Diversity
Stop & Shop and Giant-Landover invest in the professional development of women
Stop & Shop has been a corporate sponsor of the Network of Executive Women (NEW) since it was launched, helping to start three regional chapters of the network in New England, New York and the mid-Atlantic markets. NEW is a non-profit educational organization committed to attracting, retaining and advancing women in retail through education, leadership and business development. Through their active participation with NEW, Stop & Shop and Giant-Landover demonstrate their commitment to the professional development of women by providing educational, mentoring and networking opportunities.
As a company with operations in a number of European countries and the United States, Ahold fosters an atmosphere of diversity. Diversity is valued at every level of our organization and recognized as a key component of our continued success. Our goal is to have a workforce that reflects the customers we serve and the communities in which we operate.
This allows us to understand the diversity of our customer base, and to better serve them. It also gives us access to a wider pool of talent and allows us to employ the person best qualified for the job, regardless of gender, ethnicity or age.
To support diversity, we are mentoring employees and supporting groups that promote diversity. These groups include Giant-Carlisle’s Female Leadership Advisory Council and the ALANA Resource Group, a support group for employees of African-American, Latino/Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander and Native American/Alaskan origins. We believe that diversity must be driven from above, starting with senior management.
For its efforts in this area, Giant-Carlisle was recognized by Central Pennsylvania Business Journal’s Inclusion Magazine. The magazine said the company’s work to support diversity distinguished it from others in the area. In 2008, Albert Heijn was named Best Multicultural Employer in the Netherlands for its approach to diversity.
Composition of the Ahold boards1
| |
Male |
Female |
Total |
| Corporate Executive Board2 |
4 |
1 |
5 |
| Supervisory Board |
4 |
3 |
7 |
| |
67% |
33% |
100% |
| 1. As of December 28, 2008. |
| 2. Includes one acting member of the Corporate Executive Board. |
Employees with special needs
As an employer, we can make a positive impact on the communities in which we operate in by employing people with special needs, such as learning or physical disabilities. We have found that the extra attention some employees require is repaid with enthusiasm and success in their work. In the United States, Giant-Landover was recognized by the Marriott Foundation for work with adults with disabilities. Albert Heijn has similar programs, including one that provides jobs to disabled young people. These so-called “Wajongers” are given extra support and supervision to help them make the most of their jobs.
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