5 Years On

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Tomorrow marks five years since my departure from my Sainsbury’s days and into the era of my own business. For those of you who don’t know, I did an eight year stint on the Produce department at my local Sainsbury’s. In my time there, a lot of things changed around me. The store was completely renovated, we have multiple store managers and countless department managers. Many of my colleges came and went in the time I was on that produce department. Only a handful of the dedicated employees lasting my entire term. These eight years were the perfect stepping stones, whilst I was deciding where to go next in life. It was my job whilst I was at college, university and the time after that. So naturally, it encapsulates so many fantastic memories…

There were dark days, but for the most part I was thankful for my Sainsbury’s job. I’m amazed at how frowned upon jobs like these are. The amount of unemployed people who refuse to get jobs in supermarkets or restaurants because they are waiting for ‘the perfect job’ to come along is ridiculous. Seriously, this was a perfect job for the season I was in – it was steady and regular and it paid a reasonable wage. I had quite a few partially fictional adventures and plenty of real ones too while I was there too (see my Supermarket Chronicles).

Now, five years on from my departure from the A-Team of the produce department, I’m amazed at how far things have changed in my life outside of Sainsburys. I’m five years happily married, we’ve moved house, we’re now very proud dog owners, I’m a successful business owner (credit to God on that one, not me!) and now soon to be a father. That’s why I like to keep mementos in my calendar to mark anniversaries of occasions like this – it’s the perfect opportunity to reflect and be thankful for everything that’s happened.

So, it’s not without a healthy respect for where I started, that I can fully appreciate where I am now. I’m thankful for where, who and how I am today, but I will never forget my roots. So long, Sainsbury’s and thanks for all the hours. I feel reflective Supermarket Chronicles coming on…