(LOS ANGELES) — New training and development programs launched by Unified Western Grocers qualified for a grant from the state of California. The grant will be used to supplement the program in the company’s Southern California Division. The Northern California Division will apply for a similar grant in the fall.
“We received reimbursable funds from California’s Employee Training Panel (ETP),” said Marsha Miller, director of training and development. The California legislature established the ETP funds in 1982 using a small portion of the tax employers pay into the state unemployment insurance fund. As a result, this state monetary pool is earmarked to train new employees and retrain existing employees. The state monitors the training at participating companies and only reimburses them when employees have completed the classes. This is the second time Unified has been part of the ETP program.
Unified will use the grant monies to enhance employee skills. The funds will help support the company’s core training curriculum, improve targeted skills for various work groups and develop materials for company-wide training courses. “With the ETP funds, Unified Western Grocers can create a solid foundation for learning within the organization,” said Miller. ”Then, as we go forward, the company can continue to build its training and development programs on this established training base.”
Unified Western Grocers, Inc. is a retailer-owned wholesale grocery cooperative that supplies independent retailers throughout the Western United States. Unified and its subsidiaries, which generated approximately $3 billion in sales during the 2000 fiscal year, offer independent retailers all the resources they need to compete in today’s supermarket industry.
This press release contains forward-looking statements with respect to benefits expected to be derived from the proposed acquisition. There are a variety of factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the statements above. These factors are outlined in Unified's Form 10-Q and other interim reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Furthermore, Unified undertakes no obligation to update, amend or clarify forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.