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What does it take to make #LivingWages a reality? We put this question to three of our members - Banana Link, Lidl GB & Sainsbury's - read our latest blog for their reflections and approaches to making living wages a reality for #Workers in the Banana #SupplyChain 🍌 Explore key takeaways for #ResponsibleBusinesses committed to #LivingWages ➡ https://buff.ly/4cr6AZw #PurchasingPractices #SocialDialogue #TradeUnions #WageVerification #ValueRedistribution #CollectiveBargaining Alistair Smith Nahuel Tunon Patricia Lauko

Supermarket chain goes all in.

Challenging update for the e-commerce sector! A recent court ruling in Utrecht has major implications for companies like Picnic Technologies, Flink and Getir. Despite their mobile nature, they are now covered by the food industry collective bargaining agreement, not the e-commerce one. This decision will make the journey towards profitability more challenging, as it entails higher labor costs for grocery delivery workers. Brace yourselves for potential price hikes as companies may pass on these increased costs to customers. #Ecommerce #LaborRegulations #BusinessChallenges #profitability #operations

This supermarket chain is going back to having staff at check-out tills. I personally prefer self-check out at supermarkets. It's faster (and even slightly fun?). And I only go to supermarkets for small shops, as I get my main weekly shop delivered. But if you're someone who feels socially isolated, I can see it's one less interaction, which is so important (like going to the hairdresser). With the introduction of self check out, the supermarkets have got us, the customer, to provide the labour they once paid for. The saving on staff salary, pensions...etc must be huge. Perhaps that is slightly offset by a higher rate of shoplifting, as I'm sure some abuse self check-out (some supermarkets don't even have scales to confirm each item you've scanned is correct). So I wonder if having staffed check-outs will be a niche development in places serving older communities. Or will it be part of a larger row back on what seemed like the future? https://lnkd.in/e_iyitWK

Chipotle's CFO has warned of "significant" price increases for customers in California, as fast-food workers' wages are set to increase to $20 an hour in April. This is due to a new state law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, with potential for further annual increases. The chain plans to offset these costs through price hikes, with estimates of mid-single digits. The use of technology and automation, such as avocado-cutting robots, is being explored to help reduce labor costs. Chipotle's response to the wage law reflects broader industry trends, with McDonald's also anticipating menu price increases in California. #Chipotle #California #WageLaw #LaborCosts #Automation #BusinessInsider

Restraunt peeps I want to shift the narrative to a broader industry perspective (enough about me)… we have a serious pay gap problem in our industry when the ceo of Dutch Bros makes 62m and their front line employee in Colorado starts at 22 an hour (likely 14 inflated to show tips that the company does not provide) BUT there are no margins in the industry lol (check out some of these paydays. A “broista” can’t afford an apartment but the CEO can buy an apartment building a month easily Thoughts ? How did we get here and where do we go from here? The corporations have the NRA and their lawyers and lobbyists how do we empower the front line employee? It’s ideal to think these cats would accept a reasonable negotiation but it may take more significant action to achieve an equitable solution… thoughts?

High #wages, intensive #training, and #employee #investments are some of the reasons why Wegmans Food Markets has topped Fortune's list of best #retail places to work. See who else made the #list >> https://lnkd.in/erAZCvTb #news #headlines #supermarkets #grocery

So, my go-to lunch spot, LEON Restaurants, started by John Vincent, Henry Dimbleby and chef Allegra McEvedy was named after Vincent's dad and opened first on Carnaby Street (my go to outlet) in 2004. Only six months later, Leon snagged the Observer "Best New Restaurant" award. LEON was bought by the Issa brothers in 2021 in a deal rumoured to be worth around £100m, which came shortly after they bought Asda in a highly leveraged £6.8bn deal. The Issas built their business empire, starting from one petrol station and expanding globally to over 6,600 outlets. With the acquisition of Asda their aim was to make it the UK's second-largest supermarket group. In acquiring Asda and Leon, it seemed that EG Group can see the (very distant) writing on the wall for petrol, and therefore petrol stations, and was building a portfolio to serve the consumer across all missions, day parts and needs. With Asda and Leon joining the EG franchises of Greggs, KFC, Krispy Kreme etc. EG was leveraging its acquisitions and combined infrastructure to be there for breakfast, lunch and dinner, whether Grocery, Foodservice or Convenience. Couple this with the move to electric charging (The UK government announced that it will invest £70m into rapid electric car chargers on garage forecourts this week at COP28) and the strategy seems super smart. However, post-acquisition challenges, including economic uncertainties and the significant debt burden, impact the perceived success of their ventures. • Asda's financial performance has declined, with flat sales and reduced profits • A considerable debt pile, raising questions about the debt management strategy • The shift from a pandemic-induced grocery boom to a world squeezed by inflation and a cost of living crisis • Rumours of trouble at t’mill’ in Leeds based HQ, Asda House, abound with seemingly continual leadership changes Daniel Woolfson in today's Telegraph reports that the Issa brothers have said a combination of hybrid working and rail strikes has held back Leon’s post-Covid recovery, as losses mount at my favourite fast food chain. Zuber Issa said sales across Leon’s 85 UK restaurants improved week by week” in 2022 as Covid restrictions eased, although 2023 “remained challenging”. Sales rose £29m to £83m in 2022 but losses increased from £7.5m to £12.6m. Revenues were more than £30m lower than in 2019 when the chain’s turnover hit £115m. Leon is not the only food chain struggling as can be seen at my other go-to Itsu. So, have they bitten off more than they can chew? Whatever happens the Issa brothers are a remarkable success story of self-made billionaires home-grown in IssaVille, aka Blackburn. https://lnkd.in/edhSA7gb Update: https://lnkd.in/eDdc6XA3 #AioliChickenBox #BaconAndEggMuffinNoSauce #FMCG #ConsumerGoods #Retail #Leon #IssaBrothers #AsdaAcquisition #BusinessEmpire #CarnabyStreet #FoodService #RetailDeals #DebtManagement #ElectricCharging #CostOfLivingCrisis #RetailStrategy #AsdaHouse #Grocery

The challenges and dynamics of managing a fast-food restaurant focus on a manager at Raising Cane’s in Carson, California. Monique Pizano has spent three years as a general manager and her six-figure earnings have helped her save for a house down payment, take a honeymoon to Japan and support her mom. The 27-year-old from Ontario, Calif., feels lucky—many of her fellow University of California, Riverside, graduates haven’t been able to find jobs or are earning low hourly wages. California higher labor costs have led to increased pay for employees, with Pizano's salary raised to $85,000 annually. Big fast-food chains are required to pay salaried managers at least $83,200 to comply with California rules, up from $66,560. Pizano is one of about 850 general managers for Raising Cane’s, where her pay can reach $174,000 annually including bonuses based on her location’s sales and profit. She oversees a team of 96 employees, ensuring quality service during peak times like the lunch rush. Pizano's responsibilities range from coaching staff to handling administrative tasks and managing unexpected issues, showcasing the demanding yet rewarding nature of restaurant management. Raising Cane’s successful sales incentivize managers offering a monthly bonus of $5,000 to $7,500 for meeting certain financial targets, emphasizing the importance of effective leadership in the industry. #RestaurantManagement #Leadership #EmployeeRetention