The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association (PFMA) joins groups nationwide in recognizing the tremendous efforts of grocery workers during the pandemic and beyond.
Gov. Tom Wolf proclaimed Monday, Feb. 22, as Supermarket Employee Day in Pennsylvania as a way to acknowledge and thank supermarket employees for their extraordinary dedication to a job that has become more significant than ever. Nearly 6 million supermarket employees work in the U.S., and more than 220,000 food retail jobs are in Pennsylvania, according to the proclamation. Through the COVID-19 pandemic, supermarket employees continued to “provide all Americans with access to safe, healthy and affordable food” and enhanced “the health and well-being of each customer,” states the proclamation.
“From the first day, our supermarket employees in Pennsylvania left their homes and showed up to work, ensuring that their communities could safely access basic needs,” said Alex Baloga, president and CEO of PFMA. “They adapted and adjusted to extraordinary challenges, whether that be new safety protocols, sanitization measures or keeping in-demand items in stock. And they continue to rise to the challenge, for which we are incredibly thankful.”
The governor’s proclamation recognizes the courage, leadership and service displayed by Pennsylvania’s grocery workers while the demands on these jobs grow. The PFMA represents thousands of food retailers across the commonwealth.
In November, The Food Industry Association (FMI) declared Feb. 22 as the first Supermarket Employee Day in response to the work done by employees at every level to provide essential services. According to FMI, millions of supermarket employees report to work at more than 40,000 stores that sell food and grocery items in the U.S.
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