quarterly associate newsletter december...
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1SAS Quarterly - December 2016
On November 15, retailer and wholesale grocery distributor SpartanNash formally announced it had chosen SAS Retail Services to lead its in-store execution program starting in 2017. Effective mid-January, SAS will become the single source provider for all retail set work for over 375 SpartanNash home-store participants. This includes 166 SpartanNash retail stores under 16 different banners (including D&W Fresh Market, Family Fare and Valu Land), as well as 235 of its wholesale partners’ stores.
With most of these retailers located in the Midwest, in states including Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, the program will be overseen by the Central Region and fall under Regional Vice President Tom Dennis. Tom notes that, “SAS has been pursuing the SpartanNash business for years, but in 2016, we made a big push to close the business.”
Transition team members will include Pat Fagel, Tami Miller, Michael
Hankins, Dennis Gerner, Sharon Youngkrantz and Steve Harry. Over the next six weeks, they’ll be working to hire approximately 200 new team members for the program, including five Space Analysts.
While all new business is great for the company, this program represents a particularly unique opportunity. It offers tremendous room for expansion, given that SpartanNash has over 1,900 independent grocery retail partners in its wholesale network. In addition, this an industry-leading first venture into a dedicated wholesale program—which sets SAS up for future opportunities with other major wholesalers like SUPERVALU and C&S.
Stay tuned for more news about the program as it ramps up in the new year!
Quarterly Associate Newsletter December 2016
SAS Announces Big Win with SpartanNash
“SAS has been pursuing the SpartanNash
business for years, but in 2016, we
made a big push to close the business.”
– Tom Dennis, Regional Vice President
2SAS Quarterly - December 2016
We sat down with Matt Rank, who has been leading the platform rollout, to find out more about the benefits of the new system and how things are going.
Q. What do you see as the key benefits of the new system for field associates? A: It’s much faster, which means less time waiting around for things to load. For example, picture loading used to take up to five minutes; now it takes five to ten seconds. The system is also more intuitive to the workflow and specifically designed to be tablet-friendly, which is exactly what our associates in the field need. Q. Are there additional benefits for other aspects of the business? A: This system was built from the ground up to include all of the features that our retailers want. That makes it much faster and less prone to error as compared to the old system, which was somewhat cobbled together. From an analytics standpoint, it’s easier to make sense of the data we’re collecting since it was all meant to go together from the beginning. Once the rollout is complete, it will also help us respond to retailer requests more efficiently on the back-end of the business. For example, many retailers have different requirements for invoicing. With the new system, we’ll be able to input those specifications and get invoices out in the correct format more quickly. Q. How has the rollout been going? Have there been any pain points you’ve heard about? A: SAS hasn’t undergone a new system in a long time, so there’s a certain amount of general anxiety and uncertainty, and often an expectation that something isn’t going to work. That said, we’ve been finding that once people get over that hump of adjusting to something new, they’re really liking it. We are all in this together and will work through it together!
Q&A with Matt Rank Vice President of Analytics & Field Development
If the new technology platform hasn’t reached a store near you yet, it will soon! So far the rollout has been going smoothly, team by team, and everything is still on track to have all associates up and running by the end of the year. The goal in updating the new system is two-fold:
1) Streamline the current multiple systems used for various programs into one comprehensive and cohesive platform
2) Make the platform faster, easier and more convenient for our field associates to use so they spend less time on administrative tasks
Much has been achieved via the new field tablets and the updated platform itself. The tablets have larger, higher-resolution screens and faster processors, allowing for higher quality content, enhanced photo capabilities (including still, panoramic and video) and wireless connectivity. That’s combined with a host of other new benefits, including:
• An intuitive layout with touchscreen navigation • Quick and easy access to documents and videos at project level • GPS capability to support in-store time tracking and mileage • Improved survey functions • Trackable KPIs • Operational alerts
The feedback from the teams that have gone live to date has been overwhelmingly positive. Across the board, teams are reporting that within a few days, they’ve gotten the hang of the new system and are loving the improvements. Altogether, these changes are designed to make your day-to-day work easier and to assist you in providing the best possible results for our clients.
TECHNOLOGY UPDATE: New Platform Rollout
Headed for the Finish Line
Have questions about using the system? Check out the training materials at https://sasretail.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/sections/203152263-Training-Manuals or
talk to your supervisor. For technical assistance, contact the SAS Help Center at 1-800-407-1907, [email protected] or https://sasretail.zendesk.com
3SAS Quarterly - December 2016
Lending a Helping Hand: The Traveling Team“We travel a lot, that’s for sure,” says Liz Rico, Supervisor for the California team. With 185 employees, Liz’s group is quickly becoming the go-to source for fellow regions to reach out to when they have a project that needs a little extra support, even when it means going out of state.
