Unified Grocers Trains Future Grocery Leaders

Fifty-one high school students are learning how the supermarket industry works, thanks to a unique Summer Youth Employment Program sponsored by retailer-owned cooperative wholesaler Unified Grocers.

"Our entire organization benefits from the energy, enthusiasm and fresh thinking that our Summer Youth Employment Program students bring to our Company each year,” said Bob Ling, president and CEO, Unified Grocers. “It is always a pleasure to see the growth of these bright and talented students during their time with us and then later learn about their continued career development and success."

During the seven-week program – which runs from July 1 through Aug. 16 -- the students are working in various jobs throughout the organization and participating in hands-on instructional activities focused on building job skills and developing their knowledge of the many aspects of the food industry. Some of the many learning experiences the program offers include tours of wholesale operations, retail grocery stores, food manufacturing facilities and farms.

The students, 27 from the Los Angeles metropolitan area, eight from Northern California (Livermore and Stockton area), six from Portland, Ore., and 10 from Seattle, Was., are either attending or are recent graduates of local high schools. They were selected for the program after completing an extensive application and interview process.

Unified's Summer Youth Employment Program students also have an opportunity to win scholarships from Unified to help further their education. The scholarship winners are announced at graduation ceremonies held in each region of the company at the conclusion of the program.