Lowes Foods’ Post

Customer Needs Help with Carry Out!! While Recruiting has been my passion for nearly 20-years, I also raise Boer Goats for 4H and FFA in our local area and enjoy riding my old Mare, Cinder. (Why am I sharing this? You'll see!) I cannot tell you how grateful I am for the Team Members at our Family-Owned and Corporate Ag Retailers! Sadly, most stores are understaffed, and Team Members are being pulled in 100 directions. You can see the urgency as they unload pallets onto shelves or try to quickly chip away at a mile long check-out line. Or they hear a "Customer Needs Help with a Carry Out" call right when they're in the middle of doing something. Yet! When asked for help, they stop what they are doing and take the time to engage in conversation while walking you to your item. They'll ask about your day while loading your 500 LBS of Goat Grain into your truck. 🐐 🐐 While John, the Store Manager, was loading my grain, I complemented him on his staff and how nice the store looked considering how few he had in the store that day. He shared with me that he had only been a Store Manager for a year and was loving every minute of it. He said the company's Senior Leadership is one of the biggest reasons he has stayed with them for nearly 10 years. He described his company as "a big family"! He also made sure to add how the communities they serve are a part of the family too. What a great young man! Why am I sharing this? To give a huge High-Five to Senior Leadership who pour themselves into their people. For creating a culture from the top down that a Store Manager like John felt valued and supported even on a tough day!! Well done! 😎 As for the 500 LBS of grain.... After unloading it into the barn, my back reminded me why I should have it delivered next time! #storemanager #retail #retailindustry #storeoperations #stores #seniorleadership #retailexecutives #ceo #cfo #coo #vpofstores #districtmanager #regionalmanager #hiring #jobs #retailjobs #farm #agriculture #ruralretail #retaildevelopers #homeandfarm

I've learned so much in just 3 weeks in a new role! I've learned that I have a love for more than just food retail, and although this role is completely new and can be challenging - I've broken a few things down. 1) Guests are guests regardless if you oversee Food & Bev, GM, Style or the entire sales floor. If you put guests as the guiding light you'll always be right. 2) Put your team members first. In my opinion, as a lead you are there to support your direct reports, and for myself that is team members. If I show up every day to make their respective jobs easier, I've done something right for the day. We think this can be a hard task, and ultimately it is not - a simple hello, how was the weekend, offer to help with freight or workload. The small everyday things will ad up to a big difference. 3) Fill the floor! Tell a story. When aisles and displays are full, guests are excited to shop, and that excitement breeds life into stores and makes the shopping experience enjoyable! Lastly - less share some news on GREEN metrics! We've dropped the INF% for GM 2% or better across the board. A few outliers that we're getting worked out, but soon I'm looking to post sub 1% in all areas. The GM team's hard work has led to drastic improvement in sales, going from a negative comp to a 3% comp over the last three weeks. The store is also on a giant upswing with a 5% store comp over 3 weeks, more to come! #worksomewhereyoulove #target #growtime #growth

I was overjoyed by the comments this guest left in her Lowes Foods to Go feedback survey. "Shannon is amazing. I credit her for the excellent job everyone else does. I don't know if she trains all employees directly. However, since I've known her the longest, I assume she sets a positive tone with the other shoppers." Thank you, Ms. Blacker, for your continued praise! #LowesFoodsRocks #guestexperience #onlinegrocery #personalshopping #guestfeedback #traininganddevelopment #leadbyexample #teamdevelopment #guestengagement

Faith, it has been a privilege to work alongside you for the past three years. Your commitment to quality and excellence has set a benchmark for all of us. Your data analytical skills are truly unparalleled, consistently delivering insights that have driven our strategic decisions and propelled our success over the last three years. Your exceptional supplier relationship management has strengthened our trade partners partnerships, while your negotiation skills have secured advantageous terms that have significantly benefited our commercial operations. Your strategic approach to business and product sales growth has been transformative, driving revenue and expanding our market presence. Your ability to provide cross-functional business support has been indispensable, seamlessly bridging gaps between departments and fostering collaboration. I have no doubt that you will continue to excel in your future endeavors. I highly recommend you to any organization seeking talented professional in supply chain and business growth and development. May your next chapter be extraordinary great, more fulfilling and make positive impact to all that you will work and interact with. Wishing you all the best that the future can offer

Just over 4 years ago, Lottie Unwin (she/her) hired me. There were just the two of us in the team. There’s now 13 of us. Here’s a few things I’ve learnt from working for an incredibly fast growth agency working with some of the UK’s best FMCG businesses; 1. From pet care to household goods to food products, the challenges are mostly the same  2. That being said, you cannot succeed without understanding your specific category tension  3. Know your customer inside out  4. But also know when research stops and action needs to start  5. Brands who have a point of view will succeed faster 6. Brands who have single-minded focus will succeed faster  7. Brands who keep it simple will succeed faster  8. A Founder’s energy is unparalleled  9. Your team having your back is the best possible working environment Happy 4 years to me and this very old picture 🎉