“It depends on what the customer needs,” explains Rico. “Usually, I’ll get a call and the regional leader will describe what they’re looking for and ask if we can help. I would say that 80% of the time, we can be there.”
In the spring of 2016, Rico sent 16 Merchandisers out to join the Ahold team on a remodeling project for two to four weeks. In September, she was asked for 44 Merchandisers to support a Weis remodel for four to six weeks. After just returning from that project, her team packed up again and headed to northern California to assist Whole Foods with resetting their Frozen section. Though this may sound exhausting, Rico says her team has been thrilled with the experience.
“They love to travel, and now they’re so used to it,” she says. “Right now, we’re in Hanford, last week we were in Sacramento. I’ve been blessed with having a team that enjoys going out of town.”
Rico also credits the culture of growth at SAS for her team’s mobility and structure. “Every year, we learn something new and it’s been great. When I hire new people, it’s good because I know I can give them new experiences and the opportunity to be promoted from within. That’s just how SAS works.”
Recently, five SAS remodel crews completed a collaboration with Weis to open 39 new stores for the chain. In addition to the Mars store remodels that happened over the summer, the SAS team set a record in their client’s history of opening 44 new stores in only 96 days.
“It was quite an undertaking,” said Program Manager Miguel Torres. To make this happen, over 170 SAS associates traveled throughout the Northeast region to open stores in Maryland, Delaware and Virginia over eight consecutive weeks. Every store had a successful grand opening on the scheduled date.
“One of the keys to the success of this project was the dedication to from our team leaders,” continues Torres. “They really stepped up to the plate for these eight weeks as they were assigned the tasks of overseeing over 30 SAS team members, supporting the Weis reset coordinators, and performing quality assurance on completed work while ensuring that the weekly projects stayed on schedule. With so many moving pieces and players involved, they owned it and provided the direction needed for our teams to be successful.”
Torres thanked Patti Spirko, Brad Meyers, CJ Mull, Jeremy Basore, Patrick Cushing and Mia Pryor for their contributions throughout this project.
In early October, Hurricane Matthew hit the coast of South Carolina hard, bringing torrential rain, wind and six-foot storm surges that resulted in severe flooding and widespread power outages. This left the shelves in many grocery stores empty. In response, SAS created and launched the Hurricane Matthew Relief Plan. Just two days after the storm wreaked havoc on coastal communities, over 90 dedicated SAS associates deployed to Charleston, Hilton Head, St. Simons and Fernandina Beach to help unpack trucks containing fresh foods and to refill depleted shelves at Harris Teeter stores. In the course of a few days, associates put in over 2,400 hours to get stores to operational again.
Harris Teeter expressed their gratitude for the support provided by the SAS team. Andrew Thayer, Operations Manager with Harris Teeter said,
“I cannot say how well we would have fared if we did not have SAS to manage and coordinate over 90 associates this
week. I am extremely happy that we adopted the single source model and that we have SAS managing this program.”
Daymon CEO Jim Holbrook also expressed his gratitude to the associates who brought the plan to fruition, including Mario Dominguez, Tom Miller, Steve Harry, Leah Sadler, Roseanne Seifert, Ashley Jones and Robin Game, who coordinated efforts on the ground, as well as Julie Brown and Christine Rogan, who ensured associates had accommodations. “This is an example of how Daymon and its associates take action to address needs and provide solutions during times of crisis,” said Holbrook.
Regional Updates [ CALIFORNIA ]
[ NORTHEAST REGION ]SAS to the Rescue in Charleston, SC Weis Team Sets Record
for Store Openings
[ SOUTHEAST REGION ]
Though SAS is usually focused on stocking shelves, the Giant Eagle team has been much more concerned with clearing them as of late.
The team worked recently side-by-side with a professional cleaning company to clear, clean, disinfect, dry and restock the walk-in coolers and dairy cases for 78 Giant Eagle grocery stores. Teams of 15 merchandisers worked in 10 hour shifts to complete this project at an impressive rate of four stores per week. Each team had to be careful and organized when removing products from the coolers and cases, so that restocking the shelves was a seamless and quick project that didn’t disrupt shoppers. They crated and shrink-wrapped products, and then packed them in a refrigerated truck for the duration of the cleaning. They also labeled corresponding crates and cooler doors with matching tags so that it was easy to locate where each product belonged.
Once everything was restocked, the shelf organization was verified through a planogram audit. The team received great feedback, and is already working on securing this project for even more stores.
