Jake Cannon is district manager of Smith’s Food & Drug, which is gearing up to introduce its Marketplace concept to Southern Nevada next year. The multi-department store will include a full grocery in addition to household items and decor, dine-in and takeout food, a drive-thru pharmacy and a cheese shop.
What is the best business advice you’ve received?
My former district manager in Utah, Derrick, once told me, “Focus on the job you have now and everything else will come.” I took that advice to heart, put my head down and really worked hard to excel in every position I’ve held within (Smith’s parent company) Kroger, and I’m happy to say that it worked.
What’s the biggest issue facing Southern Nevada?
Hunger and homelessness are the biggest issues facing Southern Nevada, and they will take a village to make a difference. Smith’s has a long-standing partnership with Three Square Food Bank and just last year donated 1.3 million pounds of food to the organization, which created more than 1 million meals at a cost of $2.1 million. Every day, Smith’s stores donate unsaleable, yet still nutritious fresh foods such as meat, dairy and produce through the company’s Perishable Donation Program. In this way, food is kept from landfills and donated to local food banks to supplement the more stable shelf items given to pantries and feeding kitchens.
What has been your most exciting professional project?
In 2015, we converted six former Food 4 Less stores into Smith’s locations, which was a more than $25 million investment from Kroger Co. During the transition, Smith’s was able to keep every one of Food 4 Less’ 800-plus employees. The process was challenging yet rewarding, both personally and professionally. It was great to not only be able to train and transition our new employees into positions within local Smith’s stores, but to be to able learn from them and their experience.
Grocery retail is a tough business in Las Vegas. Food 4 Less was owned by Kroger, so we essentially were two sister companies fighting for the same market share. The conversion was a strategic and beneficial move that has given Smith’s a bigger footprint in the valley.
Talk about your involvement in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event. How important is it to give back to local charities?
Smith’s as a company is committed to supporting the communities where its store associates and customers live. We support the organizations that fight hunger, support the health of women and families, local schools’ grass-roots organizations, and care for troops and vets. Smith’s customers help us determine which organizations receive donations through our Community Rewards program.
For example, I lead and organize a team of about 300 employees who participate in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event, where Smith’s is a presenting sponsor. Smith’s donates $30,000 along with bananas, water and granola bars. Our associates, in addition to walking, volunteer during the event. We also partner with Catholic Charities to help them fill their baby room with supplies. From August to December, Smith’s associates collect various items such as diapers, formula, clothes, etc., then we come together and transport the items to Catholic Charities and have a stocking party. Last year, we donated about $40,000 worth of baby items.
What are you reading right now?
“The Bully Pulpit: Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and the Golden Age of Journalism,” by Doris Kearns Goodwin.
What do you do after work?
I have two teenage kids, so my wife and I spend our free time hauling them to games and dance recitals and the whole bit. Also, because it’s a million degrees outside right now, my family spends a lot of time in our backyard pool, with the occasional barbecue and get-together.
Describe your management style.
I’m not very “command and control;” I’ve been told I’m friendly and approachable. Through the years, I’ve learned that you have to adapt your management style to each person specifically in order to achieve the desired response. Some employees need more support, or the “softer” approach; others prefer the direct, “no nonsense” approach. It just depends on each person and their personality, and I try to adapt to that to assist them in achieving their personal and career goals.
Where do you see yourself and your company in 10 years?
Smith’s/Kroger is on the fast track, with more than 10 successive years of sales growth, which is pretty unusual in grocery retail. With so much growth in our future, I just want to continue to grow my career with Smith’s, eventually gaining more responsibility.
What is your dream job, outside of your current field?
If I weren’t in the grocery retail business, I would probably be a college professor, teaching business courses.
If you could live anywhere else in the world, where would it be?
Mexico, most likely Puerto Vallarta or Cancún. My family and I are beach people; wherever there is an ocean and plenty of Mexican food, we’ll be happy.
Whom do you admire and why?
My dad. He had polio as a child, which led to him being in a wheelchair throughout his life. Despite this, he never let his handicap be an excuse, never accepted charity and never let it keep him from achieving all of the things he did in life. Watching him as I was growing up was truly inspiring.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
Because I was so inspired by my dad’s independence and tenacity, I find it hard to accept when others make excuses rather than take charge of their lives.
Where do you like to go for business lunches?
Depending on which area of town we’re in, my team and I usually eat at Bonito Michoacan Mexican or Leticia’s Mexican Cocina.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I can be too sensitive at times. I receive a lot of feedback in my position, from associates and customers, and I need to learn to not take the negative feedback so personally.