United Supermarket celebrates first Employee Appreciation Day

The employees of all United Supermarkets across Texas and New Mexico celebrated the first Employee Appreciation Day on Monday, Feb. 22.

Employees of the United Supermarket in Littlefield were honored with a meal served at the store. The communities served by the local store were also invited and encouraged to send a shout out of appreciation to their hometown supermarket heroes on the United company website by going to https://www.thetmitedfamily.com/ thankyou/ , on social media, by using the hashtag #SupermarketHeroes and tag their local store.

When asked how they felt about being essential front line workers during a pandemic and epic winter storm, a group of local employees simply shrugged and said,”We just go to work.”

The winter storm caused quite a disruption for the supply chain for the stores in the area.

Roland Garza, vendor for Mrs. Baird’s explained that the products sourced in Ft. Worth and San Antonio could not be shipped to the distribution center in Lubbock, due to the ice and snow. The product source in Oklahoma had no water to make the products.

According to Geneva Castaneda, in Receiving, “There are many wheels turning in the business of delivering the food supplies to communities.” When even one of those wheels stop, normal supply at the local store also stops.

When asked about the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, Tyler Wilbanks, Assistant Store Director, explained that the protective measures were mandated by the United Supermarket Company and each store was tasked with putting them in place. Despite the reality that many customers enter the store without masks, the safety measures put in place to protect employees and customers seem to be effective so far.

The extraordinary events of the past year were met by the United Supermarket employees with courage and compassion. With no great fanfare or self- aggrandizement, they “just go to work” providing the necessities of life for the community.”