Barbara Ellington, Lifestyle Editor

Foster

Just over two years ago, the GK Foods management was on the verge of unloading popular supermarket chain Hi-Lo Food Stores. This was revealed at Wednesday night's awards dinner held at the Courtleigh Hotel in New Kingston.

Chairman of the Hi-Lo board, Audrey Hinchcliffe; CEO, GK Foods, Erwin Burton; and General Manager Andrea Coy were full of praise for the team of store managers and staff who were responsible for profits that have exceeded budget every month since October 2006.

"It's a wonderful feeling from a few years ago when uncertainty prevailed to today when the board of directors are proud to have Hi-Lo as part of the GK Foods portfolio," Coy said, noting that profits are now commonplace.

Hinchcliffe underscored the above, but urged the team to accept no mediocrity but deliver exceptionally. She reminded the predominantly female cadre of store managers that they had a responsibility to get staff to unleash their potential so that "you will be rewarded with talent and it will continue to show in the bottom line".

A picture of growth

Guest speaker Woodrow Foster, managing director of Foster's Food Fair in The Cayman Islands, painted a picture of the growth and development of his family-owned food stores. He said that, since its establishment in 1980, the chain had grown from one very tiny shop with two cash registers to its current warehouse of 180,000 square-foot space.

The recurrent theme and formula for their success was attention to the customers' every need.

"What the customer wants, they get; if it's legal and available, we will get it for them," he said. Foster also shared tips for worker satisfaction, including a profit share, with those who achieve most getting the biggest share as well as discipline and promoting from within the group.

"Reinforce, reward and discipline," he reminded managers.

Store managers islandwide received awards for their sterling service.

barbara.ellington@gleanerjm.com