Beatrice Teston
KSB 100-001
Professor Persily Lamel
There have been
several influential leaders within the grocery industry throughout the past
twenty years. Each of these significant people have changed and evolved each
different face of the grocery industry. In doing so, each company has been able
to mold towards what best fits consumer needs and to adapt to consumer’s
changing demands over the past two decades.
Whole Foods CEO John P. Mackey is
one of the most influential people in the natural products grocery industry who
care deeply about giving Americans the means to live the healthiest lives they
can. He has brought organic and natural foods into the mainstream of America
through capitalizing on the greater health consciousness that has spread
through society in the past twenty years. Along with this, he has transformed
Whole Foods from a small grocery into a major enterprise.
The CEO of Safeway Steven A. Burd was
able to be an influential leader in the grocery industry through his pioneering
management practices. He had the ability to create an extensive cost cutting
plan that included deep cuts in capital expenditures enabling the company to
lower the shelf prices in its stores and boost revenues. Burd steered the
company forward by expanding the company into California, Illinois, Alaska and
Texas and brought Safeway’s revenues to an estimated $28.9 billion. This gave
Steven A. Burd recognition as one of the grocery industry’s best CEO’s.
Buying in bulk has also been a new
form of grocery shopping. James D. Sinegal had changed the face of buying groceries
at wholesale stores as one of the founders of Costco Wholesale. Costco is the
largest wholesale organization in the United States, beating Sam’s Club and
BJ’s Wholesale. Sinegal is best known for progressive management practices that
has enabled Costco to benefit from a low employee turnover and high
productivity.
The founder of Wegmans, Robert B.
Wegman, was able to pride himself on not only being a successful company, but
also giving back to his employees and community. In 2005 it ranked number one
in the top 100 best companies to work for. In 1987, the company created the
Work- Scholarship connection, a program that has been successful in reducing
the drop out rate among at risk students in the Rochester city school district.
This provided students part time jobs and workplace mentors at Wegmans. Since
the program’s inception Wegmans has attributed $56 million dollars in tuition
assistance to 18,000 employees.
These four leaders had given their
companies the best opportunities in the grocery industry to cater to consumer
and employee needs. In doing so, the industry has benefited in a rise in
overall revenues and meeting consumer demands.
http://clients1.ibisworld.com/reports/us/industry/default.aspx?entid=1040
As a result of Safways cost cuts, were there any repercussions? such as a decrease in product quality or a decrease in wages?
ReplyDelete