Food Lion 2014 Annual Report Download - page 22

LEAD LOCALLY
Because we put customers fi rst, we tailor our
stores to unique, local characteristics in their
communities to make them attractive to local
shoppers. How we staff our stores is crucial to
this effort. Community outreach is key to lead-
ing locally. Some of our associates volunteer
in their local communities and we partner with
organizations whose values mirror ours.
AB Volunteer Day
Over the past four years Alfa Beta has
organized an Alfa Beta Volunteer Day where
employees come together on a common
project to create a positive impact on Greek
society and the environment. Each year, the
Volunteer Day has brought together employ-
ees with members of the local community on
an activity agreed among each store’s employ-
ees. Activities have included: collecting food
and clothing to benefi t a local school and an
orphanage; a football match to benefi t a nurs-
ing home; and removing trash from a local for-
est. Participation has nearly doubled over the
four years the Volunteer Day has taken place.
Nearly 2 700 employees participated in 2011;
in 2014, more than 5 000 Alfa Beta employee
participated.
DRIVE PROFITABLE GROWTH
TODAY AND BEYOND
In order to drive profi table growth today and
beyond, feedback from our associates, who
are on the “front-lines” in our stores is crucial
to our continuing success.
The Associate Engagement Survey
The Associate Engagement Survey (AES) lets
associates provide confi dential feedback
via a third party about key aspects of their
work, such as daily responsibilities, company
leadership, feedback on performance, and
recognition of achievements. While associates
were not surveyed in all locations in 2014,
a plan is in place to survey associates in all
locations in 2015.
The AES fi ndings help us identify gaps and
opportunities for associate growth and devel-
opment, allowing the company to better focus
resources to achieve our goals and build on
our success. The survey is another step on the
path to fostering a highly engaged workforce
– associates working together to support our
Purpose of operating our customers’ pre-
ferred local supermarkets and delivering our
Promise to our four key groups of stakehold-
ers: customers, associates, communities and
shareholders.
more than
5 000
AB associates
participated in the 2014
AB Volunteer Day
PARTNERING WITH LOCAL
ORGANIZATIONS WHO
SHARE OUR VALUES
In 2014, Delhaize Serbia sponsored the
Serbian Olympic Team for Sochi and
will continue this support for athletes
heading to Rio de Janeiro in 2016. We
share our Values with athletes and their
healthy lifestyles are part of what we
aim to support as a Group.
BEING A SUPERGOOD
EMPLOYER
Being Supergood means that our stores
welcome associates from a variety of
backgrounds, ethnicities, those with
disabilities and across generations. We focus
on activating diversity and inclusion programs
in all companies and provide all associates
with performance dialogues. Healthy lifestyles
are a key part of our Supergood ambition; our
goal by 2020 is for 100% of our companies to
promote good nutrition, physical and mental
health, and safety at work through health-
related programs for our associates. One
example of our healthy associates’ program
in action is in Serbia where Delhaize Serbia
has negotiated with private medical clinics
and health centers to provide associates with
discounts for medical services, educational
workshops, and other offerings.
STRATEGY