Fortune, in partnership with Great Place to Work, has released its latest list… the 100 Best Companies to Work for.  Of course, the first we did was check to see how many retailers made the top 100. The final count? Only 7. 

Given what we’ve learned after surveying 512 full-time in-store retail associates and representatives to understand how their jobs influence their mental well-being, this makes sense. 

The “Great Resignation” signaled a major turning point of our volatile labor market and retailers have had to pivot in order to navigate the new rules of talent acquisition and retention. At NRF this year, every retail leader joined the conversation about how to better support employees, boost morale, and engage and retain talent.

As we pass the two-year mark since COVID-19 altered the ways that we work and shop, it’s more important than ever to pay close attention to the ways that retailers can support employees, stop the drain, and create empowering work environments. On top of that, the retail sector faces a series of unique, built-in obstacles that lends itself to poor employee retention and a high staff turnover.

All that being said, there is a particular retail vertical that continues to lead the way as we charge into a more employee-centric future: grocery stores. 

Grocery remains innovative & resilient 

It hasn’t been easy to be a frontline worker in a grocery store during the last few years. From supply chain shortages, pandemic-related adaptations, to the changes in the labor market… grocery frontlines are taking the brunt of every crisis we’ve faced. Despite all of this, supermarkets are increasingly innovative and resilient. RIS’s Grocery Tech Trends Report shows that more than half of grocers are increasing their YoY tech spend in 2022.

That’s why we’re not surprised that 3 of those 7 retailers who made the Top 100 list are grocers. (Wegmans, Publix, and Nugget markets).

And really, grocery chains have a special hold on our hearts. Our beloved hometown supermarkets are integral to our homes and communities. At Zipline, we LOVE talking about our favorite grocery stores to shop at. Really! We have an entire Slack channel dedicated to sharing their Trader Joe’s finds and you can catch us in an occasional Zoom breakout room dedicated to debating about the best aisles at Costo. Check out Alyson Kitter, Executive Administrator at Zipline, enjoying a cupcake in front of one of our favorite places on earth –  Wegmans (or “Weggies,” as Alyson calls it.) 

The Rochester-based chain is more than a grocery store. It’s a community center, entertainment park, and cultural experience – all within minutes of shoppers’ homes. We’ve caught the Wegmania, no doubt. And there’s a reason. Wegman’s embodies the values that Zipline runs on. By empowering and engaging employees, Wegman’s has aligned their entire fleet, ensuring those powerful brand values can be reflected at every level of their organization… all the way to shoppers. 

And that’s why Wegmans is the only retailer to break into the top 10 of the Fortune 100 Best Places to Work list, coming in at #3. They did it last year, too! In fact, this is Wegmans 7th year in a row, at least, breaking into the top 10! 

Congratulations, Wegmans! 🧁

Zipline is the operations platform that powers Grocery’s most complex work. Zipline understands the unique pressures grocers are facing today and ensures that everyone in the field has the information, context, and tools needed to be successful in their particular roles. By aligning the fleet, Zipline enables agility at Hy-Vee and best-in-class customer experiences at The Fresh Market.

See how Zipline can retool your Grocery.