Craig Knies, chief marketing officer, has been with Houchens Food Group for 16 years. HFG has been recognized as The Shelby Report of the Southeast‘s Exceptional Independent Retail Organization of the Year.
Knies said the company provides a “great environment where the management teams are given the opportunity to run their business and make decisions for the employees and customers at the local level. This is unique compared to many other competitors and gives us a competitive advantage as we can stay flexible and closer to the communities we serve.”
This strategy by HFG gives the management teams the autonomy to run their business and take ownership, according to Knies.
All HFG employees are part of the ESOP plan within Houchens Industries.
“We’re all fellow ESOP owners,” Knies said. “We have a shared ownership responsibility to each other to do our best and attain our needed results. I believe that makes a difference to an employee, so I’m a big believer in an ESOP.
“I believe giving an employee an opportunity to be more than an employee through shared ownership is always a great idea. It helps employee engagement and helps the employee be more part of the team because they are a shared owner.
“The ESOP is a key tool in recruiting employees, but it’s important we help each employee understand what that means and how they can make a difference.”
He added that more important than recruiting is what an ESOP can do to help retention. “It takes time to understand the culture and what shared ownership can mean, but after several years and ESOP contributions, it makes a difference and absolutely helps retention.”
[RELATED: ESOP Status, Awards Program For Store Managers Helping HFG Shine]
HFG’s Store Manager Appreciation Awards program is also a great tool for retention. Knies said the store manager has “the most important job in our company.”
“Unfortunately, in many cases, that group of individuals doesn’t always get the recognition they deserve for all they do to make us successful,” he said. “The awards are a small but important time for everyone to get together as a group and recognize their accomplishments and offer a sincere thank you for all they do.”
He said HFG offers several other recognition programs, but the SMAA’s are an opportunity to bring the store management teams together and recognize them with their peers and company leadership present. The award programs are attended by a cross-section of support staff within different departments from the corporate office.
“Many of those individuals don’t often get the opportunity to meet or understand the local teams and what a day or week in the life of a store manager can look like,” Knies said. “I think it also helps the support team see and appreciate what our store managers are being asked to do on a daily basis, so when requests are made from a store, it’s made for a reason that ultimately can help our employee, customers or store.”
Knies added that everyone throughout the organization has been supportive of the SMAA program and the commitment given by the company to allow everyone to spend time together.
HFG has been named The Shelby Report’s Exceptional Independent Retail Organization, an honor which Knies believes is well deserved.
“Being a 16-year veteran of the company, I’m probably biased, but this is a great company and has some of the most outstanding team members in the industry that leads to a great culture. I wonder how Houchens Food Group cannot be the company that’s the most deserving of this award?
“Houchen’s Food Group has several different banners and formats as a result of acquisitions and our ongoing commitment to be part of each local community, so in many cases, we are an unknown in the industry, but I think that’s part of what makes us special.”