A new training program for managers at UK retailer Safeway encourages participants to decide their personal direction without reference to the company’s interests, on the basis that the individual is more interested than anyone else in his or her own development. The Aspire! program, described...

Purpose – This paper aims to describe the origins, practical application and outcomes of the Fresh on Service accelerated‐training scheme for employees at UK supermarket chain Waitrose, who are known as “partners” because they share ownership of the company. Design/methodology/approach...

Purpose – Describes how the UK supermarket chain Sainsbury's is using the Hothouse development program to give its most promising deputy managers the skills they need to become store managers. Design/methodology/approach – Explains the reasons for the program, the form it takes and the...

Purpose – This article seeks to describe apprenticeship training for butchers and bakers at UK supermarket Morrisons, and a skill‐improvement program for 500 recruits at the supermarket's Woodhead Brothers meat‐processing subsidiary, both of which were winners in the latest National...

Purpose – This paper aims to describe numerous ways in which supermarket Walmart is seeking to improve the lives of women across the world. Design/methodology/approach – It looks in particular at the Women in Factories program, which is helping to train more than 60,000 women working in...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe how supermarket‐giant Walmart, facing demand to open stores faster than it could produce qualified managers, has launched a leadership academy to develop high‐potential talent and increase the speed at which managers are ready for...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to observe that UK supermarket giant Sainsbury’s has opened a college to train management teams for its fast-expanding network of local convenience stores. Design/methodology/approach – This study describes the reasons for the college and what it will...