TGC Logo
Company : The GIANT Company
Program category : Social Impact

Origins:

In support of October’s Global Diversity Awareness Month, The GIANT Company took time to reflect on where it’s been, where it is now, and where it’s going through an inaugural GIANT Inclusion Week. This week offered a combination of e-learning, in-person, team and community events for a holistic approach to accessibility and participation, which included learning opportunities, intentional engagement, and inspired action for sustainable organizational change. 

The week’s signature event was The GIANT Company’s first ever Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Summit – Engage, Educate, Elevate. Government officials, advocates, and educators joined with team members at the company’s Carlisle, Pa. headquarters on Oct. 4, 2022. 

With the notion that wellness extends beyond what’s in your grocery basket, the day was filled with ways to ensure customers and team members are finding a sense of belonging with The GIANT Company. The entire day was dedicated to building a culture of inclusion through conversation, learning, engagement, and team building.   

Throughout the Summit, members of The GIANT Company leadership team and a total of ten presenters and speakers shared inspiring messages. Luz Colon, executive director of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Commission on Latino Affairs, discussed the importance of bridging the gap to resources. Keynote speaker, Eric Ellis, president & CEO of Integrity Development Core, shared “The Value of Creating a Sense of Belonging” and what we can do as leaders in the industry to promote awareness in our workplace and the communities we serve.  

Contribution:

More than 300 team members attended the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Summit, which featured 10 speakers from both The GIANT Company and diversity leaders within the local community, and the company’s eight business resource groups.  

Objectives:

The GIANT Company believes that fostering a culture of inclusion and belonging means growing together, learning, and embracing the qualities that make each of us who we are. The company strives to be an inclusive place to work and shop, reflective of the diverse communities it serves.   

For the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Summit, objectives included: 

  • Engagement with team members and leadership on the importance of building an inclusive culture within our company and communities. 

  • Educating to have awareness of multi culturalism/global perspective and build better understanding. 

  • Connecting team members to the company’s business resource groups, creating opportunities to engage, enroll, and promote inclusion by fostering community.  

  • Elevating The GIANT Company’s commitment to building culture of belonging for all with sustainable change.  

Impact:

Team members were engaged throughout the Summit and left with the main takeaway that differences make us stronger; they challenge us to open our mind and welcome in fresh perspectives.  

The summit earned a 4.20 out of 5 in overall event rating through a post event survey and received team member testimonials, including:  

  • “You have to work every day on diversity. It is an ongoing process. We must be sensitive and aware of the journey people you work with may be on and how it is affecting them.” 

  • “Everyone deserves a place at the table and for their voice to be heard. The event honored the past to teach valuable lessons for the future.” 

  • “The event was eye opening and emphasized developing knowledge and care to drive inclusion and engagement.” 

Quote:

“I’ve long believed that the diversity of our team makes us stronger. Only by embracing our differences will be able to fully build a culture of inclusion and belonging for all team members, customers, and neighbors where everyone is respected, valued, heard, and welcomed just the way they are. Together, we can make our stores, facilities, and offices trusting places where you can be you and where we can continue to bring our purpose of connecting families for a better future to life.”
– John Ruane, interim president, The GIANT Company 

Support Statement:

Kicking off The GIANT Company’s first ever Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Summit, Pennsylvania House Democratic Leader Rep. Joanna McClinton set the tone with highlighting the importance of representation, “Our neighbors feel more connected and have more confidence in our government and organizations when they see someone like them or someone from their community represented.”