Axios reports this morning that “Whole Foods Market is reviving the flagging art of culinary apprenticeships,” in the belief that “in an era of labor shortages, apprenticeships are a proven workforce training model that inspires employee loyalty and drives customer satisfaction.”
The story says that “Whole Foods aims to add at least two new apprenticeships annually to its growing roster of career development programs, which already help employees become butchers, Certified Cheese Professionals and bakery decorators. The next two apprenticeships: pizza-making and produce specialist, to be followed by fishmongering.”
These are all “paid, learn-on-the-job positions, typically with no experience required,” Axios writes. But they aren’t short-term commitments: “The butchery program involves two six-month phases combining training and on-the-job experience … Becoming a Certified Cheese Professional (CCP) takes years and involves passing an American Cheese Society exam.”
Overseeing the programs is Cathy Strange, “a 32-year Whole Foods veteran, who in August was given the new position of ‘ambassador of food culture'” by CEO Jason Buechel.
KC’s View:
There is a general sense in the marketplace that Whole Foods has lost something off its fastball over the years, especially since it was acquired by Amazon. But Axios reports that “under Buechel’s leadership, Whole Foods has been reinventing its corporate culture in a way that aims to get all employees whipped up about the food — its quality, sourcing and sustainability … Supermarket jobs are better known for high turnover than for launching successful careers for artisans, but Whole Foods’ approach could break that mold.”
I think these are positive steps in the right direction, and that the model could be adopted by other food retailers that could apprenticeships as a way to persuade people that food retailing can be a sustaining and even noble career.
Feeding and nurturing the body and soul ought to be seen as noble and aspirational – but too few retailers approach it this way.
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