EUGENE CHANG Senior Customer Category Manager Kraft Heinz Canada
At Kraft Heinz, Eugene Chang is hailed as a “new generation sales leader,” adept at using technology and data to drive efficiency and uncover market trends.
ZADE CAWLEY Store Manager Save-On-Foods
As a teenager, Zade Cawley worked at a Save-On-Foods to pay for a car and a ski pass. After graduating from university with a business degree, he decided to make his career in grocery. He held various operations roles before becoming store manager of Save-On-Foods in Ladysmith, B.C., at age 29. He was transferred to the White Rock, B.C. location in 2018.
J. ARMSTRONG, Z. CAWLEY, AND E. CHANG: GOLDMEDIA.CA; E. BEAN: RED RIVER CO-OP
As part of the Thompson Rivers University Leadership program, Cawley was selected to lead a team in developing a new merchandising program that would standardize information shared across departments and simplify the messaging. The program was a success and, ultimately, rolled out company-wide. Another success was creating a daily “shrink huddle” at the Ladysmith store. Every morning, he would meet with department managers and discuss shrink from the day before, so they could analyze what happened and make adjustments. Shrink levels decreased, and the process is now used in multiple regions. As a leader, Cawley treats his staff like family. “A lot of times, we see each other more than we see our families at home,” he says. “So it’s always nice to come to work to an environment that is caring and engaging.”
In a previous role as national retail sales and CRM manager, Chang brought in innovative technologies to support the sales team. For example, he led a major project that enabled sales reps to identify real-time, algorithm-generated sales opportunities. In his current role, he implemented a turnaround plan and helped stabilize the struggling condiments category at a national retailer. What motivates Chang in the workplace is continuous learning. “I love working in an environment that never stops me from developing as an individual—whether it’s technical skills, problem solving or leadership skills,” he says. In 2018, Chang was chosen to represent Canada as a Kraft Heinz Meal Ambassador. Along with six other global ambassadors, he travelled to India to see the hunger-relief programs Kraft Heinz sponsors with Rise Against Hunger. Inspired by the trip, the ambassadors created the company’s first-ever global meal-packing event on World Food Day—and in 24 hours, employees packed an impressive 1.2 million meals.
MARK CONDOLUCI Category Director, Produce/Bulk Merchandising No Frills
Mark Condoluci believes healthy foods at reasonable prices should be available to all Canadians. Since becoming No Frills’ category director for produce/bulk merchandising three years ago, Condoluci has made organic produce more accessible, more than doubling the assortment in stores. He also has a strong focus on local produce, launching new items, organizing local farmers markets at various stores, and engaging No Frills’ franchisees in the company-wide “From Your Farmers” campaign. Recognizing the diversity of Canadians, he has also helped introduce new items to offer a wider variety of multicultural products. “Our purpose is to feed everyone. I’ve really embodied this and it’s what inspires me,” says Condoluci. “We need to shape what future generations are eating and I think it starts in the produce department.” It’s a department he knows well: Condoluci started as a produce clerk at his local No Frills at age 14. He rejoined the company after college and was promoted to produce manager at 21. He now leads a team ensuring that the best produce at the best price is offered consistently to consumers across 263 No Frills locations.
December 2019/January 2020 Canadian Grocer
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