Education

By: Jordan Pietrak, Manager, Education, Food Marketing Institute

The Food Marketing Institute’s newly re-envisioned Future Leaders eXperience puts the focus on future generations of food industry leaders. By the same token, it will also celebrate the 2017 Store Manager Awards, giving much-deserved recognition to those that continue to drive our food retail industry forward.

Brian Hayes, a store director for Super Saver in Lincoln, Nebraska, earned recognition as an outstanding store manager in 2015. As a previous winner, Hayes shared his advice with rising food retailers:

“I think the award deservedly recognizes one of the most difficult jobs in our industry,” explained Hayes. “Of course, I might be completely biased since I’ve been doing the job for 20 years. A store manager oversees all of these small standalone businesses underneath one roof, and it requires a multitude of skills to do so effectively.”

Hayes began working in a grocery store as a part-time cashier while in college, and before he knew it, he worked his way up to store manager and now has spent 29 years with the company.

“Well, it wasn’t like I was a kid in grade school saying, ‘When I grow up, I want to be a grocery dude’,” Hayes joked.  “This career chooses you.”

As a store manager, it’s important to have the ability to identify and maximize your team’s talents. “So many amazing people work in retail,” explained Hayes. “I like to match their skills with the right job. I always say that one person’s “Oh, man, I really have to do THAT?” is another person’s, “COOL, I’d love to do that!”

Hayes advised store managers to work hard, work smart, foster relationships on your team and engage your customer base. For Hayes, working with customers and his team is one of the most enjoyable parts of his job.

“Our associates and our customers are really where I find joy each and every day,” said Hayes. “As I age, it’s been increasingly fun working with high school and college associates. They keep me young and it’s a fun challenge to influence them to perhaps choose a career in grocery!”

When it comes to running a great store, Hayes stressed the importance of “doing things right AND doing the right thing.” He encouraged managers to mentor other employees, and put people before profit, because when you do the profit will follow.

After winning FMI’s Store Manager Award in 2015, Brian took on a larger role within the company’s store chain, and now has managed his fifth store for Super Saver. Hayes takes great pride in his work and the multiple teams he has worked with over the years.

“More than anything [winning a Store Manager Award] validated my career,” Hayes explained. “But I also definitely viewed it as a team achievement. I work with tremendous folks.”

Want to nominate an outstanding store manager like Brian Hayes? Recognize their work by nominating them for FMI’s Store Manager Awards by March 6! Learn more at www.FMI.org/StoreManagerAwards.