4SAS Quarterly - December 2016
In July 2016, SUPERVALU approached SAS to lead a two-phase conversion of Food Lion, a 22 store grocery chain in the eastern region and new SUPERVALU affiliate. The conversion consisted of two separate phases where the team was tasked with leading and executing the completion of the tag subscription and re-tag process:
1) Phase 1: The team had 30 days to hire over 40 new associates in rural West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia2) Phase 2: SAS needed to hire 60 team members
Michelle Berkoben, Area Supervisor, jumped at the challenge and worked with partners from across the midwest to tackle recruiting in Phase 1. Karen Huntsinger, Program Manager for the SUPERVALU
account, explains, “Getting staffed for both phases was a group effort. We had a recruiter, an Operations Manager and a Merchandiser who dedicated themselves to the success of the project from miles away.”On top of the initial request, SUPERVALU also asked for six experienced leads to assist in guiding the new associates (teams of 6-30 people) and the broker team during the conversion. The leads who accepted the position were so talented that SUPERVALU requested they return for Phase 2. Berkoben says, “I could not have executed this project without them. Their talent and drive, along with the team members, made this project successful.”
Phase 2 of the project brought new challenges. The team was given additional goals of resetting Ice Cream, Pre-Pack and Dairy, and instead of a five day per week conversion, the customer asked for the team to take on a six day per week schedule. On a daily basis, SAS provided 70-75 people in-store to complete the demands.
Overall, the team worked a total of 7,158 hours in five weeks. Huntsinger says, “I am continually impressed by the ‘One Team’ mentality that is personified throughout our company. This was a total team effort.” Tom Flick, Schematics Manager for Shoppers and lead for the Food Lion conversion stated, “I think it’s important to note that these associates performed at a very high level with the utmost courtesy and professionalism. They did a great job under some very ambiguous circumstances and we greatly appreciate their support.”
Working Together for SUPERVALURegional Updates [ CENTRAL REGION ]
[ AHOLD TEAM ]
For the SAS Ahold team, it’s all about deli. The team has been asked to refill Deli Grab and Go cases at five stores in each of the four divisions on a weekly basis with the goal of boosting sales, as the cases allow customers to purchase products in just a few minutes.
After the construction company visits the store to install the new cases, the SAS team follows to reset and merchandise. There have been 100 completed departments in 2016, with 60 more to follow by the close of the year. Though there is a learning curve with the specific needs of deli, the stores have been completed on-time and the retailer has been happy with the results.
“Any time you go into a new category, there are challenges with becoming familiar with the terminology and the layout,” explains Julie Rank, Project Manager for Ahold. She is confident that the team will only improve as 120 stores have been confirmed for 2017, and associates are looking forward to the project.
Deli Grab and Go, Go, Go! Helping Giant Eagle
Keep It Cool
[ GIANT EAGLE TEAM ]
Theresa Miller recently joined the SAS HR team as an HR Generalist. Previously, she supported sister company Interactions as a Compensation and Benefits Analyst. Theresa lives in Santee, California with her two children Trinity and Troy. When not at work, she enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends.
For HR questions, she can be contacted at [email protected].
5SAS Quarterly - December 2016
HR UPDATE
Program Manager, SpartanNash – Grand Rapids, MI http://ow.ly/aQh7306sZV2
Program Coordinator, SpartanNash – Grand Rapids, MI http://ow.ly/AQpF306t06d
Supervisor, SpartanNash – Grand Rapids, MI http://ow.ly/OYvr306t0aZ
Space Planning Analyst, SpartanNash – Grand Rapids, MI http://ow.ly/r6oc306t0jD
Full-Time Night Merchandiser – Kansas Market http://ow.ly/o7lS306t0mm
Retail Area Supervisor – Baltimore, MD http://ow.ly/VlTv306t0tX
Space Planning Analyst – Boston, MA http://ow.ly/JgFy306t0Gu
Sr. Payroll Specialist – Orange, CA http://ow.ly/dz6P306t0Js
Meet HR Generalist Theresa Miller
Grow with SAS: New Job Opportunities
As of December 18, all part-time TPG employees will be transitioned over to ADP and will become SAS associates. This change will create a more cohesive team, bringing everyone under the same internal processes and practices. Associates began the new onboarding process on December 1. We’re so excited to kick 2017 off with everyone! If you are an impacted associate and you have questions about onboarding, contact [email protected].
TPG Associates Transition to SAS
Looking to keep growing and advancing within the organization? Here are just a few of the new opportunities we have available – apply today!
For more job opportunities, visit the SAS Careers page online: http://www.sasretail.com/job-opportunities/
6SAS Quarterly - December 2016
The Ahold team named Jase Martin, Operations Coordinator, as being an instrumental piece to their team. Martin joined SAS in 2014 as a recent graduate from Shippensburg University, earning a dual major in Marketing and Sociology. He was one of three founding POG Analyst positions in the Ahold account, and paved the way for future associates in the position. As the current Operations Coordinator, Martin collaborates with the field team to ensure all ISA metrics are being met. Additionally, he is also an in-house representative and liasion for SAS’s General Merchandise partner, Imperial. “Solutions is what we provide for our partners, and Jase has excelled,” says Albert Valle, Program Manager. “We look forward to being a part of his personal and professional growth.”
