Latest news with #retailpolicy
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Whole Foods employee raises concerns over troubling store policy: 'Just to look good for corporate visits'
Whole Foods employee raises concerns over troubling store policy: 'Just to look good for corporate visits' When Whole Foods corporate leaders roll into town, store teams reportedly scramble to make displays sparkle, even if it means tossing food that could've been donated. What's happening? In a Reddit thread in r/wholefoods, a former employee shared a behind-the-scenes look at how stores prepare for corporate walkthroughs. They claimed they were directed to throw out food "just to look good for corporate visits." "Why does global and corporate leadership want to see their stores wasting so much food? I'm sure the food waste reports on days of global and corporate visits are so much higher than other days which are already a disaster," the original poster commented. Their experience was shared by other workers, who said the practice was not only widespread but deeply frustrating. One former worker recounted having to toss out cheese platters for being a day short of expiration, while another described frantically building an illusion of store-wide abundance that masked inefficiencies and staffing shortages. "It's even better when we go through the facade only to have the person from corporate NOT show up," one person commented. Why is food waste important? Food waste is a major driver of Earth's overheating. Globally, nearly one-third of all food produced is never eaten, and that waste contributes about 8-10% of total harmful gas emissions, according to the United Nations Environment Programme. This is nearly five times more than the aviation industry. When grocers discard perfectly edible products to appear pristine for visiting executives, it's wasteful and harmful. While stores toss out food for optics, millions of Americans go hungry every day. In the online review era, where appearance is everything, many companies struggle with the temptation to prioritize aesthetics over substance. But this doesn't mean that landfilling cheese boards and carefully arranging produce displays just to keep up appearances is the right solution for stores. Should companies be required to help recycle their own products? Definitely No way It depends on the product They should get tax breaks instead Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Is Whole Foods doing anything about this? Whole Foods publicly champions sustainability, touting initiatives like reducing plastic, donating unsold food through local partnerships, and working to reduce its overall carbon footprint. The company has previously promoted programs to divert food waste from landfills, including composting and donation strategies. However, the employee testimonials suggest that store-level practices may sometimes contradict corporate messaging. It's unclear whether these instances reflect localized decisions by specific store leadership or systemic expectations from upper management. What's being done about food waste more broadly? Several cities and states are pushing back against food waste. In California, grocers are required by law to divert surplus food to donation centers under SB 1383, which aims to cut organic waste in half. Organizations like ReFED and Too Good To Go are also working with food retailers to optimize donation logistics and minimize loss. Consumers can help by supporting stores with transparent donation policies, buying "imperfect" produce, and pushing for accountability through feedback or reviews. Meanwhile, grocers can protect both their image and the environment by training employees to balance aesthetics with ethics and making sure sustainability doesn't disappear when the suits arrive. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Solve the daily Crossword
Daily Mail
10-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Urgent Costco warning as major store policy change rolled out across the US
A Costco employee has warned that the chain's new shopping hours are making life difficult for workers. As of June 30, the big box retailer now opens an hour earlier for Executive tier members at 9:00 am. But worker Holly Dickey White explained that the new hours aren't a walk in the park for employees in a Facebook post. The Arizona resident claimed that none of the employees knew there would be new hours or were even asked if they believed the new policy was a smart decision. 'I understand it's "just an hour" but for a lot of employees it is making life difficult, getting kids to school or babysitters,' White wrote. 'If you are caring for an elderly member of your family. It is disrupting our lives!!.' White revealed their days could be a whole lot better if customers were to bring 'a dose of patience,' a smile, and kind words. 'Greet us with a Smile, it will help, I PROMISE!! Costco is still an awesome employer and we will all get adjusted to these new hours!,' she wrote. A Costco employee issued an urgent warning to shoppers a day before the chain's new store hour policy took effect Costco's Executive members can shop an hour earlier than other membership holders weekdays and Sundays, and 30 minutes earlier on Saturdays Costco's Executive members have been able to shop from 9:00 am to 10:00 am on weekdays and Sundays and 9:00 am to 9:30 am on Saturdays since June 30. All Executive level members can take advantage of the new hours, which are applied to every Costco nationwide. 'Our Executive Members are our most loyal members, and we want to reward them for their commitment to Costco,' the company told employees in an email seen by Business Insider. Executive members, who pay $130 a year, reacted positively to the change before it took effect. However, workers were not thrilled to learn the change would be happening, believing it would make their jobs harder. 'As someone who usually works the morning shift, I wonder (and hope) we'll be able to work an hour earlier to offset the lost time in getting the warehouse ready for opening. We barely make it as it is,' an employee wrote on Reddit. 'I'm a morning cooler driver and I already struggle sleeping and waking up for work starting at 4 am. Let alone making opening as is,' another person responded. 'I'm not excited to come in an hour earlier, and get even less sleep than I already do, especially working two jobs. I'm happy for the executive members at least. It's a nice benefit for them.' The company issued the new hours as a way to reward its 'most loyal members' Employees on social media were not thrilled about the change, while shoppers insisted they would upgrade their memberships It comes as Costco has made a number of changes recently. The ball got rolling on major changes last year after the chain announced its plans to replace Pepsi with Coca-Cola products in food courts. Social media users were divided with the company's decision, and some were furious after spotting a Coke machine in a California store. Customer satisfaction levels may have risen, however, after the chain extended its gas station hours and added more pumps at select locations. Costco food courts have also ignited backlash from customers divided over its offerings, including its 'overpoweringly sweet' Frozen Strawberry Lemonade. has reached out to Costco for comment about the warning and employee claims.
