Coborn’s joins CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion

Chris Coborn, chairman and CEO of regional grocer Coborn’s Inc., has joined the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion coalition.

St. Cloud, Minn.-based Coborn’s said Wednesday that, with the move, the company will participate in a partnership of more than 2,200 CEOs who have committed to cultivate a trusting environment where all ideas are welcomed, and employees feel comfortable and empowered to have discussions about diversity and inclusion.

Chris Coborn, chairman and chief executive officer of Coborn's Inc. (Photo courtesy of Coborn's)

CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion is the nation’s largest CEO-driven business group aimed at driving measurable action and meaningful change in advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace, Coborn’s noted.

Austin Vogler, talent, culture and human resources manager at Coborn’s, introduced the coalition’s pledge as part of the grocer’s Diversity & Inclusion Action Plan, which was presented to store directors, senior company leadership, and members of the doard of directors at the company’s recent strategic planning retreat.

As a signatory of the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion, Coborn’s said it’s dedicated to working collaboratively to advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace through conversation, engagement and collaboration among organizations.

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“While our company’s core value of dignity and respect sets the expectation for an inclusive culture, our communities, guests and, most importantly, our employees want and need to see, hear and feel our brand promise of being the ‘Greatest Place to Work,’” Vogler said in a statement. “Joining the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion coalition provides us with the opportunity to share with and learn from other organizations who are at various stages in their diversity, equity and inclusion journey, and this pledge itself complements our plans for future work in this area.”

Overall, Coborn’s operates 66 supermarkets in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Michigan under the Coborn’s, Cash Wise Foods, Marketplace Foods, Hornbacher’s and Tadych’s Marketplace banners. The company’s retail network also includes convenience/fuel locations, liquor stores and pharmacies, for a total of about 200 outlets. Coborn’s, too, operates its own central bakery, dry cleaning facility and grocery distribution center.