One benefit to the hands-on approach Brian McMillan takes to serving customers at his GIANT Food Store, is the 2-percent increase in Starbucks sales over the previous year after customers could sample Starbucks coffees throughout the store.

When new technology was added to his GIANT Food Store during a major remodel last year, McMillan created a team whose sole task was to teach customers how to use new handheld scan-it units. The idea resulted in a 2-percent increase in scan-it transactions.

McMillan’s store is the training store for new salaried management trainees, supporting 15 – 20 new trainees per year. McMillan focuses on teaching, coaching, and lives the “One Team” culture, seen through associates having a great sense of energy, engagement, and positive morale.

McMillan and his team created the Stuff a Buggy food drive, collecting over $2,000 in food items for the local food pantry. In addition, they raised over $39,000 through 2018 register campaigns for Bag Hunger, CMN Hospitals, and Supporting our Troops.