the company is confused, we don't work off of our strengths and we pick up bad habits from other supermarkets
Pros
I like the ethical distinction between working for the co-op compared to the other supermarkets, in terms of things like only stocking free range eggs, all our own products are animal cruelty free, that kind of thing, we started fair trade. We are a co-operative and everyone is meant to have a say. Double discount is always a winner too.
Cons
We adopt practices that don't always work, we took all of somerfield's practices on yet they were a failing supermarket. Some of this new stuff on S3 is stupendous, you can get a disciplinary for removing a pen from the desk?! The larger stores are suffering a bit under the focus of being the best convenience store; on average it takes 2hrs longer to complete an ambient delivery because we are not allowed cages on the shop floor now. Wages are not competitive against other supermarkets, team leaders only get paid slighty more an hour more than a CSA when we have so much more responsibility (especially when its one on one in a small store). The management ethos clashes against the ethical direction of the company sometimes, they don't seem to be part of the same company. We don't promote our achievements to customers enough and even membership holders are clueless to what a co-operative is and means. I could go on.