Linda’s at 60 years and counting

Staying with a company for 40 or 50 years is impressive, but Linda Vogelstatter went even further: she celebrated her 60th anniversary with Loblaw last January.

Linda, now a cashier at a Loblaws^® location in downtown Toronto, still remembers the exact date she started her journey with the company: January 10, 1961.

“I used to do my groceries at the Loblaws store near my house and whenever I was there, I would spend time chatting with the store manager, he was always extra-nice and friendly,” says Linda. “So, when I started looking for a job, Loblaws was the first store I applied to.”

Before starting her new position as a cashier, Linda received a four-week training period. Since scanners and barcodes weren’t available yet, she had to manually stamp the price on all the items and remember the appropriate code when cashing out her customers. Not only that, but she also had to do all the calculations in her head and do all the bookkeeping at the end of the night. She even had to memorize the codes and prices of every item.

“Back then, everyone used to do everything,” she recalls. “We didn’t have the technology to rely on.”

Linda and her “tight-knit family” of co-workers also had a lot of fun, whether they would go out for drinks after work, get together for dinners, or celebrate holidays together. “I still have a Christmas card that everyone signed for me back in the ‘90s.”

Linda has always enjoyed working as a cashier. She loves talking to customers and connecting with them. But one thing that many of her colleagues have noticed was her patience and compassion with her customers.

She always spends extra time helping her customers, packing their items, and answering all their questions with a smile on her face. “I always imagine that my mom is the one doing her groceries and she needs help,” says Linda. “So, I try to treat all customers the way I want my mom to be treated.”

Linda’s empathy and compassion with everyone around her has made her unforgettable. Her customers and colleagues always stop by to say hello, whether it’s in the store or on the street.

After all these decades, Linda is still as energetic and active as the day she started. She’s always helping everyone around her and sharing her stories.

“I always enjoy seeing new faces joining our family,” says Linda. “I think it’s a great place to gain experience and skills, especially when you’re just starting your career.”