LOOK WHO’S A – “BEST PLACES TO WORK 2017”

Posted on by Stacy D. Fulco by

Glassdoor recently came out with its Employees’ Choice Awards – Best Places to Work 2017 and some great retail, restaurant and hospitality companies made the list.  One of my favorite ways to start the new year is to give some well-deserved recognition to those companies who made the list. (See, https://www.glassdoor.com/Award/Best-Places-to-Work-LST_KQ0,19.htm).

In 2017, 12 retail, restaurant and hospitality companies made the list.  Congratulations to the following:

In-N-Out Burger – In-N-Out Burger moved up on the list by going from #13 in 2016 to #7 in 2017.  In-N-Out Burger operates approximately 250 restaurants, primarily in California.  It has 4 basic menu items and offers customized burgers.  It is a private company headquartered in Irvine, CA and founded in 1948.  (www.in-n-out.com)

Delta Air Lines – Delta Air Lines is #21 list, which is the same place it held last year.  Delta has been in the travel business since 1924 and today it flies to more worldwide destinations than any other airline.  It is a public company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.  (www.delta.com)

H-E-B – H-E-B is again on the list but down from #17 last year to #27 in 2017.  H-E-B operates superstores, supermarkets and gourmet markets and is the largest private company in Texas.  It is a private company headquartered in San Antonio, TX and founded in 1905.  (www.heb.com)

Southwest Airlines – Southwest Airlines has been on the list for the last 8 years and this year it moved up from #42 in 2016 to #28.  Southwest Airlines has been flying for 45 years and it continues to standout with its focus on customer service.  The company is public and headquartered in Dallas, Texas.  (www.southwest.com)

Trader Joe’s – Trader Joe’s has not been on the list since 2013 but this year it is in at #33.  Trader Joe’s is an untraditional grocery store chain.  The company has 460 stores in 41 states.  It is a private company that started in 1967 and is headquartered in Monrovia, California.  (www.traderjoes.com)

Costco Wholesale Corp. – Costco Wholesale Corp. has been on the list for at least the 6 years for 2017 it is #34.  Costco is the largest wholesale club operator in the United States.  It has more than 590 warehouses around the world.  It is a public company headquartered in Issaquah, WA and founded in 1983.  (www.costco.com)

Airbnb – Airbnb was ranked #1 last year and this year it is down to #35.  Airbnb is a travel and tourism company where people list and rent properties.  The company is private, it was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.  (www.airbnb.com)

Lululemon – This is the first year luluemon has made the list and it comes in at #38.  The first luluemon store shared space with a yoga studio and is now a growing trend in yoga clothes and apparel.  The company is public, started in 1998 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.  (www.luluemon.com)

Raising Cane’s – Raising Cane’s is new to the list this year, coming in at #43.  Raising Cane’s is a private company and a fast growing restaurant chain based in Baton Rouge, LA.   The restaurant began in 1996, focuses on chicken and has quickly grown to over 155 restaurants in 18 states.  (www.raisingcanes.com)

IKEA – IKEA was not on the list last year but this year it is #45.  IKEA is headquartered in Webley, England and is one of the world’s top furniture retailers.  The company is private and has approximately 330 stores in 40 countries.  It started in Sweden in 1943.  (www.ideal.co.uk)

QuikTrip – QuikTrip is again on the list and for 2017 it is #48. QuikTrip operates over 580 gasoline/convenient stores in 10 states.  It is a private company headquartered in Tulsa, OK and founded in 1958.  (www.quiktrip.com)

Wegmans Food Markets – Wegmans Food Markets is again on the list and for 2017 it fell to #50.  Wegmans’ operates over 80 grocery stores in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.  It ranks among the 100 largest private companies in the country.  It is a private company headquartered in Rochester, NY and founded in 1916.  (www.wegmans.com)

For those of you who did not make the list, here are a few comments made about the top companies by their own employees, so you know what to strive for in the coming year:

  • “great place to work with awesome work life balance”
  • “great people and great culture of professional development”
  • “great place to work and develop career”
  • “amazing challenges”
  • “outstanding company for motivated team players”
  • “great culture and engaging work”

Stay tuned for a look at who made FORTUNE Magazine’s list for 2017.