2021 Star Women in Grocery winner Sarah Romano (Q&A)
Sarah Romano
Assistant Store Manager
Longo Brothers Fruit Markets
How did you get into the grocery business?
I started working at Longo’s as a part-time student when I was 15. After quickly realizing I enjoyed the grocery business, I decided to pursue the job full time. I started in the bakery department and from there trained and worked in several other departments. I discovered I had a passion for produce and worked my way up to produce manager. As I continued to develop my skills and learn more about the grocery business, I was promoted to an assistant store manager. This new role has given me the opportunity to train and develop people, which is something I am also passionate about. By working at Longo’s, I learned they truly live their motto of “treating you like family”—everyone here lives out family values and treats one another with mutual respect.
What are your career highlights/greatest achievements so far?
Some of my proudest achievements include winning several Foodland Ontario Retailer awards for merchandising and winning the Joe Longo Sr. Legacy Award of Creativity at the store level. Being recognized amongst the other Longo’s stores and grocers in Ontario is tremendous. Career highlights include having the opportunity to be a part of two store openings, progressing in my career and achieving operational success consistently.
What is your proudest moment?
I think my proudest moment might actually be winning this award! It was such an honour to be nominated and chosen.
What do you like most about your job?
My favourite part of the job is the people part. I enjoy working with my team and helping mentor and coach them—I love to watch them advance their careers. It made all the difference when somebody believed in me and if I can pass that on and make others enjoy coming to work every day, I feel like I have truly succeeded.
What is the best advice you have received?
Always lead by example. I believe I embody this every day by being someone who started at the ground level, and has been given the opportunities that I have. I feel I am a good example to others of what hard work and dedication can achieve.
What is your best quality?
My work ethic. Having a strong work ethic has helped make me the leader I am today.
Click here for the full list of 2021 Star Women in Grocery award winners.