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Why Is Grocery Still a Boys' Club? There Is No Retail Sector with a Worse Boardroom Imbalance Than Grocery

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Why Is Grocery Still a Boys' Club? There Is No Retail Sector with a Worse Boardroom Imbalance Than Grocery 14 Retail Week August 25, 2017 Why is grocery still a boys' club? There is no retail sector with a worse boardroom imbalance than grocery. Ben Sillitoe reports on how the industry can create a climate for change here has never been a female chief Tesco, aretail partner of Be Inspired, has a executive or chair at any of the big trio of women on its executive committee. four grocers. Alessandra Bellini, the chief customer The vast majority of household officer who was hired by the grocer from Tpurchases are driven by women, yet this 2017, Unilever in March joined chief people customer split is not reflected in the officer Alison Horner and group make-up of the major supermarket communications director Jane executive teams. Lawrie on its executive team. Last year, a study into gender Derya Yildiz, senior analyst at diversity in retail aimed to under• TheHRdireclorsof Kantar Retail, says: "The challenge stand why in an industry where Sainsbury's, Morrisons and for grocery retail is similar to that of 60% of the workforce is female and Asda are the only women on the finance sector: loads of women narrative for us is that it's about everyone 85% of purchases are made or influ• employed in service roles, not enough - whether that is specific characteristics or enced by women, only 20% of exec women in decision-making roles." thinking styles. teams and 10% of boards are female. This is a sad indictment for an industry "Everyone should be themselves in Tesco Among the conclusions from the research that generally praises itself for its contribution and evervone is welcome - it's not trying to conducted by Women in Retail and Elixirr was to female employment. call out a specific target on gender, ethnicity or the suggestion that the wrong culture exists in The big four in particular invest in diversity anything else." grocery. By developing a culture of inclusiviry and inclusion schemes such as mentoring at the highest level, it said, retailers will inevi• programmes, maternity benefits and the Making the breakthrough tably diversify and prosper. promise of equal pay for equal work. If exec boardrooms are to welcome greater Debbie Robinson bucks the trend and, as Justine Dinter, head of talent and inclu• numbers of women in the future .logic would managing director of Spar UK for the last six sion at Tesco, says the grocer makes dictate that those women need to be years, has overseen a period of consecutive sure women are being consid• progressing through the ranks today. year-on-year sales and profit growth. ered for top roles and it Dinter says: "We have definitely Robinson, an ambassador of Retail Week's insists on mixed shortlists increased the number of females in Be Inspired campaign, which aims to inspire from any headhunters the work level below the exec - we and develop future female leaders, says "a when recruiting. have high potential programmes diverse culture with flexible arrangements" is However, she is for women coming through." fundamental to changing the way boardrooms reluctant to put manda• Examples of that in action are formed. "There is something about the tory quotas in place at Tesco come in the form culture and environment we create that allows for gender diversity. of Tracey Clements, who individuals to thrive - it's really important," "We've chosen not to was promoted to managing she says. specifically have targets director for convenience because it can drive the stores last year, Kari Daniels' The numbers don't lie wrong behaviours." role as commercial director in food and Claire However, there is a dearth of women running "It can become just Lorains, the UK's big four grocers. about the number who is chief Sainsbury's, Morrisons and Asda all have without the executive of just one woman in their executive team, all of sustainability Chief executive of Tesco Mobile. whom are in charge of HR and people. behind it. The Co-op Food Jo Whftf leld August 25, 2017 Retail Week 15 Read more on retail's /^^k leading lights \ Retail-Week.com/People «^ The real, best way to promote women and develop women in business is to put them in senior positions Debbie Robinson, Spar "I think there is enormous value-add [having female representation] around the whole product formulation, on-trending ingredients, how you package, merchandise and sell the product," Robinson explains. One major change in grocery over the last decade has been the shift from families conducting one weekly supermarket trip to multiple visits, and a rising demand for convenience and online retailing. Shoppers are now less inclined to stick to one super• market brand too. "Shopping in an increasing variety of outlets is very much part of the female psyche of deci• sion making," Robinson argues. "The coping mechanisms consumers have found during this period of austerity bodes very well for business. I can see how these skills would translate well into the industry." Asda's Sean Clarke, Morrisons' David Potts, But for Robinson, the catalyst for change will Tesco's Dave Lewis and Sainsbury's Mike Coupe be grocery decision makers understanding that diverse people and different approaches are crucial to forming the best teams, and conse• Meanwhile, Anna Barsby - an ambassador others to succeed and help share experiences quently maximising profit margins. of Be Inspired - has just completed her first on how to progress." "The real, best way to promote women and year as chief technology director at Morrisons, "Helping individuals to build confidence develop women in business is to put them while the two most senior HR roles there are and be authentic is essential to ensure talents in senior positions," she notes. "Make sure held by women. are nurtured and encouraged. Businesses there is representation at all levels, including At Asda, Judith McKenna has been touted need to ensure a framework to spot great board level. as a future chief executive, previously holding talent is in place and make sure that talent "Those leading in grocery need to be the dual role of chief financial officer/chief shines through." appreciative of different approaches to operating officer. She has since become chief Speaking at a recent Retail Week Be Inspired problems. The more diverse we are, the operating officer at Walmart US, and perhaps her event, Peter Batt, divisional managing director better results we will get." time to take charge of the UK grocer will come. for Co-op in the south of England, argued that Yildiz says: "Career progression remains "presenteeism" is UK grocery's biggest obstacle a problem. There are very few female board to gender balance. members in grocery retail that have climbed the For things to change, he said, there needs to Be Inspired career ladder over the years. be direction on this from the top. He explained "It seems more common for men to climb the how Whitfield attends her son's assemblies, for The Be Inspired annual ladder while women change companies to move example, which paves the way for junior male conference takes up - although this is not unique to retail at all." and female colleagues to establish a similar place on November 14, In July, however, Jo Whitfield made the step work-life balance. and will be the largest up from finance director to chief executive Whitfield remarks: "I hope that I can be Be Inspired gathering of Co-op Food, sending out a strong signal useful and helpful for other women to to date. that there is a route to the top in supermarket step forward." Speakers Include retailing for women. Boots senior vice The Co-op is a retail partner of the Be Customer-centricity president and managing Inspired campaign and Whitfield says it is a If retailers truly have the ambition to put the director Elizabeth Fagan, business that has many positive role models customer at the heart of their business, as many Ikea UK and Ireland country manager Gillian for female employees. say they do, given that the majority of shoppers Drakeford, Made.com chairperson Suzanne Given She says: "At the Co-op we have a great talent are women, logic would dictate there should and Ao.com founder John Roberts. For more pipeline at all levels within the business and be far more female representation in decision• details visit: Beinspired.Retait-Week.com so have really good role models that encourage making roles within retail. .
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