Grocery Replenishment Specialist Joseph London, #1891, Hampton, Georgia, takes pride in being a mentor and helping his team manage shrink.

When Joseph was 16 years old, his dad bought him his 1st car. “My dad told me, ‘If you want to drive it, you’ll need to get a job so you can pay for gas and insurance.’ That is how my career started at Publix,” Joseph said.

Over his nearly 30-year career, Joseph has learned a lot. One of his favorite things is mentoring his co-workers.

“For many of our young associates, Publix is their 1st job,” said Joseph. “They remind me a lot of my younger self, and I try to be a mentor to them because I know how helpful that was for me.”

A lesson he frequently shares with associates is the importance of managing shrink.

“Helping manage shrink is something every associate in every department can do,” said Joseph. “My store managers promote a work environment where it’s OK to ask questions, and they also make sure that my fellow associates and I take the time to learn the right way to do things. I’m thankful for that because even though doing things the right way might take longer, your personal goals and Publix as a whole will reap the benefits in the long run.”

Joseph encourages this supportive work environment and helps his team manage shrink by

• rotating products as they stock
• properly handling products to prevent damage
• maintaining security
• ensuring all signs and tags are hung accurately and on time, and
• following all documented price verification schedules to ensure pricing remains accurate.

Joseph knows that understanding the processes and procedures — and knowing why we do them — makes all the difference. This ownership and pride help reduce shrink, making Joseph a My Publix, My Part difference maker.