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Natural Grocers enacts wage increase

Hourly pay rises on tap for current and new store associates

Russell Redman

October 14, 2021

3 Min Read
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Natural Grocers is following up an hourly wage hike implemented last week for all current store staff with an increased starting wage for new associates effective next week.Natural Grocers

Natural Grocers has raised wages for all hourly store associates and plans to lift starting wages for new store workers beginning next week.

The Lakewood, Colo.-based natural and organic grocery chain said Thursday that all current hourly store personnel started receiving another $1 per hour effective Oct. 4. With the increase, average hourly pay for full-time store associates rose to $18.43, including $1 per hour in Vitamin Bucks. Also, effective Oct. 18, the hourly pay rate for entry-level positions will rise to a range of $14 to $18, including Vitamin Bucks.

All full-time and part-time associates — known as good4u Crew — earn $1 in Vitamin Bucks for each hour worked and can apply them to in-store purchases such as groceries, vitamins and dietary supplements, body care items and other products, according to Natural Grocers. The company also offers employees discounts on fresh foods and packaged groceries as well as on health and personal care products.

“Competitive pay, helping provide our Crew members a wage and benefits package that we believe is one of the best in the retail grocery business, is the most meaningful investment we can make,” Natural Grocers Chairman and Co-President Kemper Isely said in a statement. “It’s rooted in our five founding principles, including ‘commitment to our good4u Crew’ and ‘commitment to our community.’ When we can retain people who are aligned with our values and provide growth-oriented career opportunities, we are investing in our community as well.”

Related:Natural Grocers scavenger hunt game promotes store brand

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Natural Grocers instituted a permanent $1 hourly wage increase for store associates as part of a hero pay and bonus program in March 2020.

Natural Grocers noted that the wage hike builds on a hero pay and bonus program launched in March 2020 at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The initiative included a permanent $1 hourly wage increase for store associates, and the company said the incremental cost of the extra pay topped $18 million as of Sept. 30.

Employees also receive comprehensive health care coverage, a 401k retirement savings plan with company match, holiday and birthday pay, paid time off, company-paid short-term disability insurance and, if needed, short-term financial assistance under the Natural Grocers Heroes in Aprons Fund, launched earlier this year. Career support offerings include the Store Manager Accelerated Readiness Training (SMART) Program, paid nutrition education, and other career development and advancement program.

With 162 stores in 20 states, Natural Grocers said its current job openings include cashier and head cashier, grocery and bulk department manager, produce department assistant, receiving manager, vitamin and body care assistant, and nutritional health coach.

Related:Natural Grocers' Q3 income, gross margin improve over 2020's results

“Our mission of educating our communities about good nutrition and affordable, healthy food is more critical now than ever, and it’s fueled, as always, by our Crew’s dedication, talent and hard work. We’re grateful to each and every one of them for sharing their unique gifts with us in this journey of making our neighborhoods and our planet a healthier place,” commented Heather Isely, executive vice president at Natural Grocers. “Supporting our Crew with competitive wages and a robust benefits package is just one way of showing our appreciation for the Crew’s extraordinary efforts and commitment to keeping their communities rooted in health.”

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

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