Amanda Metcalf: Insights from NGA Show

Women are increasingly stepping into leadership roles within the grocery industry, challenging traditional norms and reshaping the landscape. This short clip emphasizes the value of networking and engaging at the annual NGA Show.  Amanda is a veteran attendee and a 5th generation of her family's century old company.

Over the years at the NGA show she has:

• Seen the rise of women leaders in grocery 
• Felt the value of networking at NGA events 
• Explored the opportunity and significance of the gig economy 
• Explored recruitment strategies to attract younger talent 
• Analyzed and brainstormed generational shifts in work ethics and values 
• Joined HR share groups for transparent dialogue on challenges and solutions

Listen to the full episode for inspiring reasons for attending this year's NGA Show February 23rd - 25th.

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Host: Kristin Popp
Producer: Rachael Melot

Episode Transcript

Sarah May (00:00):
I'm Sarah May, a member of the Board of the Women
Grocers of America, and todaywe have our guest Amanda.

Amanda Metcalf (00:06):
Good morning, well, good afternoon.
My name's Amanda Metcalf.
I'm with Metcalf's Market, I amthe HR director there and I'm
the fifth generation.
The company is 107 years oldand the fourth generation my dad
and my uncle are currentlyrunning it.
What I really enjoy about ourteam and Kevin and Tim really

(00:30):
push to have women in leadershiproles.
I'm surrounded by an awesomegroup of women who also come to
NGA with me.
That's amazing.

Sarah May (00:38):
And so, speaking of NGA, what does the show mean to
you, as you've been coming for anumber of years?

Amanda Metcalf (00:43):
It has been an invaluable resource to me as an
HR director.
I'm part of the HR share groupand through COVID we were able
to give each other resources andwe continue to do that.
So it's nice to be able tointeract with those people
outside of the show via emailbut then come in together and

(01:04):
actually have discussionsface-to-face and go out to
dinner with them and networkwith that team.
That's been just so amazing toshare and get resources from.

Sarah May (01:15):
Yeah, everything that I've heard about every share
group through the NGA has justbeen phenomenal as far as the
transparency of sharing ideasand helping one another, even
those that are in competingmarkets.
Yeah, so great.
With the progression of whatthe NGA show has looked like,
what were you most lookingforward to?
That may have been differentthis year.

Amanda Metcalf (01:38):
I have been coming for a very long time but
back when we were still at theMirage and the WGA was doing
that WGA run, and what I've beenmost impressed with is the
representation of women in thegrocery industry.
When I first started coming,there were not many women.
There were a lot of men andtheir significant others and now

(02:02):
there are women everywhere.
It's so encouraging andinspiring to see us really
starting to get into thisindustry and coming to things
like this, having people investin us, where we're able to learn
and network and get resourcesand bring back stuff to our
companies to sell some groceries, yeah.

Sarah May (02:22):
And that's so amazing .
Sell some groceries, yeah, andthat's so amazing.
I've heard numerous stories ofit being so empowering and
uplifting, especially with howthe WTA has grown over just the
past couple of years.
And so, as far as the content,what are you most looking
forward to or what's been yourbiggest takeaway so far?

Amanda Metcalf (02:40):
Being in HR, recruiting and retaining
employees has been huge.
So I was at a seminar todaywhere we were talking about
getting more involved in the gigeconomy and how do we do that
and how do we change our mindsetto tap into this resource and
integrate, finding people whenthey want to work.
That works for us and I thinkthat's a huge shift in our

(03:02):
industry and the way we thinkhuge shift in our industry and
the way we think.
So it'll be interesting to seehow we can influence that.
As a younger, generation aswell.

Sarah May (03:11):
Yeah, we actually had some conversations around the
gig economy at the EXFLconference and it was an
extremely hot topic the HRportion of that.
It could have gone on for twodays, I'm sure, but so that's an
interesting topic.
We also had the WTA session wasabout Gen Z and that generation
and how to appeal to thatgeneration and how to create

(03:33):
interest, even from thecommunity involvement as they
grow up.

Amanda Metcalf (03:37):
I always find that one really interesting too.
I've gone to that Gen Z one thepast couple of years and just
really good insight on again howto connect with that generation
.
I think it's that change inmindset too.
It's different than how ourparents worked and their parents
worked, but the ethic is stillthere.

Sarah May (03:59):
Oh yeah, I think we should have a podcast session
just on that.
Absolutely.
Thank you so much for joiningus today, amanda, and can't wait
to connect again.
Absolutely Thanks, sarah.