Passion, commitment and respect topped with hard work have earned Waiata Shores Jatinder Chahal the Woolworths NZ Store Manager of the Year award.
From a multigenerational farming family in India, his desire to achieve professional excellence through hard work and dedication has been instilled in him from a young age.
"I finished my schooling in Nabha, Punjab and came to New Zealand on a student visa. While I studied, I worked at Woolworths Greenlane, filling shelves two nights a week. As English was my second language, it helped to be working and interacting with customers and other team members,” said Chahal.
One year later, Chahal was working as a checkout operator at Woolworths St Lukes, always looking for ways to learn, and accepting any opportunity that came his way.
As his confidence and understanding of the supermarket business grew, Chahal soon worked his way up to supervisor, then duty manager, and eventually fresh food manager, back at Woolworths Greenlane - where it all began.
Seventeen years later, with support and encouragement from his group manager, Steve Cross and operations manager Darryn Brash, he is the store manager at Waiata Shores in South Auckland.
Listening to his customers, Chahal also worked with his team to ensure more Indian food products and items were brought into the Waiata Shores store.
"I was so surprised when my name was called out. It’s such a good feeling and definitely a highlight of my career,” he said.
Chahal said outside of work, it was the women in his life who were his lucky charms. He said his family and friends are essential, and he paid tribute to his parents, who live with him in Papatoetoe.
From humble beginnings, Chahal does not take his job for granted - always striving to do better for his customers and the 110 team members who report to him.
Woolworths NZ Director Retail & Franchise Jason Stockill said Chahal leads from the front and shows a high level of respect to his team members.
With positive sales growth, a nearly 900-day accident-free work environment, consistently good customer and store scores, his philosophy is "do the ground work and the results will come".
Woolworths NZ Team Experience Partner Daphne Fineaso added that Chahal consistently demonstrated a profound passion for both his team and customers, an approach that is highly regarded and affirmed by his team and peers.
Chahal’s positive attitude and willingness to do right by his customers and team members have recently led to a six-month secondment as a group manager. It involves travel outside Auckland and oversight of 11 stores.
"I’m grateful for my career with Woolworths and the company has not only supported me in my goals but it’s offered me a work-life balance that means I can be a good son, husband and father."
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