How to Celebrate Supermarket Employee Day on 2/22

Every year on February 22, Supermarket Employee Day, the industry pauses to honor those who show up everyday to keep their stores running, feed their families, and strengthen their communities.

Created to recognize the efforts of grocery workers at all levels, Supermarket Employee Day is an industry-wide celebration championed by FMI—The Food Industry Association. This day highlights how essential grocery workers are to families and communities, from welcoming customers in the aisles to supporting public health and nutrition. Keep reading for ideas on how to celebrate your employees this Supermarket Employee Day.

1. Use the Official FMI Toolkit

FMI offers a free Supermarket Employee Day toolkit with logos, posters, templates, press releases, and messaging to help you promote and plan your celebration.

A sample poster from FMI's Supermarket Employee Day toolkit.

2. Personalize Appreciation

Encourage store leaders to deliver handwritten notes, team shout-outs, or personal messages to each employee, as small gestures resonate deeply.

3. Create Festive In-store Moments

• Set up an Employee Appreciation Station with snacks, refreshments, and thank-you cards.
• Decorate break rooms and common areas with banners, balloons, or themed décor.
• Host mini-celebrations during shift changes with music, cupcakes, or coffee treats.

4. Share Stories & Spotlights

Highlight your team members on social media or internal newsletters. Feature “Employee Spotlights” with photos and mini-interviews to showcase individual contributions.

Employee features, like the above post by Wright's Market, are easy to create and boost employee and shopper morale.

5. Involve the Community

Invite customers to participate by writing thank-you notes, leaving appreciation messages at a store display, or posting online with #SupermarketEmployeeDay.

6. Go Beyond the Day

Consider extending recognition beyond February 22 by hosting a week of appreciation, employee raffles, extended discounts, or exclusive perks to continue honoring your team’s efforts.

Supermarket Employee Day is an opportunity for every IGA grocer to pause, reflect, and celebrate the hard work that often goes unseen. Whether through meaningful gestures, community involvement, or personalized recognition, your celebration of this day can inspire pride and strengthen your culture long after February 22 has passed.

Howare you celebrating Supermarket Employee Day? Snap pictures and tell us how you are honoring your employees.