Acosta Reviews

Pros

On-line university allows you to gain more knowledge about several retail and merchandising posiitons
Pick and choose projects that you want

Cons

Per mile reimbursement is too low
Expenses required to have a home office

Advice to Senior Management

Be honest with your members of your team

Pros

Acosta, a 'food broker', is a leader in the Consumer Packaged Goods industry. I did feel valued as an employee and had many positive experiences in the years I was there. Some of the people managers were better suited for independent contributor roles, but some were fantastic at communicating and developing their teams. It is a great place to work, especially for those with designs on careers in the Retail industry.

Cons

People management skills at Acosta are not well developed in all people managers. Also, investments in technology are sometimes short-sighted. The company has a difficult time deciding when to buy and when to build solutions and testing of technology solutions in terms of usability and user acceptance is very poor.

Pros

Hours are good when you can get them.
I really like my job.

Cons

Manager is 20 something. Favors others with more work. Very inexperienced.
Shows favoritism to people who play up to him.
Doesn't realize people need work to put food on the table. Area management is very poor.

Advice to Senior Management

Pay people a decent wage, and you will get quality people. People that want to work should be given the opportunity for more hours.
I like this type of work, and if things don't change, I'm going to another agency.

Pros

Excellent management both locally and nationally
Work life balance is very good
I am challenged to do my best work
Motivating environment. They Care about people

Cons

Benefits package could be better
Raises need to be higher if you are going to retain the best peopl
Technology Can be frustrating as its too complex

Advice to Senior Management

Keep the momentum by investing in people. Invest more in HQ technology to enable associates to do their jobs better and faster

Pros

Unless you are a real screwup, you won't get fired. Everyone has to eat so whether the economy is up or down, Acosta is growing. Decent people and the work load is reasonable. People aren't paid to work 60 hours/week. Company, from the CEO on down is very family oriented so if you need to take off for kids, etc it isn't a big deal. Very much of "as long as you get your work done, it's ok."

Cons

Very flat organization so little/no chance of promotion. Food industry doesn't make a lot of profits so chances for promotions/raises are slim. Organization is VERY siloed. Sharing of information is virtually non-existent. HR is worthless, Goals for the next year aren't done until midway through the year. Year runs Nov 1 - Oct 31. Goals aren't set or even talked about until February which is 2nd quarter.

Advice to Senior Management

They need to be leaders and managers, not just administrators.

Pros

It's a job. The only reason it survives is because of its people.

Cons

They don't pay their employees enough to really live on. It is near poverty level for non management.

Advice to Senior Management

You say your people are you best asset...Pay them better even if you have to take a pay cut, without your people, you don't have a company or a job.

Pros

Been working too long to quit.
My manager
Working from home

Cons

Pay scale weak
Expects more than they know you can deliver
Not enough time given to do the best job I know I can deliver
Uses too much technoloy when labor would be of more benefit.

Advice to Senior Management

Try to go out in the field and actually do a real store call before expecting me to do the impossible.

Pros

It is a reliable income. Flexable hours. Good temporary job. Good experiance in retail. Independence. Opportunity to learn computer software.

Cons

Advancement is limited. Full time postions are limited. Full time postions were resently reduced. There were lay offs. Lots of driving to retailers. Most are part time postions.

Advice to Senior Management

May take many years to advance. I have only been a this job for eight months, so my knowledge is limited.

Pros

Chance to work on many different CPG lines and manage trade funds and promotional planning. Good exposure to the industry.

Cons

Long hours and pay that is known to be well below industry average. I've found turnover to be quite high as well.

Advice to Senior Management

Look at pay and overall compensation vs the industry.

Pros

Better than Minimum Wage Hourly Pay
Christmas Bonus
Online Training
Plenty of Opportunities for Transfers
Part Time Hours
Access to Benefits
Recognized Brand Name in Industry

Cons

Unreimbursed Travel Time
Mileage reimbursement too low
No pay for Holidays
Benefits too expensive to take advantage of
Lack of Team Building prevents best production from team members

Advice to Senior Management

Change Commute Policy to reflect national average of 30 minutes each way instead of one hour each way!
Establish a clear vision of how hourly pay may increase for employees