Young Workers Seek Companies That Care

JON SPRINGER

CHICAGO — The next wave of executive talent to enter the supermarket industry will join companies that offer them broad opportunities to learn and grow and a track record of good deeds.

“When I look at a company, I go to their website, and the first thing I read is their mission, their vision and their sustainability report,” said Casimira Tadewaldt, a senior studying food marketing at Portland State University who spoke at Food Marketing Institute's Speaks event, part of the FMI Show, here last week.

Tadewaldt, fellow PSU senior Kevin Faulkner and professor Tom Gilpatrick of PSU's food marketing program were part of a Speaks program addressing the future. Portland State is also partnering with FMI in developing FMI's 2009 annual show, which will be an education-only event focusing on human resources issues.

Tadewaldt said she will seek a position with a company that has a development program to rotate employees into various areas of the organization. “I want to be able to choose what direction my career is going to go,” she said. A company offering “life/work balance” is also important, she added.

Similarly, Faulkner said he would consider a company's “values” before coming to work for them, a sentiment he said he shares with many of his graduating class. “We're willing to get out and look, but if it's not for us, we'll move on,” he said.

Jeff Noddle, the outgoing FMI chairman, and chairman and chief executive officer at Supervalu, said the food industry as a whole needs to do more work embracing the kind of diverse workplaces young employees are seeking today.

“It's critical we find a way to retain and attract the best talent,” he said. “At Supervalu, we have taken diversity to a whole new level. We must reflect what America looks like.”

OTHER INDUSTRY WORRIES

While attracting and retaining new employees ranks among the top issues of concern for supermarket executives, it's one of many, survey results presented at the Speaks presentation revealed. Other issues, including health care costs, competition from other retailers, credit and debit interchange fees, energy costs and food safety issues, also ranked highly, said Michael Sansolo, FMI's executive vice president.

FMI also noted that the level of anxiety over these issues grew notably higher than in past surveys. For example, in 2004 only one issue rated a level of concern exceeding 7 on a 1-to-10 scale. The same survey in 2006 showed four issues exceeding the 7 level, while concern increased for nearly every topic on the survey.

Steve Smith, president and CEO at K-VA-T Food Stores and incoming FMI chairman, noted that the current food safety concerns could result in quick action in Washington that could hurt food retailers, and he urged the industry to play a role in reaching solutions. “When something starts getting done in Washington for you, it's usually not a good thing,” he said.

Smith called the country's food recall system “dysfunctional” and pledged to come up with a plan that would allow retailers to pull product from shelves before panicked consumers and the news media find out about it.

Rising energy costs and health care costs also remain top sources of anxiety for the supermarket industry, Speaks revealed.

Retailers asked to predict events in five and 10 years' time see cash and checks becoming less frequently used as credit and debit card and biometric payments increase. Around 40% said stores will feature sections for one- to two-person households by 2012, and nearly half think it will be common in 2017.

Retailers also see 20% of the nation's cars being powered by hybrid engines and an increase in the retirement age to 70 as likely events by 2017.