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New Seasons Market to raise hourly wage to $16.25

Pay hike also to kick in at sister chain New Leaf Community Markets

Russell Redman

September 27, 2021

2 Min Read
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Plans call for the pay increase to go into effect Oct. 6 at the two dozen New Seasons and New Leaf stores.New Seasons Market

Next week, West Coast grocer New Seasons Market and its New Leaf Community Markets subsidiary plan lift their hourly starting wage to $16.25.

Portland, Ore.-based New Seasons said Monday that the pay hike will kick in on Oct. 6 for hourly staff across its two dozen stores in Oregon, Washington and California. Plans also call for the retailer to adjust wage scales to “recognize the contributions of all hourly store staff,” which the company said will hoist the average pay of current hourly staff to $19.98.

Part of Good Food Holdings, New Seasons Market operates 19 stores in Oregon, Washington and Northern California, while New Leaf Community Market has five stores in California’s Central Coast region.

“Supporting staff with competitive pay and benefits is a deeply rooted commitment aligned to the founding values of New Seasons Market and New Leaf Community Markets,” New Seasons and New Leaf CEO Nancy Lebold said in a statement. “Grocery workers are vital to the success of our regional food economies. This investment will advance equity in our stores and continue moving the food industry to support livable wages for all workers.”

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New Leaf Community Market has five stores in California’s Central Coast, while New Seasons Market operates 19 stores in Oregon, Washington and Northern California.

The grocer noted that the New Seasons and New Leaf banners were early adopters of a $15 hourly starting wage and invest 25% of each sales dollar into employee compensation and benefits. A Certified B Corporation, the retailer said its benefits package encompasses comprehensive health care, paid parental leave, lifestyle scheduling, paid volunteer opportunities and career development.

Related:Schnuck Markets to reward employees with performance and retention bonuses

Recent benefit additions include staff scholarship to earn a Retail Management Certificate, access to continued education and professional development, and the expansion of parental leave eligibility to part-time staff, effective in the 2022 open enrollment period, New Seasons said. The company also has introduced a child care tuition benefit through Portland-based KinderCare Education to help parents working in the retailer’s supermarkets and store support office.

“With this starting wage investment, we’re leading among other regional retailers as we work to retain and attract the best people from within the communities we serve,” commented Forrest Gonsiewski, regional vice president at New Leaf Community Markets.

Parent company Good Food Holdings has three other food retail chains: Bristol Farms and Lazy Acres Natural Market in Southern California and Metropolitan Market in Seattle. Hypermarket retailer Emart, which operates about 200 stores in South Korea, acquired Good Food Holdings in 2018 and is part of Seoul-based global retailer The Shinsegae Group.

Related:Target to offer more hours and pay for the holiday season

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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