Life-changing. That’s one way I’ve heard the United Fresh Retail Produce Manager Awards described. I’ve been an enthusiastic champion of the program for years, and I’m thrilled to see the changes celebrating and reinforcing the role our frontline personnel play in increasing not only sales, but also consumption.
I’m writing this from United Fresh’s BrandStorm in San Francisco, where we just heard Andronico’s Suzy Monford on a panel discussion of retailers. Monford said the average age of her produce personnel is creeping up into the 40s. The reason? There’s a serious lack of employee development in these crucial areas.
What can we do to usher in the next generation of not only produce clerks but produce professionals, invested in their career and their future in retail? Recognition is one step.
Learn more about the Retail Produce Manager Awards in this article: "10 Things you may not know about the Retail Produce Manager Awards" and nominate a fantastic manager at UnitedFresh.org.