2025 Supermarket Management Class Empowers Next Generation of Grocery Leaders

From April 28 to May 2, 2025, the Retail Learning Institute hosted its annual Supermarket Management Class (SMC) at The Coca-Cola Company Headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. This immersive program brought together 75 attendees from the United States, the Philippines, and Trinidad and Tobago, all eager to enhance their leadership skills and gain insights into the evolving grocery retail landscape.

The SMC is designed for supermarket owners, regional directors, store managers, department supervisors, and emerging leaders. This year's cohort represented a diverse mix of professionals, fostering a rich environment for cross-cultural exchange and collaborative learning. The program's structure encourages participants to step away from daily operational demands and engage deeply with peers and industry experts.

The week commenced with guided tours of four distinct grocery retailers in the Atlanta area: Nam Dae Mun (which recently earned the 2025 IGA USA International Retailer of the Year title), Aldi, Trader Joe’s, and Whole Foods. These visits offered participants firsthand exposure to various store formats, merchandising strategies, and customer engagement approaches. Observing these diverse retail environments provided valuable context for the discussions and lessons that followed.

75 students attended this year's class, which featured 22 sessions. 

Over the course of the week, attendees participated in 22 sessions covering critical aspects of supermarket management, including operations, finance, and leadership. The curriculum emphasized real-world application, with case studies and group projects designed to address common challenges in the grocery sector. A faculty of over 20 seasoned professionals facilitated these sessions, offering insights drawn from extensive industry experience.

Retail Learning Institute President and CEO Dr. Paulo Goelzer underscored the program's tailored approach, "Effective leaders have to strike a balance between sound management practices and the kind of leadership skills that enable them to motivate team members to provide a superior shopping experience."

This philosophy permeated the sessions, which included topics such as meat and produce sales, customer service excellence, and innovative marketing strategies. Participants also engaged in assessments and developed personalized innovation plans to implement in their respective stores.

Beyond the structured sessions, the SMC fostered a sense of community among attendees. Group activities and collaborative projects encouraged the sharing of ideas and best practices. Many participants noted the value of these interactions in broadening their perspectives and enhancing their problem-solving skills, noting:

The speaker's passion reminded me to never lose sight of what I'm doing and how I can empower other people to give a great customer experience."

Eye-opening to learn the difference between management and leadership and how important it is to create a healthy store climate."

I want to empower our associates to share what are we doing better than anyone else. It helped remind me to brag about what we are doing well."

The program concluded with a graduation ceremony, where Dr. Goelzer and Brad Morris of Coca-Cola presented certificates to the participants. The celebration included a happy hour featuring food, drinks, and dancing, providing a festive end to an intensive week of learning.

As the grocery industry continues to evolve, initiatives like the Supermarket Management Class play a crucial role in preparing leaders to navigate change and drive innovation. By combining practical training with opportunities for networking and collaboration, the SMC equips participants with the tools necessary to enhance customer experiences and improve store performance.

For more information about the Supermarket Management Class and to register for the 2026 session (running April 27–May 1, 2026) sessions, visit the Retail Learning Institute's website.