ALLENDALE, Mich. — While many of us have been able to work remote, grocery store workers have been working to keep shelves stocked throughout the pandemic.
That is why SpartanNash is celebrating its first-ever Supermarket Employee Day on Monday, February 22.
The Food Industry Association has proclaimed this new holiday to recognize retail associates at every level for the work they do feeding families and enriching lives, especially during the pandemic.
City of Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss and Kent County Board of Commissioners have joined SpartanNash in its efforts and signed a proclamation designating February 22, 2021 as Supermarket Employee Day in honor of the more than 23,500 food retail workers in Kent County.
“Where would we be without the dedication and commitment of our essential workers throughout this pandemic? They deserve our sincerest recognition for the work they have done to support the more than 650,000 residents in Kent County,” Bolter said. “We are very thankful for them for their courage and contributions to our communities.”
“The service of these compassionate individuals has been and continues to be critical to the health and safety of our city,” Bliss said. “Every positive interaction with their customers and their exceptional commitment to safety leaves a tangible and lasting example of courage.”
We spoke with Chad Forman, the store director of the Family Fare in Allendale, 6370 Lake Michigan Drive, about what it's been like working on the front lines through the pandemic.
"Every one of them were challenged to kind of pivot and do things differently and think about things differently. And what we were going to receive, what were the limited hours we were going to operate in, in this how we were going to do business?" Forman said.
To celebrate and honor their efforts on Supermarket Employee Day, SpartanNash is offering employees a 20 percent discount at all company-owned stores.
