Sponsored By

Brookshire Grocery extends COVID-19 appreciation pay for third time

Regional grocer has invested over $21 million in frontline workers since start of pandemic

Russell Redman

September 18, 2020

3 Min Read
Brookshires_Food_&_Pharmacy_storefront.png
Brookshire’s said its more than 14,000 retail and logistics employees will receive another $1 per hour through Nov. 6 as a “thank you” for their extra efforts during the coronavirus pandemic.Brookshire Grocery Co.

Brookshire Grocery Co. has extended appreciation pay for hourly frontline workers for a third time since the COVID-19 outbreak in March.

Tyler, Texas-based Brookshire’s said this week that its more than 14,000 retail and logistics employees will receive another $1 per hour through Nov. 6 as a “thank you” for their extra efforts during the coronavirus pandemic.

The regional grocer first enacted the temporary wage hike on March 24, with its 14,000-plus retail and logistics staff getting a $1-per-hour increase for the six weeks through the beginning of May. That was followed by extensions of the program announced on May 1, July 10 and Sept. 14.

“Our employee-partners’ service through this pandemic has been and continues to be heroic and inspiring,” Brookshire Grocery Chief Operating Officer Trent Brookshire said in a statement. “As other companies pull back on compensation for their workers, we are continuing to invest in our greatest assets: our partners. I am so proud to be able to give this appreciation pay as a tangible offering of our sincere gratitude for everything they are doing. I am so honored to be part of such an incredible team who upholds such high standards for service and safety.”

The extended pay increase comes in addition to more than $21 million invested in frontline staff thus far via bonus checks, gift cards, retail incentives, an extra employee discount, on-site meals and a compensation plan for those most at risk to be directly affected by COVID-19, Brookshire’s noted.

Related:UFCW kicks off new national campaign to restore COVID-19 hazard pay

Among the added compensation were special bonus checks of up to a half-week’s pay announced March 19 and April 23 as well as $1.3 million in $100 and $50 Brookshire’s gift cards announced May 22 and $1.9 million in $200 and $100 gift cards announced July 1 for full- and part-time workers.

Overall, family-owned Brookshire’s employs more than 15,000 people and operates more than 180 stores under the Brookshire’s, Super 1 Foods, Fresh by Brookshire’s and Spring Market banners in Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas, as well as three distribution centers.

On Wednesday, Brookshire’s also announced that it has been certified as a Great Place to Work by the Oakland, Calif.-based Great Place to Work Institute, a global authority on workplace culture, employee experience and the leadership. The grocery retailer noted that it earned the designation based on validated employee feedback gathered through Great Place to Work’s “rigorous methodology.”

“We are very excited to be Great Place to Work-Certified,” stated Brookshire’s Chairman and CEO Brad Brookshire. “We make the employee experience a priority, and it means a lot that our employees have reported a consistently positive experience with their co-workers, leaders roles and BGC. This is important to us because we know that when employees have a high-trust and positive experience with their employer, they provide similarly exceptional experiences for customers.”

Related:Brookshire Grocery extends COVID-19 daily discounts

Great Place to Work has surveyed more than 100 million employees worldwide on their workplace experience and environment since 1992. “We congratulate Brookshire Grocery Co. on their certification,” commented Sarah Lewis-Kulin, vice president of Best Workplace list research for Great Place to Work. “Organizations that earn their employees’ trust create great workplace cultures that deliver outstanding business results.”

For our most up-to-date coverage, visit the coronavirus homepage.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

Stay up-to-date on the latest food retail news and trends
Subscribe to free eNewsletters from Supermarket News

You May Also Like