Team size: Eight

Which recent political, economic, or regulatory changes have impacted the company and the team the most?

Covid-19 has brought changes in multiple fields, and it has made crisis management a relevant topic in day-to-day business. It has had a strong impact in the food retail sector, shifting priorities, demanding investments and a historically unparallel effort from people across all lines of business. Regulatory measures in constant change have affected the functioning of both store and headquarters. Remote working, safety measures, supply chain continuity, product shortages, e-commerce acceleration, customer service under difficult circumstances, employee health and well-being – have impacted both the company and the team, which was mandated to readjust priorities and efforts. Even though Covid-19 seemed to be more under control in the last month, and restrictions started to be lifted, we are left with skyrocketing energy costs, inflation and the Ukranian crisis – all of those have repercussions on the food retail business.

Even in the best-case scenario, Covid is likely to have far-reaching ramifications. How are you safeguarding the long-term health of the business?

Safeguarding the long-term health of the business has always been our main priority – regardless of social, economic, or political circumstances. The best way to achieve such target is to develop a broad understanding of the environment and its macroeconomic trends, to be able to predict future developments, to manage and mitigate any risks. It is crucial to care beyond numbers; companies should care for the environment, the people, and the planet, making the right strategic choices at the right time acting with integrity, inspiration, and respect.

What do you think are the biggest risks facing your industry now and how are you preparing your company and team to face these risks?

The greatest risks facing the food retail industry are interconnected with the unstable socio-political and economic landscape – supply chain disruptions, inflation, shortage of raw materials and increasing energy costs. We are preparing our teams and the company to readjust priorities while maintaining customer centricity.