I've been very fortunate……… Been on “Both Sides Of The Table” (BSOTT) Two carriers >>> UPS >>> CD&L (not today's CDL, but the CD&L that was bought by Velocity moons ago) Two start-ups as a shipper >>>> FreshDirect >>>> Boxed Three Fortune 50 to Fortune 250 shippers in uniquely different industries >>> Grainger - B2B Industrial Supplies >>> AmerisourceBergen – Wholesale Pharmaceuticals >>> ToysRUs – Toys!!!! Seen alot, done alot, but still learning every day….and the industry changes quickly! Experiences across multiple industries, in different environments is just so valuable… What are all the words above for? It’s so I can offer some advice to those that have only been in one industry so far in their career……and that is……….. Make a move !!!!  Varied experiences allow you to provide input based on a well-rounded career……don’t just become a specialist in industrial supplies, or apparel, or vitamins……and spend some time NOT just in Supply Chain, but in Human Resources, in Industrial Engineering (aka Arts and Crafts), in Maintenance and Housekeeping………understand how departments need to collaborate… And if you are wondering, I'd still be doin' this if I wasn't doin' this (lyrics borrowed from Luke Combs)

One key tip for getting promoted at Costco: build strong relationships within the company. - 🤝 Network with colleagues and leaders. - 🌱 Seek opportunities to learn and grow. - 🏆 Show willingness to take on new challenges. #CareerGrowth #Networking #PromotionTips - 📈 Building relationships helps you stay informed about new opportunities. - 💡 Learning from others can inspire new ideas and perspectives. - 🔄 Taking on new challenges demonstrates your commitment and adaptability. - 🧩 Networking provides support and mentorship. - 🚀 Being proactive in your development leads to quicker advancement. A Costco manager who has been with the company for over 20 years shares his No. 1 tip for getting promoted https://lnkd.in/gsjjBWkF

"Jim, I'm giving you the freedom to fail." Those words from one of my great bosses, John Hardy, Atlanta Division Deli Merchandising Director. I'm the yellow chicken in the back. We were kicking off the summer 1986 season with a fried chicken promotion. For the record it took six rides on the Six Flags Over Georgia roller coaster to get the photo shot just right. I think everyone thought John was nuts when he said we were going to sell "cold fried chicken" in the deli cases at Kroger. That's right. Marinate overnight, fry the chicken, put it in the cooler overnight, display it in the case the next day. "A lot of people in the South like cold fried chicken the next day," John said. He was right. The chicken tonnage doubled in the Atlanta Division from this smart marketing move. This is one example of how he led me to experiment and be unafraid to try new ideas. One way I did that was to take our fresh-made pizzas and tilt them on display in upright refrigerated cases to catch the attention of shoppers on their way to the check-out lanes. That was a success too. By late August I was invited to fly with John to Louisville KY to the #1 deli in the Kroger company to see how to merchandise in the new European curved glass cases. We were met by the Cincinnati corporate head of Deli Merchandising. That kind of exposure never hurts. Looking back, I realize this was my first "sales" job. It wasn't line management like it was when I was a store manager. It was a role where you had to "sell your ideas" to other store managers and deli managers in order for them to improve sales and profits. We did over 15 grand openings of many new Kroger stores during my two-year merchandising role, from Rome to Newnan, Alpharetta to City Center. I realize it shaped how I would approach job roles over the years. I became the person my bosses would pick to pioneer new initiatives. And I succeeded. It's amazing what giving yourself the freedom to take calculated risks, the freedom to fail, can do for your mindset and your career. What initiatives have you taken while being unafraid to fail? Please share in the comments. #risktaking #merchandising #salestips #jimkerlinconsulting

Life update! 📣 I am excited to share that I have accepted a new position with ALDI USA as the Value Chain Optimization Buying Executive Manager at our US headquarters in Chicago! 🎉 This new opportunity marks the beginning of a new chapter in my life and I am eager to bring my skills and abilities to this role. As I move forward, I am reminded that even though one amazing chapter may be closing, an even better one is about to begin. Here's to new adventures and growth! 🚀 #newbeginnings #careeropportunities #growthmindset

Kroger Management Share Group! Join us June 11th & 12th A new Share Group designed to address the interest and curiosity stemming from the recent marketplace developments involving Kroger/Albertson’s. Presenting CPG companies with a unique opportunity to benefit from peer-to-peer interaction, engagement, and exchanges of insights related to Challenges, Approaches, Best Practices, Supportive Resources, and more…. WHAT ARE THEY DISCUSSING: ·        Org Structure and Role Development specific to Kroger/Albertson’s ·        Strategies for partnering with Kroger (short & longer term) ·        Management of Direct Sales Personnel ·        Broker/Agency Management ·        Retail Coverage considerations, plans, alignment, and approach ·        Retail Landscape (Food Channel and other key retailer influences) ·        Financial Management ·        Supply Chain Influences, Considerations and Approaches ·        Additional Resources Utilized ·        And more WHO PARTICIPATES? ·        Team Leaders ·        NAM’s ·        Directors/VP’s ·        Sales Analysts ·        Business Development Manager Contact us Today! #Kroger #Krogermanagement #Sharegroup