Larry Asu’s Post

Great Place to Work, which has surveyed employees around the world about their experiences for three decades, is out with its 2024 Fortune Best Workplaces in Retail List. Several grocers made the cut – and actually went to the head of the class – in this year’s report. Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. came in at No. 1 for the ninth year in a row in fact, based on the criteria of positive employee feedback. The c-store chain Sheetz, Inc. took the second spot, followed by Target Corp. Coming in at No. 5 was Publix Super Markets, Other grocery, mass and c-store leaders in the top tier of the retail workplace rankings include Walmart (No. 7), Nugget Market, Inc. (No. 8), The Spinx Co. (No. 9), Island Pacific Supermarket (No. 11) and ALDI US (No. 18).

In today's competitive retail landscape, it's crucial for retailers to attract, develop, and retain individuals committed to service excellence. Focusing on these areas can make a significant difference in customer satisfaction and overall business success. Register now and be part of the conversation on driving service excellence!

#ALDIpower | Saving time with our One-Stop-Office - “A life with ALDI”  🙇 Being in the primetime of your life can be challenging – juggling a job with a family, remaining friendships and hobbies, all while trying to eat healthy and taking care of yourself. Fortunately, the ALDI Nord Group is an employer, where it is possible, to keep it all at balance. That’s what todays episode of “A life with ALDI” is all about. 💻 Daniel Laag, Business Projects Lead, knows this challenge of keeping it all aligned. Therefore, it suits him and his stage of life, that he is able to save valuable time at our ALDI Campus in Essen: “Working at our Campus is like going to a One-Stop-Shop, because it is a place, where I can combine multiple things. I work, eat healthy and delicious meals at the restaurant and workout in the fitness centre after I’m done for the day. This saves me a lot of time, so I can spend as much free time as possible with my family and my friends. Another benefit I love about working at ALDI: I’m given the chance to participate in leadership workshops and not only improve my health and my work-life-balance at the Campus, but also myself as a leader of a team.” 💙 We are happy to provide our Campus as a One-Stop-Shop for our #ALDIcrew and being able to make a work-like-balance also for people in a very busy stage of life, like for Daniel, possible. #digitalisation #career #family #campus #aldinord

In a retail environment of ever-increasing complexity, ambiguity, and continuous change, companies and their employees have to be able to adapt and evolve, as well. Last year, Whole Foods Market launched a ten-year vision called “Where are you growing?” to help instill that mindset in its team members and address one of the key drivers of engagement today: opportunities for upskilling and career advancement. Mike Van Lente, Executive Leader of Learning and Development at Whole Foods, discussed this program during MOHR Retail’s recent webinar. As he noted, the learning and development programs are designed to put team members on successful career paths within the company. The company starts promoting this continuous learning and growing environment in the hiring process, and from day one during orientation and onboarding, showcasing the career pathways available to employees. This setup helps them to recruit the top candidates and then develop a healthy pipeline of leaders and artisan talents to help fuel the pipeline of stores. Is your retail organization focusing on upskilling and career advancement? #LearnMOHR #RetailTraining #RetailLeadership #WholeFoodsMarket

From McDonald's Crew Member to Pret A Manger CEO 🏆 Pano Christou's incredible career journey is a testament to determination and the right mentorship. Starting as a crew member at McDonald's, he climbed the ranks to become the CEO of Pret A Manger. His story highlights the importance of joining businesses that value career progression, reward loyalty and achievements, and recognise the potential of their internal talent. Transparency and a clear development path are crucial. If you're not transparent with your staff and fail to lay out a clear development plan for their career within your company, it's inevitable they will start to look elsewhere. Businesses that invest in their employees' growth tend to not only have higher retention rates but also foster a more engaged and productive workforce. What other inspiring career journeys have you come across on LinkedIn? Do you have any within your business? #Progression #Career #Recruitment

Friday Fulfillment: Celebrate Your Way to a Happier, More Energised Team! 🎉 TGI Friday! As another successful week comes to a close, let's talk about one of the most powerful (and enjoyable) ways to boost motivation and morale: celebrating achievements! 🙌 Did you know that 27% of employees say more recognition and appreciation would've convinced them to stay in a previous role? That's right - a little acknowledgment goes a long way in making people feel valued and fulfilled at work. 😊 But here's the really fun part: celebrating success doesn't have to be a boring, buttoned-up affair. Get creative and find ways to infuse some joy and laughter into your team's day! Whether it's a virtual happy hour, a silly awards ceremony, or a heartfelt shout-out in your team chat, taking a moment to recognise wins (both big and small) can work wonders. 🥳 At GMZ, we're all about helping our clients create cultures where everyone feels appreciated and energised to do their best work. From gamified recognition programs to leadership workshops on the art of celebration, we've got tons of ideas to make your workplace a little brighter. ✨ So go ahead, start spreading some cheer! Trust us, when you make appreciation a habit, you'll be amazed at the ripple effect it has on your team's happiness, engagement and performance. Fulfillment unlocked! 🔓😄 Ready to level-up your celebration game? Give us a shout - our team would love to brainstorm some fun ways to bring more fulfillment to your crew! #Celebrations #RecognitionMatters #HappyTeam #Leadership

