2024 Star Women in Grocery Award Winner Joan McMurray (Q&A)
Joan McMurray
Store Manager
Buy-Low Foods, Keremeos, B.C.
Tell us about your background and how you got your start in the grocery business.
I started in the grocery business in 1980 (really!) as an accounting clerk for an independent wholesaler in Edmonton. We moved our young family to Keremeos in 1986 after visiting the beautiful valley—river, mountains, orchards and vineyards. I started at this location in 1993 as a cashier, then produce clerk, then deli manager. There isn’t a department I haven’t worked in. I’m a hands-on manager—if my staff need help, I jump in. Most importantly is the service to our customers—in a small community they are our neighbours and friends.
What was the biggest challenge you faced as a store manager?
There have been many natural disasters impacting our valley. We have had three forest fires in seven years, the 2021 flood that closed the highways for weeks, a rockslide and mudslide. We huddle the management team, decide the worst-case scenario and work backwards to establish next steps. I have a well-used emergency binder in my truck with numbers, notes and lanyards. We co-ordinate with emergency services and have opened the store in the middle of the night to stock a response centre.
What do you like best about your current role?
Each day brings a new and sometimes unexpected challenge. But the highlights are asking my team to do their best every day and rewarding their efforts, spending time in each department, and visiting with a long-time customer, or a widower I help with cooking or laundry.
Proudest moment?
My proudest moment was thanking the team for all their extra effort during the Keremeos Creek wildfire. Three hundred and fifty homes were evacuated just north of Keremeos, including five of my staff. With the first news, we got to work making lunches for those evacuated, helped them find personal care items, and fed their pets.
What is your best quality or superpower?
Multi-tasking, forecasting and creating work plans—all tools for my staff to make their work easier. I also make sure to walk the store and check in with every staff member on a shift.
How do you spend your time outside of work?
My hubby has Parkinson’s so I help with his routine, sometimes those days are a challenge. I have been very fortunate, Buy-Low Foods head office staff have been very supportive.
What is a fun fact about you?
We have “team spirit” days to dress up: Hawaiian shirt day in January, Western for our big rodeo May long weekend, sometimes just silly hat day. It gets the staff talking and engages our customers. My favourite was Pirate Day with a tricorne hat, earrings and boots!
Click here for the full list of 2024 Star Women in Grocery award winners.