01-05-2025
- Business
- Business Journals
Phoenix College retail management certificate advances food industry career opportunities
The share of U.S. households buying groceries online has more than doubled since the onset of Covid-19.
That's according to a recent report in Digital 360 Commerce that notes that March 2025 marked the eighth straight month in which online grocery sales topped $9.5 billion.
These long-term shifts in consumer behavior highlight the complexities of the grocery industry: the intricacies of supply chains, evolving consumer preferences, and the impact of technology. Yet, according to IBIS World, grocery store revenue in the U.S. is currently $883.1 billion, a number that's expected to continue to grow.
Before the pandemic, visionary executives in the Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC) had the foresight to acknowledge the grocery store workforce needed additional skills to address the complexities of the business and ongoing challenges. In 2000, WAFC leaders began a collaborative partnership with community colleges to develop the Retail Management Certificate (RMC), blending industry-specific knowledge with essential business skills in an eight-course program.
"Historically, education is not at the forefront of the conversation for grocery retail team members," said Courtney Dulle, manager of talent and leadership for The Raley's Companies, a private, family-owned grocery retail company in California. "You can go pretty far in the grocery business without a formal education. When I was 16, 17, 18 years old and bagging groceries and checking out customers, I wasn't having the conversation about college with my parents."
Dulle has worked for Raley's since 2000. In 2016, she enrolled in the RMC program at Fresno City College. By 2019, Dulle was promoted to her current leadership role at Raley's. "I went from a graduate to the person overseeing the RMC program for two operating companies," she said. In December 2021, Raley's acquired the Bashas' family of local grocery brands, including AJs Fine Foods and Food City, which operate primarily in Arizona.
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At a WAFC meeting of retailers and community colleges, Dulle expressed her interest in growing Bashas' RMC program to Dawson Dopp, a business faculty member at Phoenix College (PC). Dopp already was collaborating with other Arizona food retailers, including Albertsons, Smart and Final, Fry's, and Safeway, to enroll their food associates in PC's RMC program. Still, he and Dulle created a direct billing system that allowed Raley's to seamlessly pay tuition for their Bashas' employees.
This streamlined approach removed financial barriers and empowered employees.
"We have adult learners entering into the education space for the first time or going back after a very long time and learning the online aspects," noted Dulle. "Phoenix College has done a phenomenal job at making that transition as easy as possible."
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"Dawson brought our campus teams (admissions, advising, and billing) together to offer RMC students and their employers white glove service," said Sherlyn Celaya, director of PC's Management and Leadership Programs, who manages the RMC program.
Dopp became Department Chair of Business and Computer Information Technology, but remains a champion of RMC, having grown the program to over 100 students. Dopp noted, 'Phoenix College staff and faculty provide intensive support and flexibility for working professionals.'
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Cristy Zarate started as a courtesy clerk for AJ's Fine Foods 19 years ago after moving to the U.S. from Mexico. Eventually, she transferred to Bashas' compliance department and was promoted to food safety manager four years ago. In her role, Zarate attends many conferences and completes a variety of certifications. Still, she enrolled in the RMC program for its foundation in business. "All the classes – from human resources to sales – have been interesting," she said. "I am very focused on food safety, and sometimes I don't realize what everybody else does."
The convenience of doing the courses online also was a perk. "The beauty of the program is you can do it at your own pace and on your own time," said Zarate. "My job is very demanding – I'm available 24/7 – and I'm a full-time mom, but I find time for the program."
She noted the teachers are always accessible, and if she wants to understand a concept further, she asks a Bashas' colleague in the field to explain it. In the management course, she learned about profit margins and shrinkage.
For Zarate, the RMC is an essential step in advancing her career. "I thought continuing my education would be impossible, but after going through the classes, it's not,' she said. 'I can do it. It's a step to bigger things."
