The Kash and Karry at MLK and Nebraska will be a Sweetbay. We will see if the one at Waters and Florida will close.
Here is an interesting article on some of the challenges Sweetbay faces with its staff and attitude.
Poor customer service and a dirty store have been some of the biggest complaints about the MLK store.
"Such histrionics, part of a recent Sweetbay employee training night, were less about stirring up competitive juices and more about convincing the grocery chain's workers that they need to get more passionate - fast - about customer service."
""If we don't deliver with attentive employees that shoppers trust and want to interact with, none of it's going to matter," "
"We expect our people to engage the customer, acknowledge their presence, strike up a conversation with them and take responsibility to help them.""
"It's all a dramatic change for a company that for years enforced rigid rules, encouraged workers to wait for raises by staying in the same jobs and offered customers a store experience that has been at best uneven."
"The program is designed to weed out those unwilling to go along for the ride. The hints are easy to spot."
Lets see what happens.
I am a loyal Publix customer, but out of convenience had stopped into the former Kash N Karry here on Gandy in south Tampa several times. The produce section was so pathetic that I couldn't even find a decent sized orange that didn't look diseased. When they switched over to the Sweetbay format a few months ago with that same store, and after reading media praise etc, we decided to give it a second chance. I was skeptical and thought it was just a new logo, new colors on the exterior, new employee uniforms and slogans, but the same sloppy store layout, subpar selection, crummy produce etc. Instead, I have to admit the store here had quality produce the last time we were there, a much better fresh seafood section, etc. It's not enough to make me dump Publix, but it's a real improvement. Granted they started with very low expectations.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of grocery stores, has anyone been to the new Wild Oats on Dale Mabry? In concept, I think the place is great (have been to it three different times and eaten at it twice). In practice, it seems to be filled unfortunately with lazy and poorly trained employees that leave me in a bad mood. But then, I love the huge selection of unique foods. So they're filed currently in my love-hate category.
M.R.
http://tastetampabay.blogspot.com