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People Flock To Grocery Chain For Jobs At 10 Planned Stores

Tribune photo by JIM REED

The job fair today in Brandon drew about 100 people in the first few hours.

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By NEIL JOHNSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 10, 2008

BRANDON - Job seekers flocked to apply for positions today at a new grocery chain that plans to open up to 10 stores in the Tampa Bay area.

Called Aldi, the chain plans to open 10 stores from Lakeland to St. Petersburg, including two in Tampa. It is the chain's first foray into Florida, said Matt Cradick, director of operations for the company's Tampa Bay area stores.

The job fair today in Brandon drew about 100 people in the first few hours, and organizers expect several hundred to show up before the day's end.

The job fair is open until 5 p.m. at 9350 Bay Plaza, Suite 125 in Brandon. It is being put on by Tampa Bay Workforce Alliance, a non-profit organization that matches workers and employers.

Aldi, which has 950 stores in 28 states, is looking for cashiers and manager trainees. The company offers pay 10 to 30 percent higher than others in the market, Cradick said.

Cashiers earn about $10 an hour and the manager trainees get $20 an hour.

The chain looks to open 20 stores in Central Florida, roughly along the Interstate 4 corridor from Pinellas County to Daytona Beach, Cradick said.

If things go according to the company's plans, all 20 stores should be open by the middle of November. About a half dozen stores in the Tampa Bay area should be open by the middle of September.

The majority of people hired for the Tampa Bay stores should be working by August or September, Cradick said.

The company is looking to hire between 300 and 400 people for its Central Florida stores.

The Workforce Alliance will have five more job fairs around the Tampa Bay area, all from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday, Workforce Tampa, 9215 N. Florida Avenue, Tampa

Wednesday, Workforce Brandon, 9350 Bay Plaza Blvd., Suite 125, Brandon

July 21, Workforce Plant City, HCC Campus, 2001 E. Cherry, Plant City

July 22, Workforce Tampa, 9215 N. Florida Ave., Tampa

Aug. 12, Workforce Plant City, HCC Campus, 2001 E. Cherry, Plant City

The first stores in the region to open will be two in Tampa, two in Pinellas Park, one in Brandon and one in Lakeland. Other stores in Clearwater, Largo, St. Petersburg and Plant City will follow.

Aldi stores are smaller than most supermarkets, with about 10,000 square feet of sales space or about the size of a typical Walgreens. Most supermarkets cover about 40,000 square feet.

The stores carry about 1,300 items, nearly all under a private label, and tout low prices.

One way the chain lowers overhead is charging customers for bags a nickel for paper bags or 10 cents for large plastic bags. Customers may bring their own bags and avoid the charge.

Also, customers pay a quarter deposit for a shopping cart and get the money back when the cart is returned.

Contact reporter Neil Johnson at (813) 259-7731 or njohnson@tampatrib.com.

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