February 22 was National Supermarket Day — intended to commemorate the role that workers play at every level of the industry and across their communities.
It also presents an opportunity for grocers to both spotlight their employees internally and in a public-facing way.
FMI—The Food Industry Association, has designed a toolkit to support retailers’ efforts in recognizing their employees. Elements include:
- Supermarket Employee Day logos
- Sample proclamation
- Online store
- Resources to help grocers celebrate their employees throughout the year
- And downloadable infographics that can be featured in newsletters, social media, and websites
The “Thank a Supermarket Employee” infographic notes that: “In the face of natural disasters or global pandemics, these frontline heroes keep communities going. Show them your gratitude.”
In addition, FMI also is providing a list of talking points for messaging. They include:
- The food industry feeds families and enriches lives, and supermarkets are the cornerstone of their communities
- There are more than 40,000 stores that sell food and grocery items in the U.S. alone
- Millions of supermarket employees come to work daily to keep shelves stocked and to provide communities with essential services that help them survive and thrive
- Supermarket employees maintain the critical pipeline of food and consumer goods that sustain the health and well-being of their customers
- Supermarket employees have personified compassion and courage when communities have most needed to be encouraged
Stores in past years have held Supermarket Employee Day-themed special events, which have included offering their employees special promotions or discounts, along with in-store signage and social media posts.
Many companies also have encouraged their governors to enact state proclamations to honor the day.
“Supermarket Employee Day is a nationwide opportunity to say thank you to grocery store workers for their important contributions in keeping our country fed, even during the most challenging of circumstances, such as those presented by a global pandemic,” Leslie Sarasin, president and chief executive officer of Arlington, Va.-based FMI, said in a statement.
Indeed, Sarasin said 83% of grocers indicated that supporting their community was a key strategy in engaging shoppers and differentiating themselves.
“As families across the country continue to grapple with inflation, grocers have increasingly prioritized serving, supporting, and strengthening ties with the communities in which they operate,” she said.
Supermarket Employee Day is among the programs FMI is using to recognize talent, achievement, and industry initiatives that make a positive impact in neighborhoods. Other schemes include the Store Manager Awards and Community Uplift Awards
