Dive Brief:
- Wegmans Food Markets, Publix Super Markets and Whole Foods Market have all been named on the 2017 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list, finishing in second, 21st and 58th place, respectively, according to Progressive Grocer.
- The three retailers have also been selected as Great Place to Work Legends because they have been on the list for all of the past 20 years.
- To compile the list, Fortune conducts an extensive employee survey that is based on the feedback of more than 232,000 employees at Great Place to Work–certified companies with more than 1,000 employees.
Dive Insight:
For the 20th year straight, Whole Foods, Publix and Wegmans are on the 100 best places to work list and are also cited as some of the places consumers most want to shop. The connection is not surprising. Companies that have happier workers make for a better atmosphere.
Wegmans is often compared to Disneyland because of its excellent customer service, spotless prepared food stations and positive company culture. Wegmans is even celebrating the honor by serving cake and mini apples to customers and employees at each of its stores on Saturday — a move that will only further encourage avid store loyalty.
Publix has been called the Wegmans of the South because of its large array of fresh offerings, diverse foods and premium private label products and employee dedication. It will be interesting to see how the retailers fare when they go toe-to-toe in Virginia — Publix is slated to open 12 stores in Richmond over the next few years.
Whole Foods attributes its success to the company's dedication to its core values. They focus on opportunities for growth and trust building between members to create a strong sense of community, and celebrate diversity and individual differences.
These retailers have consistently received strong marks for having leadership that’s honest with employees and offering an environment that establishes a nice sense of camaraderie among its workers. These companies also contribute to the larger community — another reason employees enjoy working there. It would be wise for other retailers to evaluate their company values and practices and see how they can better emulate these grocery successes. If employees truly enjoy their workplace, shoppers take note and are more likely to form brand loyalty.