Please join us in congratulating Space Management Analyst Mike Sudia for being
selected at the Associate of the Month! Mike was chosen out of a large pool of nominees from employees at both SAS, Interactions and CDS.
Sudia was selected by his colleagues for displaying Commitment in his work, and his team members had the following to say: “Mike is the definition of a true team player.
He is always willing to help other analysts, Supervisors, floor planners, category management teams, and ISA and AUSA support teams. He always does so without complaint and he does not do it for recognition, praise or reward. We truly appreciate all his hard work, teamwork, and commitment, day after day.”
For more on the Associate of the Month program, email Jessica Rzeszut at [email protected].
Associate Recognition
Christopher Parks has been with SAS since 2014. He began as a secondary in the Smart & Final, Smart Retail program and then quickly became a lead in the Sacramento area. This year, SAS teamed up with Smart Retail to create a new Trainer/Supervisor position in California. Ever since Chris accepted, he has gone above and beyond what is expected of him, spending several weeks at a time in the San Jose area, training team members and raising program standards. His colleagues praise his positive attitude and say that he is a true leader and team player. When Chris is not at work, he likes spending time with his family and enjoys the outdoors and fishing for trout.
Mike Sudia Space Management Analyst, Ahold
Jase Martin Operations Coordinator, Ahold
Laura Flores Ralphs KOMPASS Team Lead, California
Christopher Parks Lead Merchandiser, California
Laura Flores has been with the KOMPASS program for over eight years. Promoted from Merchandiser, Flores recently took over as a Team Lead in Los Angeles county. She has been commended for her training abilities and effective communication with the KOMPASS desk and her Supervisor. “Flores has a great personality and is respected by Ralph’s store management,” says Program Manager Daniel Alonzo. “In her free time, Laura likes to walk her dog and hang out with her sister.”
Please join us in recognizing these associates for their contributions to the SAS team!
Michelle Berkoben Area Supervisor, Central
The Central team recognizes Area Supervisor Michelle Berkoben for her outstanding work on the SUPERVALU conversion project earlier this year. Karen Huntsinger, Program Manager for SUPERVALU shares, “She was a natural choice to lead this project. She had previous experience with conversions and an unrivaled, positive, can-do attitude that she was able to leverage as the leader on this project.” Kerrie Flaten, Director of SUPERVALU Retail and Execution, also said, “Michelle did a fabulous job with her team. We thank her for all her help and efforts in tackling this project — we couldn’t have done it without her.”
›››
Debara Lancaster Supervisor, NE
Supervisor Debara Lancaster has been recognized by her peers for her contributions to the Food Lion project earlier this year. Debara went above and beyond for the eight week-long project, traveling throughout the Maryland, Virginia and Delaware regions and hosting multiple weekend job fairs, resulting in the hiring of over 80 team members. This was in addition to her day-to-day responsibilities managing and staffing her 37 ISE home store positions. Miguel Torres says, “Since she started with SAS, Debara has been a great team player and shown a willingness to help wherever and whenever she can.” 66
7SAS Quarterly - December 2016
Safety Matters This Holiday Season
Merchandiser Corner
Happy Holidays from the
SAS Leadership Team
Keep your holiday spirit bright by avoiding bumps, bruises and other injuries this season. Here are just a few things to keep in mind while you’re working in-store:
1. Lift Properly When lifting palettes or heavy items, make sure to bend your knees and use your hips. Then, straighten your legs to lift. Do not turn or twist. Taking these steps will help prevent placing too much stress and pressure on your back.
2. Avoid OverstockingSometimes, less is more. Loading too many items onto your cart decreases visibility as you move about the store and increases the chances of injuring yourself, your colleagues or customers. Overstocking also prevents the cart from turning sharply at tight corners, limiting movement and speed.
3. Be Aware of Your SurroundingsIt’s very important to always scan your workspace area. During the busy December weeks, customers are more likely to shop at odd hours, often earlier or later than they would normally at other times of the year. Being aware of your surroundings will prevent injury to yourself and to holiday shoppers themselves.
For more safety tips and advice on how to report an incident, contact Risk Management at [email protected].
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SAS Leadership Team SAS Leadership Team
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SAS provides national retail merchandising services to a host of fortune 500 CPG companies,
Distributors, Retailers and Wholesalers within the Grocery, Mass, Home/Hardware and Drug channels.
For past issues of SAS Quarterly Associate Newsletter
March 2016 Issue
June 2016 Issue
September 2016 Issue