term employee of 20 years.
The company said its positive company culture is fostered by local
cultural events and charitable programs that connect the stores,
customers and employees with their communities.
" Being recognized by Fortune Magazine is both an honor and
a responsibility, " Lim said. " It reinforces our dedication to our
team and the communities we serve. We are proud of our
efforts to maintain a workplace where everyone feels valued and
empowered. "
" As executives and managers ponder on talent retention and
keeping turnover rates to a minimum, Fortune Magazine's
recognition of Island Pacific highlights that the solution to those
concerns (a values-based approach centering on employee
experience) is simpler than some might think, " said Heidi
Carreon, content specialist at 10storyhouse. " Fortune Magazine's
recognition of Island Pacific Supermarket, a small-but-mighty
grocery store founded only in 2000, among legacy supermarkets
and over most other 'big box' grocery stores shows that it's not
just about having the ingredients/products for food, but also
providing an environment that allows workers to thrive as they
serve the local community. "
" With the globalization of cuisine through mediums such as social
media and the introduction of international ingredients on food
competitions on channels like the Food Network, there are more
eyes than ever on Asian grocery stores in America, " Carreon
added. " Niño Lim's path from being a young immigrant in the Los
Angeles suburbs helping at his own family's market to being at the
helm of a growing institution in the West Coast Asian American
community reflects a culture shift in America where people of
color are now in positions of power at the upper managerial and
C-suite level at large companies. "
supermarketperimeter.com
JUNE 2024 - 15
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Supermarket Perimeter - June 2024

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