Save Mart Cos. Turns Temps Into Full-Time Team

The Save Mart Cos., operators of Save Mart, Lucky, Lucky California and FoodMaxx stores across California and Northern Nevada, has ramped up its staffing since the start of the pandemic, bringing on an additional 683 full-time team members in response to surging customer demand.

The Modesto, Calif.-based grocer initially hired these team members and 317 others in part-time temporary positions. With its stores seeing overwhelming customer demand during this public health crisis, it quickly recruited the new hires, most of whom joined in multipurpose clerk roles, helping stock shelves, working the check stands or handling the movement of goods and incoming shipments.

As demand remained at record-high levels, the company transitioned 68% of its 1,000 new team members into full-time positions.

“We knew we would need to be aggressive to hire enough team members to handle increased business during the pandemic,” said Lee Gelb, VP of human resources, in a release. “As an essential business, we needed to be prepared to meet our customers’ needs and to help existing team members manage the overwhelming increase in business and the journey through this historic time.”

Many of the new team members were furloughed from previous companies during the pandemic’s economic downturn. “We are fortunate to find so many talented and engaging team members, coming from all walks of life and every level of work experience,” said Chad Stacy, director of talent acquisition, in a statement.

Save Mart worked closely with the United Food and Commercial Workers and Teamsters unions, to expedite the creation of the new permanent positions, as well as growing the ranks of the two unions.

Committed to the safety of its team members and customers, Save Mart has implemented a number of public health safety measures during the pandemic. It was also among the first grocery stores to offer specific shopping times for seniors and for first responders.

“We are very proud of the hard work and dedication that our team members have demonstrated, at every level of this organization, to keep our shelves stocked and the stores operating safely,” Gelb said.

The 683 new team members hired are in addition to the over 14,000 team members the company had as of Jan. 1, 2020, at its 206 stores. It continues to hire full- and part-time team members, both temporary and permanent.