Tony Sars on employee retention
From An Effective Workplace Culture with W.W. Grainger's D.G. Macpherson and SpartanNash's Tony Sarsam · · Semafor
“We pay a lower wage in some cases, but our employees stay longer than at some competitors because we make people feel like they belong and engaged. People want a sense of purpose, meaningful work, recognition, and good communication.”
On , Tony Sars, President, Chief Executive Officer & Director at SPARTANNASH CO, spoke about employee retention during An Effective Workplace Culture with W.W. Grainger's D.G. Macpherson and SpartanNash's Tony Sarsam on Semafor.
About Tony Sars
Tony Sarsam, President and CEO of SpartanNash, has spoken in several media appearances in 2024 and 2025 about the company's focus on talent, culture, and pricing. He stated that the "existential threat right now is about people," citing a declining birth rate and immigration policy as factors contributing to a labor shortage. Sarsam said that a CEO's job is now more than 50% focused on talent and staffing, and he described his role as "chief culture officer." He emphasized the importance of creating a "people first" environment where employees feel a sense of belonging, which he argued can retain workers even when wages are lower than competitors. Sarsam noted that the company uses extensive internal communication, including videos and town halls, to keep employees informed. On business performance and pricing, Sarsam reported that SpartanNash delivered a "third consecutive record EBITDA year" in 2024, partly due to acquisitions that outperformed expectations. He stated that grocery price inflation has "stabilized" and is now "lower than other things that people would buy," with the company forecasting inflation closer to 1%. Sarsam discussed the company's "merchandising transformation program" to negotiate with suppliers and its "supply chain transformation" to manage costs. He noted that eggs have been a challenge due to avian flu, but said the company has secured longer-term supply agreements to offer prices lower than the market. Regarding Amazon, a key wholesale customer, Sarsam said the company remains a "great partner" and that SpartanNash is "bullish on Amazon" and will be ready for them when they grow again.