Tim Sizer is at Meijer nearly every day obtaining fresh produce and other supplies for his popular restaurant in Union Pier. The relationships that he has built over the years are paying off in a new holiday meal program that the retailer has designed to support local restaurants while showing appreciation to their own frontline workers in Meijer stores and distribution centers.
Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, every Meijer store and distribution center will provide four holiday meals – each catered by a different restaurant from within its community – to thank its team members for their dedication and hard work for Meijer.
Meijer President & CEO Rick Keyes says, “As a family-owned Midwestern company, we know that communities are built around local businesses,” and adds, “These meals not only show our support of our team members, but also of the local businesses our communities depend upon. Both groups truly deserve a little extra appreciation this holiday season.”
With nearly 300 Meijer facilities hosting multiple holiday appreciation meals for their team members in the coming weeks, the retailer plans to make a significant impact on local restaurants struggling due to COVID-19. They estimate local businesses will cater more than 1,000 holiday meal events in Meijer facilities by the end of the year, serving more than 250,000 individual meals to Meijer team members.
Chef Timothy Sizer, who owns and operates Timothy’s Restaurant in Union Pier, says, “It means a lot to have Meijer’s support.” Sizer’s team provided 275 Hawaiian chicken stir fry meals to the Lincoln Township and Benton Harbor Meijer stores recently. Tim says, “It was a huge boost for us. I was able to bring in three extra people to help prepare the meals on a day we wouldn’t normally be open. They were thrilled for the extra shifts.”
Timothy’s Restaurant has been a mainstay of the lakeshore community, providing upscale farm-to-table dining for the past 20 years, but, as is the case with many restaurants, this year has been tough on the local business. In 2020, Timothy’s has seen its volume drop by 80-percent and Sizer had to reduce his team of 35 to six at times.
As a chef, Sizer spends a lot of his time in the local Meijer stores. He says, “I go to Meijer almost every day, mainly because of the great produce selection,” and adds, “When you’re there so often, you start to build relationships with everyone from the greeter to the store director. They’re just really good people. It’s nice to go in and everyone knows you by name.”
Having partnered with Sizer back in March on a similar initiative to feed store team members from local restaurants being affected by the pandemic, Stevensville Meijer Store Director Rob Vassar was eager to support him again, saying, “We are so pleased to be able to provide such a high-quality meal for our team members as a sign of our appreciation.” Vassar adds, “The food is great, and it’s made even better by knowing we’re supporting a local business when they need us.”
Meijer, based in Grand Rapids, operates 256 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin. A privately-owned and family-operated company since 1934, Meijer pioneered the “one-stop shopping” concept and has evolved through the years to include expanded fresh produce and meat departments, as well as pharmacies, comprehensive apparel departments, pet departments, garden centers, toys and electronics.
