Schnuck Markets to launch hiring blitz

On the heels of an acquisition, Schnuck Markets Inc. plans a hiring drive this week to fill 1,000 open jobs.

Schnucks said yesterday it has scheduled hiring fairs for Sept. 27 and 28, with an eye to fully staff its 69 metropolitan St. Louis stores plus 19 area Shop ‘n Save supermarkets being acquired from Supervalu Inc. in a deal announced a week ago.

More than 600 Shop ‘n Save employees at the 19 stores already have accepted job offers, Schnucks said. However, the company noted that it still needs to hire 1,000 more people even after filling those positions.

“This isn’t a job fair; it’s a hiring fair,” Laura Freeman, chief people officer at St. Louis-based Schnucks, said in a statement. “We’ll be interviewing on the spot, and we’re hoping to be able to tell hundreds of people that day, ‘You’re hired, and here’s the date we’ll need you to report to orientation.’ ”

Most of the open positions are part-time to start, Schnucks said, but full-time jobs also are available at the company’s bakery plant, pharmacy warehouse, pharmacy central-fill facility and pharmacy call center. No experience is required, and on-the-job training will be provided.

The company noted that it has dozens of stores in the metro St. Louis area covering Missouri and Illinois, making it easy for job seekers to find a potential work location near their home.

Related:Schnucks to buy 19 Shop ‘n Saves from Supervalu

Schnucks representatives will interview job seekers on a walk-in basis on Thursday at the Orlando Event Center in Maryland Heights, Mo., and on Friday at the Gateway Convention Center in Collinsville, Ill., from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. To expedite the process, the retailer is urging job seekers to visit Schnucks.com/careers and complete an online application.

“Whether someone is looking to build a career or looking for a second job, looking for an after-school job, or looking for a way to stay busy after retirement, we have jobs that meet the needs of a variety of people in a variety of situations,” said Jennifer Richert, talent acquisition manager for Schnucks, which has more than 13,000 employees.

Schnucks expects to close the purchase of the Shop ‘n Save stores — 14 in Missouri and five in Illinois — in late October. Under the deal, the company also is acquiring four fuel centers and 16 pharmacies (including one stand-alone pharmacy), as well as prescription files for 10 other Shop ‘n Save in-store pharmacies.

The transaction will lift Schnucks over the 100-store mark to 118 supermarkets (including about 110 pharmacies, plus one stand-alone) in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Iowa. The chain opened a new store in Maplewood, Mo., on Aug. 22 and plans to open another in Warrenton, Mo., later this fall.

Related:New loyalty program gets under way at Schnucks

Schnucks also has been busy growing its digital presence. At the start of August, the retailer launched the Schnucks Rewards loyalty program and mobile app as the first phase of a multiyear partnership with St. Louis-based World Wide Technology (WWT) to create a seamless, omnichannel experience for customers.