New Seasons Market to raise hourly wage to $16.25

Next week, West Coast grocer New Seasons Market and its New Leaf Community Markets subsidiary plan lift their hourly starting wage to $16.25.

Portland, Oregon-based New Seasons said Monday that the pay hike will kick in on Oct. 6 for hourly staff across its two dozen stores in Oregon, Washington and California. Plans also call for the retailer to adjust wage scales to “recognize the contributions of all hourly store staff,” which the company said will hoist the average pay of current hourly staff to $19.98.

Part of Good Food Holdings, New Seasons Market operates 19 stores in Oregon, Washington and Northern California, while New Leaf Community Market has five stores in California’s Central Coast region.

“Supporting staff with competitive pay and benefits is a deeply rooted commitment aligned to the founding values of New Seasons Market and New Leaf Community Markets,” New Seasons and New Leaf CEO Nancy Lebold said in a statement. “Grocery workers are vital to the success of our regional food economies. This investment will advance equity in our stores and continue moving the food industry to support livable wages for all workers.”

New Leaf Community Market has five stores in California’s Central Coast, while New Seasons Market operates 19 stores in Oregon, Washington and Northern California.

The grocer noted that the New Seasons and New Leaf banners were early adopters of a $15 hourly starting wage and invest 25% of each sales dollar into employee compensation and benefits. A Certified B Corporation, the retailer said its benefits package encompasses comprehensive health care, paid parental leave, lifestyle scheduling, paid volunteer opportunities and career development.

Recent benefit additions include staff scholarship to earn a Retail Management Certificate, access to continued education and professional development, and the expansion of parental leave eligibility to part-time staff, effective in the 2022 open enrollment period, New Seasons said. The company also has introduced a child care tuition benefit through Portland-based KinderCare Education to help parents working in the retailer’s supermarkets and store support office.

“With this starting wage investment, we’re leading among other regional retailers as we work to retain and attract the best people from within the communities we serve,” commented Forrest Gonsiewski, regional vice president at New Leaf Community Markets.

Parent company Good Food Holdings has three other food retail chains: Bristol Farms and Lazy Acres Natural Market in Southern California and Metropolitan Market in Seattle. Hypermarket retailer Emart, which operates about 200 stores in South Korea, acquired Good Food Holdings in 2018 and is part of Seoul-based global retailer The Shinsegae Group.