A LEADERSHIP PEOPLE STRATEGY FOR FOOD RETAILERS

Europe, 2003

In 2003, European food retailers experienced significant challenges in attracting talent. Despite being one of the largest private sector employers in Europe, the food retailing industry was not viewed as an employer of choice. It failed to meet the expectations of current and potential employees in terms of work content, learning opportunities and work-life balance. Many food retailers already had trouble finding and retaining suitable employees, but sociodemographic and consumer changes further aggravated the situation, forcing them to take swift action.
 

Despite these challenges, there are still ways to highlight the positive aspects of the industry to encourage others to join the field. This report by the Europe Council is intended to provide strategic planning and human resources tools for store-level use to help food retailers become employers of choice.