Climb to the top shelf

Supermarkets are bulging with career opportunities. Take the case of Nigel Ollett, who decided to turn his part-time trolley-pushing job into full-time work at Foodstuffs while waiting to apply for the police force.

It's a move he's never regretted. Now 29, Ollett is owner-operator of New World Green Bay, employing 80 staff and earning six figures.

He reached the top through a series of Foodstuffs on-the-job management training schemes that involve studying management unit standards and getting extensive practical experience across different departments.

To buy the business Ollett received a loan - a scholarship in Foodstuffs-speak - that helped finance him into the role.

"I thoroughly enjoy the job because I'm dealing with something different every day: people, products, services," he says.

And it is fast: "new lines are continually being introduced and other lines re-introduced, and I have to decide what to take, how to fit it on shelves and what to get rid of."

Manukau Pak 'n Save frozen foods manager Yvonne Manilal also found a career in FMCGs. After three months out of work, she reluctantly took a check-out job.

She has now started management training. The supermarket owner pays for her courses on the proviso she pays it back if she doesn't complete. As a department manager, Manilal can earn up to $50,000.

"When customers see supermarket staff filling up shelves or doing check-out, they don't see all the other work going on, like ordering, quality control, stock control, specials and promotions," says Manilal.

New Zealand's two supermarket chains, Foodstuffs and Progressive both have training programmes for staff. However Progressive doesn't have an owner-operator scheme.

Foodstuffs training manager Diane Miekle says Foodstuffs will help any staff member that shows commitment. Training, which is nationally recognised and accredited, is offered in bakery, butcher and retail apprenticeships, as well as management development, which leads to department and store management.

Management trainees move from department to department and store to store to gain breadth of experience in areas such as merchandising, marketing, people management and buying.