<p>By: Dan Ratner, Senior Director of Member Services, FMI</p><a href="https://www.fmi.org/get-involved/supermarket-employee-day" style="float:right;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:20px;" class="-align-right"><img src="https://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/sed-grocers-and-gratitude.tmb-large-350-.png?Culture=en&sfvrsn=e69da433_1" style="float:right;" alt="Grocers and Gratitude" sf-size="100" /></a><p>In just 22 days, the food industry will celebrate the <a href="https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-day/national-supermarket-employee-day-february-22" target="_blank">National Calendar Day</a> of <a href="https://www.fmi.org/get-involved/supermarket-employee-day">Supermarket Employee Day</a> and express our endearing love and gratitude to those on the frontlines of the food supply chain helping members of our communities feed and enrich the lives of their families.</p><p>If you have plans to celebrate your supermarket employees on February 22nd, be sure to make your order of Supermarket Employee Day branded items ("valentines") from <a href="https://www.customink.com/s/sed-24">the online store</a> by Friday, February 2 to allow enough time for these items to arrive in time for the big day.</p><p><a href="https://www.fmi.org/get-involved/supermarket-employee-day">The Supermarket Employee Day Toolkit</a> has a number of resources to help you thank and celebrate all the essential retail food professionals in your community. Below you’ll see one of the most effective tools – the Key Messages – that you are encouraged to use in writing "love notes" to these important people in your life.</p><h5>Supermarkets are the Backbone of Our Communities</h5><ul><li>The food industry feeds families and enriches lives, and supermarkets are the cornerstone of their communities.</li><li>There are more than 40,000 stores that sell food and grocery items in the U.S. alone.</li><li>Millions of supermarket employees come to work daily to keep shelves stocked and to provide communities with essential services that help them survive and thrive.</li></ul><h5>Grocery Workers are Critical in Feeding Families and Enriching Lives </h5><ul><li>In the face of a crisis, such as a natural disaster, supermarket employees sustain communities.</li><li>Supermarket employees maintain the critical pipeline of food and consumer goods that sustain the health and well-being of their customers.</li><li>Supermarket employees also volunteer countless hours and contribute valuable support to community service. According to <a href="https://www.fmi.org/our-research/research-reports/food-retailing-industry-speaks"><em>The Food Retailing Industry Speaks 2023</em></a>, 82% of food retailers engage in community support and build local ties.</li></ul><h5>Supermarket Employees Have Earned Our Gratitude </h5><ul><li>Despite supply chain disruptions or workforce reductions, supermarket employees have demonstrated trojan efforts to keep communities going, even in extreme weather challenges.</li><li>Supermarket employees have personified compassion and courage when communities have most needed to be encouraged.</li><li>Supermarket employees have redefined the term "community service."</li><li>Show kindness and compassion in your interactions with employees year-round.</li></ul><p>From the bottom of our hearts, we thank all supermarket employees for what they do to care for our communities. Love, FMI.</p><p><a href="https://www.fmi.org/get-involved/supermarket-employee-day" class="button">Supermarket Employee Day Toolkit</a></p>
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