2024 Generation Next winner Simrat Parhar (Q&A)

Simrat Parhar

Manager, Retail Optimization, Loblaw Companies Limited

Simrat Parhar’s career began at No Frills, where she spent 12 years mastering front-end operations through roles such as cashier, front-end manager and bookkeeper. This ignited her passion for operations and innovation leading her to join Loblaw Technology and Analytics five years ago, where she now heads the implementation of electronic shelf labels (ESLs) across Loblaw’s store network.

“It’s a project I’m really proud of, as I know how painful I used to find it dealing with paper labels and now it’s all digital and accurate for the customer,” explains Parhar. Implementing ESLs in more than 800 stores has significantly improved operational efficiency, customer satisfaction and resulted in the removal of more than 530,000 weekly paper labels.

As a woman of colour, Parhar says promoting awareness around diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is especially close to her heart. She plays a key role in creating weekly newsletters and presentations for townhalls to educate colleagues on specific DEI topics. “The more people know where others are coming from, it helps to pave the way,” she says. 

See the full list of Generation Next 2024 winners profiles.

Profiles were first published in the December 2024 issue of Canadian Grocer