Why McDonald's and Walmart are America's First Jobs Explore the significance of first jobs in America through the lens of iconic workplaces like McDonald's and Walmart. This insightful discussion illuminates how these entry-level positions shape the workforce and launch careers, making them the ultimate American experience. #FirstJobs #AmericanWorkforce #McDonalds #Walmart #EntryLevelJobs #CareerJourney #RetailExperience #FoodService #JobMarket #CareerDevelopment

Excellence is not a one-time act but a habit. Publix Inc exemplifies this adage by marking its 27th year on Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For list, a testament to its unwavering dedication to its people and culture. Publix has consistently demonstrated its commitment to workplace excellence, securing a spot on Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For list for the 27th consecutive year. This achievement underscores the company's enduring presence as a standard-bearer in employee satisfaction and corporate culture since the list's inception. What does it take to achieve 27 consecutive years of "Best Company to Work for?" Leadership commitment and investment in the team across the spectrum of employees. Grocers employ a wide range of abilities, experience, and talent. What works culturally in one part of the organization must be woven into the process. Businesses look for hard skills (e.g., finance, programming, operations, customer service) and soft skills (e.g., communications, leadership), but savvy leaders hire for cultural fit. You might be superb at warehouse planning, but if you are a do-all-yourself type, it doesn't bode well for collaboration. Publix CEO Kevin Murphy attributes this honor to the company's associates, who play a pivotal role in upholding the Publix culture and ensuring it remains a desirable place to work. Their dedication and hard work are the backbone of our success, and we are proud to have them on our team. The company's strategic focus on internal promotions, employee stock ownership, and community engagement through volunteering further reinforces its reputation as an employer of choice. The selection process, conducted by Great Place To Work, involves surveying employees about their company culture and leadership and assessing their sense of loyalty and trust within the organization. In partnership with Fortune, this process helps identify and celebrate companies like Publix that are dedicated to creating a positive and supportive work environment. Applause for companies that walk the talk. #Strategy, #CustomerExperience, #LawrenceLerner, #Leadership    Want to unpack more trends and insights for Retail leaders? 👉🏼 Subscribe on LinkedIn https://lnkd.in/g5vRejRR    

Best advice, regardless of the stage you are in your career.

In 2005, while working for Woolworths Café, I faced a daunting yet exciting challenge: opening a new restaurant, http://FOOD.BAR in Design Quarters. This opportunity presented me with the task of recruiting and training 80 new staff members—a pivotal moment that ignited my passion for training. As I stood in front of the new staff on their first day of training, every nerve tingled with nervousness and anticipation. Little did I know, this experience would shape my career path for years to come. Over my 14-year career at Woolworths Café, I immersed myself in leadership training, customer service, financial management, and recruitment, developing my skills and expertise. After nearly three decades in hospitality, I chose a new career journey in the real estate world as a Team Leader. This transition allowed me to meet incredible individuals, and apply my training skills to a different industry. Despite facing challenges like the unexpected retrenchment of our entire leadership team in the Western Cape, 2 days before we went into lockdown, I took the opportunity to start my own company. Today, as I celebrate my 4-year anniversary, I am living my passion and serving my purpose with gratitude for every person who supported my journey. So, here's to embracing challenges, accepting opportunities, and transforming into the best version of ourselves. Thank you for being part of my journey—I couldn't have done it without you! #Leadership #Leadershiptraining #Managers #Delegation #Influencers #Motivators #Skills #TheWinningAttitudeSkillsTraining #Thewinningattitude #Goals #Goaltraining #Motivation #Goals #Goalstraining #Goalsetting #Goals #Goalscoach #Success #Focus #Driven #Achievement #Goalsmastery #thewinningattitudeskillstraining #thewinningattitude #skills #training #goaldriven #perserverance #Commitment #SpeakingWithPurpose #ConfidenceInSpeaking #WiseWords #Publicspeaking #Confidence #Storytelling #Fear #Speakinginpublic #Skills