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With Hispanic Heritage Month underway, it's the perfect time to meet Anne Kough, store manager of our Simpson Ferry Mechanicsburg, PA. As a team member for over 20 years, Anne is active in our women's and cultural diversity business resource groups and local organizations including Latino Connection, Leadership Harrisburg, and the East Penn Soccer Club. Anne has long seen serving others as her purpose. Years ago, when she was asked in a leadership training to pick out the rock with the word that spoke to her, she picked one with "serve" on it. "Giving back, no matter the shape or form, is truly what makes me the happiest. Serving gives me a sense of contribution." Anne says her Hispanic heritage has profoundly impacted the person she is today, especially her Abuelo. "My grandfather's story is amazing. He faced adversity as a child, but you would never know it. He became a successful owner of three bodegas and a warehouse, and his example has helped me stay diligent with my goals. I'm constantly asking myself, how can I do, share, and give more to others as he did." Thank you, Anne!
It's National Truck Driver Appreciation Week! "Our drivers are the best of the best," said John Ponnett, senior vice president of retail operations, The GIANT Company. "The backbone of our business, this elite group works tirelessly 365 days a year to ensure the products our customers are counting on arrive at our stores, safely, securely, and on time. We're grateful for this incredible team of men and women every day, but they deserve an extra shout out for their extraordinary service during the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, their dedication and professionalism shined brighter than ever before, and I couldn't be prouder of this group and how they answered the call to serve." For all the miles, pallets, pick-ups, and drop-offs, and for keeping our business moving forward, thank you! Be sure to Thank a Trucker this week!
One of the most important parts of Pennsylvania's agriculture economy, dairy farming supports 52,000 jobs and generates $14.7 billion a year. However, challenging market conditions have created a serious threat to the livelihood of many dairy farmers. As many as 500 small Pennsylvania dairy farms have closed over the past two years, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only compounded the crisis. The Philadelphia Inquirer explores how our friend and local partner, Rynn Caputo, and the entire team at Caputo Brothers Creamery, are using water buffalo to make a difference one dairy farm at a time.
Now hiring! Today, we announced that we're looking to hire 4,000 part and full-time team members across our organization in advance of the busy holiday season. "With the increased demand for both in-store and online grocery shopping continuing, we are looking to hire in all areas of the business throughout the holiday season and beyond, helping us deliver on our purpose of connecting families for a better future, while having fun along the way," said Matthew Lutcavage, vice president of human resources, The GIANT Company. Part and full-time positions are available at our stores, including our new Harrisburg, PA, location opening next month, as well as order selector and delivery driver positions at our distribution center and GIANT Direct facilities. Click the link to apply today!
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Congratulations to Ann Raresheid and Tara Runkles, co-owners of one of our favorite partners, Bar-B-Que Beast LLC, for taking home top honors at the world's largest barbecue contest! Based in Waynesboro, PA, the local, all-female, and veteran-owned company's "Beast on the Bay" barbecue sauce earned a perfect score and was named the 2020 "Best Sauce on the Planet" at the 33rd annual American Royal World Series of BBQ last month. Read more about the company's epic win and unique history, including its beginnings on a military base in Germany 20 years ago, in the story below, and be sure to look for their award-winning sauces in a GIANT or MARTIN'S store near you!
Did you know that September is Family Meals Month? Created by FMI- The Food Industry Association, the movement encourages families to enjoy more meals together by sharing one more meal each week of the month. At The GIANT Company, we are committed to making more family meals happen because time spent around the table connecting with family is time well spent. In the link below, GIANT nutritionist Shanna Shultz shares some of her favorite meal solutions, showing just how easy and affordable it is to enjoy a healthy family meal any day - or night - of the week!
To really capture the essence of For Today’s Table, we wanted to create a campaign that was authentic and relatable, and there was no better way to achieve that than by showcasing our real customers and their families. Our decision to move away from actors, scripts, and staged scenes in favor of real stories speaks directly to what today's customers are seeking as they make decisions about where to shop and who they turn to when it comes to caring for their families. They want a real brand, one that makes life a little bit easier and helps them get back to what matters most, and that is what The GIANT Company is all about.
For Today's Table represents the notion that the world is a better place when families come together at their table and connect over a meal. If families are strong, our communities are strong; and if our communities are strong, our world is strong. And that adds up to a better future for everyone. For Today's Table is grounded in the importance of families coming together over a meal to make meaningful connections, but for families facing food insecurity, it's not always easy. As Hunger Action Month gets underway, we're embarking on a month long effort to help local food banks and pantries provide meals to families in need. Help us fill empty plates. For every new follower of our GIANT Company LinkedIn page during September, we'll donate $10, which helps provide 100 meals to Feeding America, up to 50,000 meals. Together, we can make a difference. Click the link below to be directed to the GIANT Company's LinkedIn page. Then click "Follow" to help make a difference.
"Be a lifelong learner. Whether it's transitioning into a new position or performing your day-to-day job, strive to know, learn, and do more every day." As Labor Manager, Elizabeth Dang draws on that advice each day, as she and her team work to develop efficiencies across store operations. West Virginia University graduate, with degrees in Industrial Engineering and Chinese Studies, Elizabeth says, "My favorite part of the job is making a difference in our team members' day-to-day job and our customers" shopping experience. By optimizing our work processes, I can help remove obstacles. This allows our team to perform their job functions more easily and efficiently and direct more of their time to connect with our customers and provide a better shopping experience." She is also co-chair of MOSAIC Business Resource Group, which promotes diversity and inclusion across all areas of the company. Her favorite memory was celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in 2019, when she shared her Chinese culture with colleagues, introducing them to a staple of Chinese cuisine - dumplings!
