Kroger embarks on hiring blitz
The Kroger Co. seeks to hire thousands of new associates for the holidays and beyond.
America's largest grocery retailer is searching for employees to work in hourly and salaried roles in its retail, e-commerce, manufacturing, supply chain, merchandising, logistics, corporate, pharmacy and healthcare divisions. Kroger has open jobs in both seasonal and permanent positions.
Virtual hiring events have commenced and will continue throughout the month of November. For more information about virtual information sessions, interviews and events visit the Kroger website.
The grocer will also host a five-week early talent career series to spotlight opportunities throughout the Kroger Family of Companies, highlighting the internship experience, diversity initiatives and how each department operates with insights from current interns and Kroger leaders. Each week, participants will have the opportunity to schedule screening sessions for entry-level positions or join the 2023 class of interns.
"As we prepare for a memorable holiday season for our associates and customers, we are seeking to hire new associates, not just for the season, but to join the Kroger family of companies and embark on a career," said Tim Massa, senior VP, president and chief people officer at Kroger. "We are committed to offering associates a culture of opportunity and career with purpose, competitive pay and benefits and flexible schedules. We truly want our associates to come for a job and discover a career while meeting and exceeding our customers' needs."
Kroger has invested an incremental $1.2 billion in associate compensation and benefits since 2018, raising the average hourly rate to over $17 per hour and over $22 per hour when comprehensive benefits are included. The company also provides a tuition reimbursement program, offering up to $21,000 for both part-time and full-time associates and covering GED courses to Ph.D. programs.
Kroger goes high-tech with training
Kroger is bringing on new hires as it leverages solutions from microlearning technology provider Axonify to streamline the hiring, training, engaging and motivating of its nearly 500,000 grocery associates in the ongoing face of disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Internally, Kroger brands its Axonify training solution as the “Fresh Start” employee app. Associates can download the app on their own mobile devices, or also gain access via shared corporate devices. Employees are encouraged to log in as soon as they start their shift, and are introduced to Fresh Start during the first day of their onboarding process.
Since launching Fresh Start in 2021, Kroger has been using the Fresh Start app to provide three-to-five-minute training programs focused on all areas of employee well-being, featuring corporate executives and professional health leaders.
The company closed out fiscal 2021 with 15 million Fresh Start sessions among 100,000 associates, and intends to expand the solution’s scope beyond its retail supermarket division to the supply chain and manufacturing divisions.
Based in Cincinnati, Kroger operates 2,800 stores under a variety of banners across the U.S., including Kroger, Fred Meyer, Ralphs, Dillons, Smith's, King Soopers, Fry's, QFC, City Market, Owen's, Jay C, Pay Less, Baker's, Gerbes, Harris Teeter, Pick 'n Save, Metro Market, and Mariano's.