Community
12 April, 2024
Produce manager marks 40 years
A WORKER at Camperdown’s Ritchies IGA has marked a significant milestone with the company.
Produce manager Jodie Stephens celebrated 40 years of working for Ritchies recently, being awarded a certificate to commemorate her dedication to the supermarket.
Ms Stephens first started working for Ritchies at age 15, doing part-time work in the deli section on Saturdays and for a few hours during the week.
She jumped at an opportunity to work full time in the fruit and vegetable department, and the rest was history.
Ms Stephens said she enjoys her job.
“You have your bad days, you have your good days, you know how it is. I like it,” she said.
“I get to meet different people.
“I worked in different stores. I worked in Timboon for 10 years, then come back here and worked nearly 15 years.
“I’ve been back here ever since. I’ve worked in Cobden, gone to other places and worked.”
Ms Stephens said she owes her long-standing tenure to her co-workers.
“It’s just the comradery with your teammates, that’s why you stick jobs out and you like them,” she said.
“You just keep plodding along, and before you know it time keeps ticking along and ticking along and it gets to here.
“Ritchies are a fairly good company to work for; they look after their staff well and treat you well.”
Ms Stephens also reflected on the path Camperdown Ritchies had taken, recalling when it was owned by two locals.
“Stan and Mary Lee, they were the hub of the community when they first had the supermarket here,” she said.
“Everybody loved working for Stan and Mary, but once Safeway came they couldn’t compete.
“That’s when Ritchies bought this one out.”
Store manager Ebony Marshall said she couldn’t pinpoint one favourite memory of Ms Stephens’ time at Ritchies.
“There are far too many memories to pinpoint just one, but I would like to acknowledge her willingness and commitment to our customers throughout her 40 years of ongoing service,” she said.
“Jodie is one of the first people to put her hand up to help.
“Both my team and I are grateful for the ongoing recognition Ritchies provides for all staff, it is very appreciative that they continue to support our staff.
“A way the team would describe Jodie, would be a force to be reckoned with; what you see is what you receive from Jodie, which, I’m sure, we all can be thankful for.”
Ms Stephens said she hopes to be able to continue doing what she loves.
“Just keep doing the job, just keep serving everybody and just keep hoping everybody keeps coming in and supporting us,” she said.
“Just keep supporting your local people. Everybody around here are struggling.
“Everybody is busting their bottoms, they struggle along but everybody keeps up a smile and a grin.
“Just try and support your community and keep a lot of your shopping here if you can.”