Extended Colleague Benefits, Exec Visit & Food Retail Conference

Exec Update – Shrewsbury Food Bank visit

On Tuesday, myself and the exec team held our monthly meeting (in a different location than the norm) – at Shrewsbury Food Bank Plus. Giving us the chance to visit the Food bank again after last year, the team and I took part in a workshop with Karen Williams, the Food Bank Plus Manager and Matthew Maude, a volunteer and IT specialist who is working with the Food Bank Plus to develop an innovative app that will simplify the key operations of the Food Bank and bring significant benefit. 

Retail Conference in Food Retail

Earlier this week I had the opportunity to attend the Food Retail Conference at the Bescot Stadium in Walsall. It gave the chance for all store managers and managers within the Food central teams to learn more about the Strategic plan for 2023. With a particular focus on our members, colleagues and driving profitable sales, as well as our exciting investment plan for the year ahead. I presented about some of the challenges that the industry and our Food business face, and also outlined the expectations and the key areas of focus for Food retail this year. It was great to meet many of our Food managers and colleagues on the day as well as celebrating the achievements of colleagues who have developed their careers with us. 

Amongst them were two new District Manager secondments for 2023; Lindsay Pearce who moves from her Store Manager position at Tamworth, covering Shropshire and the West Midlands, and Jon Little, Store Manager at Hazelmere, who moves to his new role covering the Gloucestershire and Stroud areas. I had the chance to catch up with Lindsay on the day and look forward to hearing more about the development of colleagues within their careers.

 Meeting new Food District Manager, Lindsay Pearce at the Food Retail Conference

Campaigning for Change

The Society is a member of the CBI (Confederation of British Industry) – the body that speaks on behalf of some 190,000 businesses across the UK. As members, we get invited at regular intervals to share our views on topics that affect us. Earlier this week, I asked Pete Westall, our Chief Values Officer, to represent us at a meeting with Nadhim Zahawi (Cabinet Minister and Chair of the Conservative Party); the Director General of the CBI; the British Retail Consortium and a small number of other senior retailers.

Topics of concern raised with the Minister were ones that affect us & our members - including the need for increased Government funding for childcare; the need for further reform of business rates and the need for a reduction in new regulations affecting the operating costs of our businesses. It’s pleasing to have the opportunity to raise these issues alongside others directly with senior members of the Government, and we hope that the points will be taken into consideration in the future.    

Raising £20,000 for the Food Bank Fund

It was fantastic to hear that our Food bank fund raised over £20,000 which will now be equally shared amongst 61 Food bank partners.

As mentioned above, with increases in the cost of living that so many households have been experiencing, it provides vital support to individuals and families who need it the most. January is usually the time of the year that Food banks struggle most for donations due to the festive period, so it will provide a welcome boost to many of our partners.

Another great example of the work our colleagues, members and customers do in supporting our local communities. I would like to thank everyone involved, especially our colleagues, who made this achievement possible. To learn more, read our dedicated story here.